Are you considering the switch to an online learning platform? You’re not alone. As of 2016 roughly two-thirds of businesses now incorporate eLearning into their company training programs, with 26 percent of businesses specifically offering massive open online course (MOOC)-like training — online learning experiences available over the Internet that allow anyone to take them at any time.

And more than likely, this trend will only continue. In 2016 alone, investors pouredmore than $2.2 billion into the eLearning market, funding new technologies, tools, and businesses all focused on creating more effective education outcomes via online learning.

Why Choose eLearning?

Visibility

You’d be hard pressed to think of an industry — even major league sports — that hasn’t been heavily influenced or even revolutionized over the past decade due to data analytics. And corporate human resources (HR) programs are no exception. In fact, according to Deloitte, the percentage of companies using predictive modeling in their HR processesnearly doubled between 2014 and 2016.

Online learning fits in nicely with this trend, allowing your business to gather relevant data (e.g., completion rates, testing scores) directly from learners and determine the ongoing success and engagement level of individual training sessions.

Affordability

Typically, businesses cite the lower cost as one of the primary advantages to an online learning program. Once created, the organization can reuse content across seasons, departments, and geographies, cutting management and delivery costs.

And you can achieve all of these financial savings without any negative impact to learning. Based on a meta-analysis of multiple studies, the U.S Department of Education found that “[s]tudents in online conditions performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

Accessibility

An effective eLearning platform will offer tools and technology designed to cater to those with a disability that make classroom learning a challenge. In particular, visual- and hearing-impaired learners can navigate online courses more easily with such capabilities as text-to-speech, voiceover, on-screen captions, and magnifying tools.

Similarly, your business can more easily facilitate multiple translations for online learning content — a distinct advantage for any organization that operates across borders. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), learners who are trained in their native language demonstrate higher levels of engagement, resulting in a “superior” educational experience.

Flexibility

One of the most frustrating elements of classroom learning is scheduling. It’s highly unlikely that you will find a timeframe when everyone is in the office and that is convenient for every employee to attend. Instead, you pick the best option you can and then hold makeup sessions for everyone that was out of the office or had a conflicting meeting. And any new hire just has to wait for the next session.

However, with online learning, your employees can now control when they learn. Each worker can find a time in their schedule that is convenient for them, increasing the likelihood that they will be engaged and attentive to the subject matter.

Usability

After an in-person training session, learners must rely on their memories, notes, and whatever supplemental documentation you provide. However, with an eLearning program, your employees will have full access to the original training experience at any time. So when workers have a question or need to revisit a subject, they can pull up the appropriate session quickly and easily, allowing them to review the relevant content.

In addition, your business can roll out refresher courses regularly, encouraging workers to keep their skills sharp and keep relevant topics in their minds.

The Next Step

When done right, online learning can prove to be a powerful tool for your business, but when done wrong, it can waste both time and money while placing your company at increased risk.

To make sure that your training sessions are successful, employ an eLearning platform and strategy that is:

• Engaging – built with interactive content that draws in active participation
• Applicable – using real-world scenarios and actual examples
• Personalized – reflecting the unique tone and needs of your business
• Current – updating policies and processes to account for shifting legislative requirements

To learn more about how Workplace Answers can help your business develop a compliance training program that meets your company’s unique challenges and expectations, request a demo of our online courses today.