Our clients often talk to us about the challenges of coordinating onsite training across multiple departments. Certain factors like finding room in everyone’s diaries can be a bit of an internal battle. For example, allocating one time to train new starters or teams based in overseas offices can prove a logistic nightmare. In these cases we might suggest the option of an e-learning programme instead. In a nutshell, e-learning is an interactive experience where employees can learn at their own pace in their chosen environment. We design bespoke programmes, tailored to each client and available across a range of software, CRM and sales database systems. Based on the discussions we have with our clients, we thought it might be helpful to answer some of the main questions about e-learning in this Q&A blog to help you determine whether it’s the right step for your organisation.
Who might consider e-learning?
We have found that e-learning is a very practical solution for medium to large businesses especially when faced with a logistical challenge to train large groups, across multiple departments, in one place, at one time. When advising customers on the best training solution, e-learning always comes up as a complement to on-site training, especially in situations where there are a large number of users involved and we are restricted to certain budgets. Where our clients have multiple satellite offices, e-learning becomes the main form of training. We’ve seen huge budget advantages in both these situations. Access to e-learning sources can also free up IT service desk resource for more serious issues as employees can simply refer back to the e-learning guide and revisit the relevant chapter.
What types of software are covered by e-learning?
E-learning, in our experience, can be applied to deliver training on new system releases, upgrades, a change in process or the implementation of an entirely new system. We’ve used it to train employees on all of the Microsoft software packages, for example, Windows 10, Project , Skype for Business and Onenote. We also cover e-learning training for CRM and sales databases such as Salesforce and systems software including SAP, Odoo, SAGE, Oracle. What is the e-learning process? As every client is completely different and each e-learning programme is bespoke, we always start by discussing their training requirements at a face-to-face meeting. This allows us to develop a clear understanding of the business needs and the best way to deliver the e-learning programme. During this time we work with the client to develop the chapters, the criteria and the layout of the e-learning. When this is signed off, we capture video recordings of movement around the screen to demonstrate how the software works. Once the video has been captured, we edit and record a clear voiceover to accompany the action on-screen. With the entire production complete it is created as an e-learning tutorial which is then delivered to the client to upload and invite employees to use.
Will it suit everyone?
Whilst onsite training has many benefits, one of the issues our clients encounter is that because it has been allocated a certain timeframe it’s normally delivered at one speed that may not suit all employees. People learn at different paces, some faster than others and some slower. The benefit of e-learning is that each individual can complete it at their own pace and at a time that suits their business schedule. They can also revisit features which they may not have had time to practise sufficiently during the initial training.
How can you monitor employee progress?
It’s important as a business to understand the adoption rates of this training and whether employees have completed it. The investment in e-learning is only worthwhile if it is being used. As a means of monitoring this adoption, we use a learning management system to allow clients to deliver e-learning material and assess how employees are performing. Clients can also choose to add this to their own LMS system. This could be useful to measure how effective the e-learning has been. For example, if the internal support desk is swamped with help requests, it is possible to track whether the callers have completed their e-learning. If they have not, you prove the case that it is effective and will enhance their understanding.
Can it be used as well as onsite training?
There is also the option to take a hybrid approach to training employees on all of the software mentioned above by delivering core training with an onsite professional trainer and providing follow-up support through e-learning. This way you get the personal interaction from the physical training and also the resources to follow up with. Staff that may have forgotten or need a reminder on how to use certain features can quickly pop in and out of an interactive guide to refresh their memory. If you would like more information on how we can prepare an e-learning programme for software, CRM and sales database training then get in touch with us here: Contact 1UC for more info..
