How to support the digital transformation of training in your business
It was estimated that by 2020, spending on digital transformation initiatives, including online training, would surpass £1.6 trillion. And in 2021, it was reported that 97% of global IT professionals surveyed (by Software AG) agreed that they went through some sort of digital transformation in 2020. And it appears that this is only set to carry on into 2021. COVID-19 increased the rate of digital transformation for many businesses in order for them to survive in the difficult circumstances. Software AG also found that 95% believe technology will help them tackle future challenges.
What’s even more interesting is that the eLearning market will reach £258 billion by 2025 globally.
So, it begs the question - why are so many organisations still reluctant to transition to digital learning?
What is Digital Transformation and why should it be prioritised in learning?
Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how you operate and deliver value to customers. It's also a cultural change that requires organizations to continually challenge the status quo, experiment, and get comfortable with failure.
In a nutshell, Digital Transformation helps organisations speed up their business operations and by doing so, they'll be able to offer more value to their customers. It takes organisations to the next level and can get staff more engaged with activities, particularly training and learning.
Companies get confused, they think their goal is revenue or stock price or something. You have to focus on the things that lead to those.
The benefits of transitioning to eLearning
Many organisations have already transitioned from traditional learning methods to eLearning with great success, in fact, 90% of organisations use some form of eLearning as part of their training. It makes sense. In fast-moving workplaces, traditional learning methods struggle to fit in nowadays. A large number of employees will be constantly on their feet, such as those in hospitals or retail, those in customer support roles, or those driving around and selling, they all share a common need - quick, digestible information and that's where eLearning comes in. But what are some of the benefits of transitioning to eLearning?
- More flexibility for learners - Employees can complete their eLearning modules on the go, on any device, at a time that suits them.
- It's more cost-effective - eLearning is often far more cost-effective than traditional learning methods and many eLearning providers will offer unlimited learning packages, which means companies don't need to worry about paying for more training throughout the year or at training intervals.
- Less time-consuming - eLearning courses should be short and engaging, whilst including all of the vital information needed on a particular topic. Whilst traditional learning methods can consume entire days, eLearning courses can be completed in as little as 10 minutes. But on average, our courses can be completed in just 30 minutes!
- Simple management & reporting - A common misconception with eLearning is that by using it, it becomes harder to track results and keep up to speed with who has and who hasn't completed their training. With modern learning management systems (LMS), this couldn't be further from the truth. LMS's allow for training administrators to assign training and record training results. You can learn more about our LMS here.
- More engaging - We're big believers that eLearning should be video-based and highly engaging and we practice what we preach. The human brain remembers important information far more effectively with visuals rather than text.
The potential pitfalls
While eLearning is a great option for organisations, there a few potential pitfalls:
eLearning that isn't eLearning
Far too many eLearning providers are branding their courses as eLearning when in reality they are just awful flat ‘presentations’ that do nothing to engage the learner but just move them through a series of slides that are poorly written, poorly animated and clearly designed only as a 'tick box' exercise. These courses will not engage the learner and you'll run the risk of them not consuming vital information. Always use an eLearning provider that allows you to trial their courses before you buy. You can trial up to three of our courses at any time with a free trial!
Not enforcing it effectively
Many training administrators buy eLearning and then 1 of 2 things happen:
1. They don't effectively enforce it.
Or
2. The system they are using doesn't allow them to effectively enforce it and everything becomes a manual, laborious process.
The bottom line is, there's no point in investing in eLearning if your staff aren't going to use it. Therefore, you need a system that can sort this out for you automatically. Our LMS lets you set automated email reminders and welcome emails for your learners.
You can also incentivise your learners to complete their training with monthly competitions and prizes. Check out our eLearning competition!
Top tips when choosing an eLearning provider
- Always choose an eLearning provider that offers engaging and interactive content. Nobody wants to trawl through awful PowerPoint presentations or PDFs! Give your staff video-based eLearning that they'll love!
- Make sure they have an LMS that will cater to your needs.
- Check their online verified reviews, it will give you a good insight into what other clients think of their offering.
- Make sure you can get a free trial of the course/software before you buy!
Looking for a simple, yet effective eLearning solution for your workplace? Why not get started with our free trial today and see how iHASCO can help you...
Head of Marketing