L&D key tools for success in 2014 survey

Last week, we released the findings from our latest survey which asked 100 HR professionals what learning and development (L&D) tools they consider to be the key to success in 2014. What was clear from the findings is that HR professionals are continuing to face pressure to find cost-effective tools that meet objectives in areas such as mobile learning. This group are particularly in need of cost-effective L&D solutions  and are increasingly looking to satisfy this need with digital tools.

To  delving a little deeper, our survey found that 83 per cent of HR professionals will be spending up to a quarter of their budget on digital L&D tools in 2014, citing virtual classrooms (43%), webinars (30%) and online videos (29%) as their top three choices. What was also interesting is that with so many new digital tools available, almost a quarter of professionals (23%) agree that digital methods of learning and development will begin to replace the need for face to face training.

There is clearly a growing demand for e-learning tools but constricted budgets mean any suitable options need to achieve objectives in the least costly way. When asked what was considered to be the most important feature when choosing a new e-learning tool in 2014, over a quarter of respondents (26%) rated the cost-effectiveness of the tool as being more important than it being interactive and engaging.

So what do we say to these results? E-learning tools are certainly essential in a world where employees are starved of time and are more mobile. To add, organisations expanding to multiple offices must consider options that can be deployed and repurposed across different regions. By allowing for more flexibility and greater engagement, tools such as online explainer videos can be used on a large scale and delivered directly to every employee’s device, making it more convenient than attending a workshop. When compared with other e-learning tools, this investment can be far more cost effective in the long run. It also explains why video is becoming a popular choice for HR professionals in 2014, a popularity that will no doubt continue to grow in years to come.