In recent months, we’ve seen many Companies convert their traditional training into online training – using videoconference tools, LMS and software to create online courses.
Good, but not great.
In fact, in many cases, this was simply a reaction to the COVID-19 emergency, without a strategic approach or vision. Without the awareness that modern training is digital, by itself.
Now the situation has partially normalized, and it’s therefore essential to approach the transformation of corporate training with a strategy and method.
L&D managers are now being called upon to redesign the corporate training strategy with a digital focus, in order to enable their organizations to not only effectively manage and deal with future emergency situations, but also the everyday and modern way of learning, living and operating.
The starting assumption is that modern training is digital. Regardless of any emergency situation. As a result, a modern corporate training cannot be anything but blended. In summary, the digital and online component cannot be missing.
What are the advantages of blended corporate training?
Starting from the assumption stated in the previous paragraph (modern training is digital), we proceed to the analysis of the 4 concrete advantages of a blended corporate training:
- Ability to manage and deal with emergency situations. The global crisis caused by the new Coronavirus has taught us how essential it is to have digital corporate training, capable of reaching and supporting our learners in any situation: in the office, in smart-working or in remote-working.
- Ability to offer “Training on-demand” to promptly respond to the training needs of people and the Company. In short, allow our learners to access training content when, how and where they need it – not only in emergency contexts, but in the ordinary and normal work flow. Training in the now.
- Time and cost savings. The budgets required by traditional classroom training (travel expenses, logistics, etc…) do not allow it to be scalable and sustainable in the long term or for a large number of users. The same is true for participation in in-person training events. Therefore, a blended training represents an effective solution for Companies that want to continuously and constantly train their Learners, while also keeping an eye on the numbers (time and cost).
- Data, data and more data. Adopting a blended training strategy which has a digital component allows for the collection of a greater amount of information on the behavior of our Learners. Not only in terms of monitoring results and performance, but also in the analysis of the training experiences offered (learning experiences) – in order to improve the training provided in the Company, personalizing and adapting it to the needs and preferences of Learners.
What is the formula for successful blended Corporate Training?
There is no one-size-fits-all recipe that will work for all Companies. Therefore, based on contexts, it will be necessary to define the right mix between traditional training, online training and digital training.
However, we can certainly identify some common denominators that contribute to designing a successful blended corporate training:
- Capture and intercept the needs of your Learners. Start by understanding your audience, define the training objectives, the elements and the indicators to evaluate the success of your projects.
- Immediatley identify and involve Subject Matter Experts and the stakeholders who can support you in the implementation of a blended Corporate Training project.
These first two elements will allow you to define how much digital content the training in your Company should have. As a consequence, you will gain a clear understanding of which training should be delivered exclusively online and which in a blended mode (classroom, virtual training, e-learning).
- Think Microlearning. Design and create short content that can fit into the work flow. Identify the best output for the various digital content (audio, video, interactive course, simulation, etc…).
- Always engage your learners. Remember: you are starting a journey, and the same goes for your learners. What will motivate them and make them follow you? Don’t limit yourself to offering a linear training focused exclusively on the expectations and Company needs, but allow your employees to customize their own learning journey based on their personal and professional learning needs.
- Use the correct marketing strategies and techniques to support the launch and execution of your blended corporate training strategy. Your goal is to convert employees into engaged and enthusiastic Learners! Want to find out how to do it? We are here for this. 😉
- Select the right technology to use. Identify the software and modern training technologies that can support you in your blended training project. If you want to find out what they are, contact us!
In conclusion, modern training is digital by itself. Starting from this assumption, we can strongly assert that modern corporate training (and therefore effective), in order to be defined as such, can only be digital, therefore blended.
