6 advantages of providing e-learning for your employees
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Giving employees the opportunity to learn in a way that suits their personal preferences and accommodates their specific needs means they will feel valued. This in turn can help to produce a happy, productive and skilled workforce, which is great news for any business.
Online learning has become an important way for businesses to provide training to their teams and foster a company culture that encourages learning and development (L&D).
In fact, online learning has become the fastest-growing market in the education sector over the last two decades, and this doesn’t just apply to traditional education settings either. E-learning has also become a hugely popular tool for businesses offering learning and development opportunities to their workforce.
There are several key reasons for this and in the guide below we’re going to take a look at six advantages of providing e-learning for your employees.
1. Offering a learning style to suit everyone
The digital era has transformed the way we consume content, from on-demand TV, short reels on social media, news stories, games, podcasts and so much more. We have constant access to these different forms of media, depending on our personal preferences.
This transformation also applies to learning and development initiatives, as digital technology has made it possible for professionals to access training activities in a variety of different styles.
Again, these could be videos, online courses, gamification, articles, podcasts and collaborative portals. All of these tools can be seamlessly integrated into e-learning platforms to best suit the needs and working style of every professional.
This allows users to choose the training tools that are most beneficial for them and their learning style. That way, businesses can invest in just one or two e-learning platforms and still cover the entire workforce, ensuring that no one is left struggling or feeling disengaged with their L&D initiatives.
2. Professionals have on-demand access to learning
From flexi-time to hybrid working styles, flexibility has become so important to modern professionals, and their learning and development should be no different.
One of the key advantages of e-learning platforms is that they allow employees to access training materials at any time of the day, which means that they can access the materials and learn at their own pace.
It also allows them to revisit different activities or course materials at any time, which can be great if they are still feeling confused or unsure the first time around.
This on-demand access often leads to higher knowledge retention rates, better scores and more engaged employees. Plus, this style of L&D is particularly useful for those with fluctuating energy levels or focus throughout the day, as well as those with a busy schedule.
With all this in mind, flexible, on-demand access to training courses increases the likelihood of employees completing their training as they can better fit it around their preferences, work schedule and lifestyle as a whole.
3. Training materials and activities can be delivered seamlessly
There is one major downside to in-person training and it’s not just the lack of flexibility, but also the speed of delivery and inevitable distractions.
By removing the time-consuming elements of this traditional training method, e-learning materials can be delivered instantly. This can be particularly beneficial when you have a workforce of mixed abilities, as it allows everyone to read the materials and learn at their own pace.
On top of that, professionals will no longer have to contend with the frequent toilet breaks, questions or off-topic conversations that can occur during traditional in-person training. This means a far more seamless learning experience, with fewer distractions.
In most cases, this makes it easier for users to understand and retain the information.
The only thing that could hamper them at this point is an unreliable internet connection and as an employer, you can’t control everything, especially for remote workers.
But ultimately, e-learning can offer a more positive user experience and once again, increases the chances of employees completing each step of their learning journey and retaining more information.
4. Professionals are more likely to be rewarded for their efforts
Lots of online learning platforms will incorporate some form of gamification in order to reward users as they complete their training. For example, progress or status bars help professionals stay on top of their learning and see how far they’ve come.
Similarly, some platforms will offer badges for completing certain courses or reaching different levels within the training courses. Others reward users with positive interactions, either from their colleagues or other learners, while some provide instant feedback from course providers and professionals in the industry.
Employers can even take this to the next level by offering their own physical rewards to those making the most of online training and other L&D initiatives.
An example of this could be recognising the ‘Employee of the Month’ with a cash prize or offering other incentives for those who are completing their training in a timely manner, such as half days or free lunches.
This can encourage employees to keep going with their training and to engage with the materials as much as possible.
5. Helping to cut costs
One of the biggest advantages for businesses is reducing costs for both the learners and the company.
For one thing, learners can enjoy the financial freedom of not having to commute to training locations or even into the office for training days.
Similarly, businesses don’t have to pay for in-person training courses or resources and all learning materials can be found in one location. So, although these e-learning platforms and subscriptions do require an initial cash injection, this will help businesses save money and offer a better ROI in the long run.
6. Saving the planet, one training course at a time
Finally, eLearning is a more environmentally friendly option, which can be a huge selling point for businesses and employees alike.
The environmental impact of online learning is considerably lower than in-person events because it negates the need for travel which contributes towards carbon emissions. It also reduces the need for heating and lighting in venues, as well as plastic and paper waste from catering, refreshments or printed learning materials.
And, in some cases, it also avoids accommodation costs and the burden of gas and electricity resources, whether that’s professionals paying to stay in a different location or businesses having to accommodate the training providers running these in-person events.
This is great news for the planet, of course, but it can also be a huge selling point for businesses, helping to impress existing employees and attract new recruits.