Making the Case for Effective Online Training

Every business, from a small family-run restaurant to a major corporation succeeds only with effectively trained employees. Training keeps employees safe, reduces operational costs, improves productivity and, ultimately, increases profitability. In contrast, a business with improperly trained staff will typically stagnate and ultimately fail.

In some cases, the business may simply neglect to train their employees. However, it’s more common for businesses to spend time and money on training programs that just don’t work. Employees may receive training–but, for a variety of reasons, the training is ineffective.

Happily, web-based training, is a way to efficiently deliver training that works. With online learning it’s easy to set up truly scalable training for every employee, no matter where they work, and no matter how large or small your staff size, or even your customers.

The problem with employee training programs

According to the American Society for Training and Development (ATD), most North American firms spend an average of $1200 a year training an employee, with works out to a combined national spend of more than $300 billion dollars.

According to the same survey, the employee skills retention rate is typically less than 20% for new training. This would indicate most online training is ineffective.

Analyzing effectiveness of curriculum design is critical

One big reason for this lack of training retention is because most companies send their employees to workshops, seminars and events assuming that there would be a pre-built design built into the training that will magically train their employees.

However, designing curriculum is challenging, so it’s important to analyze design versus employee performance. Not all training programs include this analysis.

Assessing trainee performance is essential

Unless there is a systematic way of assessing and analyzing trainee performance, corporate training will fail. Many online training programs lack this critical assessment component. Employees may attend a seminar or webinar, but there is no easy way to determine if they learned what they were supposed to.

How effective online training solves these problems

Properly implemented online learning solves the two critical problems of ineffective curriculum design and lack of student assessment through comprehensive tracking and analytics. Effective eLearning systems provide training managers with effective assessment tools and dashboards.

Effective online learning also tracks student behavior. If there are roadblocks or problems with logic, the design itself can be analyzed and, if needed, tweaked.

Effectively implemented eLearning also has other benefits for businesses, including:

Effective online learning is learner-friendly

Technology has allowed online courses to be far more interactive than they have been in the past. Courses no longer must be linear and only require the participant to read text on a screen. Branching technology enables learners to make choices so online courses can be designed more like games to increase engagement.

Studies have shown that gamification enhances learner engagement and improves retention.

Effective online learning is cost-effective

Online learning does require an upfront investment. However, each time the course is accessed your ROE improves because you are dividing the fixed production costs by number of uses.

There are also savings through decreased travel, reduced material, classroom rental, and documentation costs. Trainer costs are typically one-time since the same material may be reused by many learners.

Effective online learning is flexible

A key reason that eLearning has seen such a growth in adoption in recent years is the ability for people to undertake where and when they please. Contemporary technology allows employees to receive “just-in-time” training, learning concepts and skills as needed.

With online material and a lack of a regimented class timetable, people can fit the learning around their work and family life, rather than the other way around.

How a Learning Management System (LMS) Improves Your Online Training

An LMS (Learning Management System is a software solution to deploy and track online training. Some systems primarily manage classroom style face to face training, others are better with online “asynchronous” training, and many do both. Most solutions conform to one or more of the “standards” that allow you to move content and results between platforms.

Take Your Time Before Deciding on an LMS

Even though there are some Learning Management Systems that are generally better than others, they all have their strengths and limitations. What is most important is to find the one that is best suited to your requirements.

Keep all these things in mind when you are searching for a new Learning Management System. Take your time and test your options before deciding.

An LMS can be a big investment for your business and you want to be sure that you are making the right call.

Contact for Helping with Online Learning

Here at Udutu, we take great pride in helping our clients determine what they really need. Even if the right solution for them is not Udutu, we are happy to help. We want to provide cost effective , undisruptive and engagement-based learning solutions that actually make a difference. Contact us to help us help you make this transition.