Moving Your Training Platform To Mobile
Train your employees anytime, anywhere, on the device they choose
Posted on 10-11-2019, Read Time: Min
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What if you could engage with your workforce directly, even when they’re on the go, without access to a desk, computer, or even an email address?
For many of today’s companies, gathering employees in one place and shutting down operations for training is expensive and unrealistic.
So what’s the solution? A mobile training platform.
Training with Mobile
The growth of software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies combined with the mass ownership of smartphones has made mobile training easier than ever.
With mobile, employers can reach out to their employees with meeting reminders, send sales updates, deliver links to a mobile web page, and engage in a live dialogue.
A mobile platform gives employers 24/7 control. It’s easy to change and adapt content at any time. There is no need for a high-level IT department, knowledge of html, or any coding languages. Plus, employees don’t need constant training due to software updates. It’s in the cloud--there is no software to download.
Mobile training is also successful because of its versatility. Employers can customize a form to gather information, requests, and feedback, create polls and display live poll results, and even design a quiz to test their employees’ knowledge on a course, learning nugget, or video.
With mobile, employers can reach out to their employees with meeting reminders, send sales updates, deliver links to a mobile web page, and engage in a live dialogue.
A mobile platform gives employers 24/7 control. It’s easy to change and adapt content at any time. There is no need for a high-level IT department, knowledge of html, or any coding languages. Plus, employees don’t need constant training due to software updates. It’s in the cloud--there is no software to download.
Mobile training is also successful because of its versatility. Employers can customize a form to gather information, requests, and feedback, create polls and display live poll results, and even design a quiz to test their employees’ knowledge on a course, learning nugget, or video.
Practical Use Cases
How are businesses using mobile training? Here are a few examples:
- A large workforce development program in New Jersey had trainees across the country. The trainees needed to be notified about job fairs, job opportunities, and educational events. Using text messages directed to mobile landing pages, the program now helps trainees to access resources for hiring events, training classes, workshops, and job fairs.
- Caregivers for an East Coast home health care organization were tired of receiving emails with instructions to access the usual training platform. Nurses did not have access to desktops and laptops during their workday and did not want to take extra time at night to train. Using mobile training and gamification, the training manager is now able to successfully engage a multi-generational workforce.
- A major East Coast financial institution never knew how to clearly communicate important updates during their global leadership conferences. With text messaging and a mobi website, attendees now receive instant access to schedules, speaker sessions, break times, and can reach out with any questions.
But What About Our Learning Management System?
Many businesses have an established learning management system (LMS)--one in which they’ve invested a lot of time and money.
Does mobile training replace an LMS?
No. However, most employees are instructed to access the LMS via email. According to a June 2018 survey by Statista, 85% of US adults use their smartphones to access email. Learning modules within an LMS are often lengthy, time-consuming, and not visually compatible with a cellphone.
Furthermore, the email open rate is less than 20% . Employees may open work-related emails, but not as quickly as they’ll respond to a short, learning blast sent via text messaging. The fact is, when WiFi goes down, text messaging is the easiest way to communicate.
A mobile training platform is often used as a successful gateway and a supplement to an established LMS.
Does mobile training replace an LMS?
No. However, most employees are instructed to access the LMS via email. According to a June 2018 survey by Statista, 85% of US adults use their smartphones to access email. Learning modules within an LMS are often lengthy, time-consuming, and not visually compatible with a cellphone.
Furthermore, the email open rate is less than 20% . Employees may open work-related emails, but not as quickly as they’ll respond to a short, learning blast sent via text messaging. The fact is, when WiFi goes down, text messaging is the easiest way to communicate.
A mobile training platform is often used as a successful gateway and a supplement to an established LMS.
Employee Push-Back?
Some employers are hesitant to use mobile for training out of fear that employees do not want to be contacted on their personal cell phones. Not to mention, some employers don’t want employees to be tempted to pull out their cell phone for personal use during business hours.
The fact is, personal cell phone use in the workplace can be a productivity killer.
However, unproductive and distracted employees existed long before the invention of the smartphone. Good employees know how to exercise good judgment and don't let distractions like cellphones and texting get in the way of quality work product.
Most employees have already decided for themselves how to handle their work/life balance. An employer’s text messages should be short, relevant, and require less than one minute of an employee’s time (aka microlearning ). If employers don't abuse the privilege by contacting employees too often, there will be positive results.
The fact is, personal cell phone use in the workplace can be a productivity killer.
However, unproductive and distracted employees existed long before the invention of the smartphone. Good employees know how to exercise good judgment and don't let distractions like cellphones and texting get in the way of quality work product.
Most employees have already decided for themselves how to handle their work/life balance. An employer’s text messages should be short, relevant, and require less than one minute of an employee’s time (aka microlearning ). If employers don't abuse the privilege by contacting employees too often, there will be positive results.
The Future of Employee Training
According to LinkedIn’s 2018 Workforce Learning Report , 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers. Employee training conveys that the employer values their staff and is earnestly interested in their success. With mobile training, employers will reduce training costs, increase productivity, and provide an effective, interactive, training experience.
Rapid changes in technology affect all sectors. As a result, the workforce of the future will be expected to learn continuously. If employers will adopt a mobile training platform, employees will have the tools to help them do their job and be efficient on any device, at their own pace, at any time.
Rapid changes in technology affect all sectors. As a result, the workforce of the future will be expected to learn continuously. If employers will adopt a mobile training platform, employees will have the tools to help them do their job and be efficient on any device, at their own pace, at any time.
Author Bio
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Kim Peterson is a Writer for Engage by Cell. Visit www.engagebycell.com |
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