To say that online learning is important in the workplace is an understatement. It’s more accurate to exclaim that online learning, or eLearning, is indispensable in the corporate world. Company decision makers that have implemented eLearning, especially via a quality social learning management system (LMS), are reaping the rewards of a bolstered bottom line and exponential growth. They understand the importance of online learning, and know that they can’t afford not to invest in it.
Employed individuals, both those who are eLearning experts and those who are barely familiar with this type of learning, occasionally need to be reminded of why online learning is a boon to any business, organization, company, corporation, multinational, or non-profit.
Did you know that, in the U.S. alone, about $70 billion each year is spent on learning and development/employee training? This is an incredibly costly investment. When company leaders spend this kind of money on training, they rely on a good return on investment (ROI).
When online learning is delivered through a full featured, cloud-based learning management system, the chances are good that the ROI will be high. This is because eLearning keeps employees engaged with training. How? By making training fun, self-paced, tailored to suit individual learning styles, and extremely convenient and accessible.
Related Reading: How to Get the Greatest ROI from eLearning
When company leaders invest big money into an employee training program, they want their employees to have immediate access to it. Unlike some traditional, classroom-style learning models, an LMS facilitates “now” learning.
Andy Lancaster, Head of Learning and Development, CIPD, wrote:
“Many organisations and individuals are now looking for learning that is just in time and not delayed. With a face-to-face model, you may have to wait weeks or even months to be able to go on a course. With online learning, we are able to interface through live classrooms and through a range of innovative and exciting resources which you can access when you want. This opens up a whole new environment where you can learn exactly how and when you want to – at work, at home, or even on your commute to work, providing an incredibly flexible way of learning.”
Surely you’ve heard the age-old saying, “Two heads are better than one.” Truer words were never spoken. And, if two heads are better than one, imagine how much better one hundred or two hundred or two thousand heads are. When an entire workforce, not just a few “important” people, are given the tools they need to collaborate effectively, wonderful things happen.
For example, employees become more innovative. They begin to understand that their contributions matter. Their creativity is stirred up. Also, they are more apt to build work relationships and feel as though they belong at a company.
A few collaborative learning tools that an LMS provides include bios and pictures, personal profiles, customized schedules and alerts, and social learning tools. These tools work together to unite peers. Since a united workforce is an unstoppable workforce, the right social learning platform is an investment worth making.
Online learning, especially when channeled through an LMS, can keep employees engaged in training, facilitate “now” learning, and promote collaboration. All of these benefits can combine to produce a beautiful result: a company that is healthy, strong, and growing.
Corporate leaders who want their companies to have this type of future should consider implementing a social learning management system. However, not just any LMS will do. Only the best eLearning platform will deliver the best results.
Those searching for a great LMS should look for a flat-rate platform that is full featured and cloud based. A social learning platform that does not cost one low, flat rate will probably cause a client to incur per-user fees.
This means that the more users the LMS hosts, the higher the fees climb. This can destroy a company’s bottom line. Leaders who want their organizations to thrive should avoid these LMSs like the plague, and instead opt for an eLearning system that is per-user fee-free.
Also, it’s vital that an LMS offers features like social learning, collaborative learning, language localization, learning tools interoperability, and more. In short, an eLearning system should be loaded with features workers need in order to succeed. Launching this type of social learning management system is the first step in securing a bright future for any company, large, medium, or small.
Online learning has revolutionized training in the workplace. It is valuable in both tangible and intangible ways. If you agree, share this article.
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