It’s 2018 and corporate learning is a hot topic. Companies spend thousands of dollars training their employees, and large organizations have entire departments dealing with corporate learning. But why? Why is corporate training so valuable and important in the digital age?

The Value of Corporate Learning

If a company wants to stay ahead of the game, employees need to stay on top of trends in their field. Therefore, regular corporate learning is vital.

First of all, employees need to know how to do their jobs correctly, according to defined company requirements. Secondly, corporate learning (that focuses on the individual company’s product or service) will ensure that employees are specifically trained on how to offer excellent customer service.

These are the most obvious reasons for corporate learning. However, corporate learning also has another profound benefit: When companies invest in training, employees feel that they matter. They are more satisfied with their jobs and will often stay with the company. When continuous learning is available, employees perceive that there is room for growth in the company.

Why Corporate Learning is Valuable in the Digital Age

Today, corporate trainers are tapping into the power of new media and new technologies. They are ditching the training room in favor of digital delivery of content, also known as e-learning. Companies are beginning, more and more, to invest in social learning, social media and mobile devices to support the training of their employees. So, it seems that traditional forms of training, such as lectures, are becoming less and less common.

In a typical lecture, students are attentive just 40% of the time. Students retain about 70% of what they hear, from the 1^st 10 minutes of a lecture, and about 20% of the last 10 minutes of the lecture. It, therefore, seems that digitalized training may be more effective. However, one needs to be careful not to take the instructor completely out of the picture. Blended learning, where both traditional classroom methods as well as digital techniques are used, may optimally improve the learning experience and outcome.

E-Learning is Trending

So, digitalization offers a huge opportunity to transform corporate learning. Digital tools are not new. Outside of the corporate world, technology is used constantly in our daily lives. Therefore, in the corporate sector, the use of digitalization in training will immediately engage employees, as they are already so familiar with the methods that can be utilized.

In an increasingly digitalized world, where the implementation of e-learning is widespread, companies cannot ignore technology-driven training. Corporate training does not need to be delivered with a single instructional style. Various practices can be implemented in order to achieve optimal learning. Companies can make use of an array of trending e-learning methods to train employees. These include MOOCS (massive open online courses), SPOCS (small private online courses), instructional videos, explainer videos, e-games, e-coaching, virtual classrooms and online simulations.

E-Learning is Flexible

E-learning is flexible because it has the added benefit of learners being able to access the content when, where, and how they need it. Also, corporate learning facilitators can, with much more ease, ensure that they provide training that is specifically aimed at the needs of the individual, like training millennials, for example. Training formats can be tailored both to the content and to the needs of the learners.

E-Learning Videos

The digital era has also ushered in the era of video. More than 80% of learning takes place visually. A combination of video and audio are one of the most effective ways of learning. Moreover, companies can, without much effort, produce their own training videos! As a result, video-based learning is becoming more and more popular. The company’s training videos can be used, not only in online courses, but in traditional and blended courses as well and to improve job performance.

By providing continuous learning and development opportunities by making use of digitalized methods, companies can develop employees’ skills. If approached correctly, corporate learning in the digital age will set companies apart from their competitors. New technology-enabled learning is rapidly developing and innovative companies are already embracing these new ways of corporate learning.