The pandemic of 2019 has changed the business world and how we work forever. At the start, many leaders felt that business would return to how it once was in months. However, as the situation persisted, companies began to adapt, and a new normal emerged. Many strategies businesses adopted to adjust and survive produced excellent results changing their views and plans on the best way to move forward as restrictions begin to lift.
The accelerated digital transformation (DX) took off, and custom eLearning development helped meet modern business needs, which are still changing. Three significant shifts are impacting L&D function today.
Post-Pandemic Challenges Impacting Modern Businesses
- The Increased Need for Business Agility
The rate at which employees can learn new skills significantly impacts an organization’s ability to adapt to change. The need for employee reskilling and training has grown exponentially. The accelerated digital transformation rate caused a shift in the skills needed for jobs throughout different industries today.
The real challenge is that these changes are expected to continue. The learning and development process has to speed up to meet these needs truly. Employees must learn new skills quickly, and learning content must be updated regularly to stay relevant.
- The Emergence of a Hybrid Workforce
A considerable part of the workforce began to work from home after health and safety restrictions went into place. At first, this was temporary, but many organizations have decided to continue remote work in some compacity moving forward. Some organizations have transitioned employees into full-time remote roles, while others are looking into hybrid options. A hybrid place model allows employees to alternate working from home and in the office throughout the week.
This change in workplace environments influences the training delivery methods that will be the most effective in the future. Organizations that plan to embrace or more flexible remote model will need highly effective and engaging online training programs.
- On-the-Job Training Stalled
When restrictions first went into place, on-the-job training came to a sudden halt. Not all businesses were prepared to deliver learning experiences in a digital environment. Most companies have already adjusted and have developed learning solutions to meet the immediate need. However, with more changes and workplace models shifting, many organizations are now looking for more efficient ways to provide quality, engaging eLearning courses.
How can Businesses Leverage Mobile Learning to Address These Challenges?
One of the effective ways organizations can take on these new challenges is by adopting a mobile-first approach to designing and developing their custom eLearning courses. The Global Mobile Learning Market is estimated to Reach $388 Billion by 2030, as stated in the Global Mobile Learning Industry Report. Mobile-enabled learning provides several benefits for modern organizations today.
Improves Access to Training Materials
Traditional training methods, such as instructor-led training sessions, could be more effective for reaching distributed teams. With increased rates of employees working worldwide and from home, it is a high priority to design custom eLearning programs that can meet all learners’ needs. Mobile learning does not require employees to be in the office or home. They need internet access to participate in a course. Increasing accessibility with mobile learning can increase course completion rates and levels of engagement.
Simplifies Tracking and Optimization
Today organizations in nearly every industry have to update their policies, procedures, and offerings frequently. They have a fast eLearning development process, and a system to make quick updates can significantly improve business agility.
eLearning content in mobile programs can be monitored with a learning management system tracking and reporting, a simple process. These insights can be used to make optimizations and updates quickly. You will be able to track critical metrics such as levels of engagement and completion rates without going through a time-consuming manual process.
Accelerates Time-to-Competency
Today, most mobile learning programs are modular, using a micro-learning format where content is broken down into small bite-sized segments. This makes information easier to remember and speeds up the time to competency. When mobile learning content is broken into smaller chunks, learners can take the most relevant courses for their personal needs and experiences. Employees can also access existing training anytime and nearly anywhere. The combination of increased accessibility and relevancy significantly speeds up the time to competency.
Enhances Social Learning Through Gamification
Collaboration and social learning are also fostered through mobile-enabled learning. Employees can connect and engage with their peers and subject matter experts (SMEs) through online forums, discussion boards, and virtual communities. The interactive learning environment fosters knowledge sharing, problem-solving, and idea exchange, cultivating a sense of community and support among employees. Incorporating gamification elements like badges, leaderboards, and rewards enhances learner motivation, making the learning experience more engaging and immersive. Based on the 70-20-10 learning model, which allocates learning into 70% experiential, 20% collaborative, and 10% formal training, 90% of workplace learning occurs outside formal training settings. Thus, integrating gamification into eLearning can establish a setting conducive to informal learning and training experiences.
Incorporates Blended Learning Approach
Mobile-enabled learning complements traditional training methods and supports a blended learning approach. It integrates with other learning modalities, such as instructor-led training, e-learning platforms, and virtual classrooms. Accessing resources and participating in collaborative activities via mobile devices enhances the overall learning experience. Learners can engage in discussions, access supplementary materials, and interact with peers and instructors, fostering a collaborative and dynamic learning environment.
Facilitates Personalization and Customization
Mobile-enabled learning platforms offer personalized learning experiences tailored to individual employee needs. Organizations can deliver customized content, assessments, and learning paths through mobile devices based on learners’ roles, skills, and preferences. Personalization boosts learner engagement, motivation, and the relevance of the learning material. Learners can also track their progress, set goals, and receive real-time feedback, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey.
Conclusion
Suppose you are looking for a custom eLearning solution to help your organization quickly deliver quality learning experiences to your changing workforce. In that case, a mobile-enabled program might be the answer. A mobile-first approach can help you engage modern learners and tackle many of the common L&D challenges organizations face today. Mobile-enabled programs can help increase business agility, reach remote employees, and be updated easily, giving your organization a competitive edge.
Learn more about Infopro Learnings’ winning mobile learning courses and read the Video-Based Mobile Learning Program case study.
