Is eLearning The Superhero To Tackle Challenges In Process Training?

Is eLearning The Superhero To Tackle Challenges In Process Training?
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Summary: This article gives training managers an insight into the different challenges an organization can face in traditional business process training and how eLearning can address these challenges effectively.

How To Use eLearning To Tackle Challenges Regarding Your Training

It is hard to find an organization that does not follow processes. Ensuring quality in products and services is a priority for all organizations and hence business process training is an integral part of the training initiatives in an organization. Despite all these efforts, there are employees who do not follow processes, either intentionally or unintentionally and cause regulatory violations, tarnishing the company’s reputation. Lack of proper training is one of the causes for process non-compliance.

Traditional business process training programs are fraught with challenges, especially in this era of short attention spans. Can eLearning become the superhero who can address these challenges? Find out in this article.

Challenge 1: Making Process Training Engaging And Interactive

Jane is a sales trainer who is in charge of training the sales team. She is entrusted with the task of training new hires in the sales team on the sales process followed by the company. A sales process is a set of steps the sales team follows to convert a prospect to a customer. The challenge she faces with training Millennials is that they do not want to learn the theoretical concepts explained in the sales process and find the training boring.

Let’s face the facts, most of the time business process training is boring. You might have a colorful chart that explains the process clearly, but do your learners care? In the above scenario, how do you think eLearning can help Jane?

Solution

eLearning can convert a boring training into an engaging and interactive program. Millennials love the idea of gamification because it combines learning with fun activities. You could try converting the sales process training conducted in the classroom to a gamified eLearning course. The course can be divided into levels where each level denotes a step in the sales process.

Instructional Design strategies such as storytelling or scenario-based learning can be used to explain the consequences of not following a process. This can engage learners and convince them on why they need to follow a process. This strategy also helps them understand how their work affects the customer and the business.

Challenge 2: Process Training For A Geographically Diverse Workforce

Joe leads the production team in a firm that manufactures shoes. The company has its manufacturing units in China, Italy, and Portugal. There is a well-defined process that’s followed in the shoe manufacturing company, and there is a need to train new employees on the same.

The company followed a traditional business process training method where new employees were trained in a classroom environment. The company had to arrange for classroom training programs in each of these countries so that all employees follow the same process.

To cut down on cost and leverage technology, they tried a virtual Instructor-Led-Training (VILT) program where Joe explained the process to employees in different countries. But there was one problem. A majority of shop floor workers did not understand English very well. Can eLearning solve this problem for Joe?

Solution

The company decided to introduce eLearning courses along with VILT. These eLearning courses were translated into various languages. eLearning is an excellent choice when it comes to training a geographically diverse workforce. In the above scenario, where language is a constraint, eLearning provides an effective solution as it is possible to translate courses into the native language of learners. Rapid authoring tools such as Lectora Inspire, Adobe Captivate, and Articulate Storyline can be used to create translated courses easily.

Challenge 3: Process Training In A Rapidly Growing Organization

In an organization that’s growing rapidly, hiring is a key priority. ABC is a company that’s ramping up its hiring process. The HR and training department is busy organizing new hire onboarding programs every month, as new sets of employees join the organization. The first day of the onboarding program is spent on explaining the structured training process employees will go through. The training process outlines what’s expected from new hires, and what they can expect from their mentors and the leadership team.

The training department is working on ways to provide time-sensitive training, as well as provide onboarding tailored to specific roles. The training department also has to think of ways to onboard remote employees and part-time staff. Explaining the training process to new hires is an essential task to be completed, but it does consume time. Can eLearning shorten the time taken for onboarding?

Solution

A mobile learning module developed to pre-board employees can take care of explaining the training process to new hires. Even before they step into the office, new hires know what to expect, and whom to approach on their first day at work.

In traditional business process training, the focus is on dispensing knowledge and learners are expected to retain this knowledge. This seldom happens in classroom training, where an average of 50% of the information presented is forgotten within an hour. eLearning in the form of microlearning strategies provides engaging ways to reinforce training.

These are just a few pointers to help you get started. Get creative and simplify your process training with eLearning strategies to create a compliant, efficient workforce.