Training is crucial in the modern business world. Small businesses and enterprises need to onboard personnel as efficiently as possible with the knowledge and skills to do their jobs well, and the software and services they choose to carry out this task can make the difference in whether you train a competent and capable employee, or an ineffective one.
The training industry is growing by leaps and bounds year-over-year. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the American Society of Training & Development, global spend on insourced and outsourced training services climbed 10.4 percent from $322.2 billion to $355.6 billion from 2014 to 2015. One of the most pronounced trends driving this growth is the rise of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings accelerating curriculum and more focused learning.
Training platforms and broader learning management systems (LMS) are transforming the way employees ingest and retain both corporate training information and professional development concepts. Through e-learning innovations like virtual classrooms, responsive and contextual user interfaces (UIs), customizable courses, and gamified brain science, cloud software is helping the training industry scale up and adapt to new mediums. Many of the platforms either have mobile apps or responsive mobile websites for employees learning on-the-go. In addition to gamification principles like productivity-focused games, points, and leaderboards, LMS and training platforms are also incorporating more video into clearly explaining tasks, which is particularly convenient on a mobile device.
It is important that businesses of all sizes in any industry make an informed buying decision with the most relevant information possible. Each training platform reviewed features the core ability to create, implement, and oversee new modes of employee learning, but beyond the basics each products has its strengths and weaknesses depending on business needs. Some training tools serve as functions within larger customer relationship management (CRM), human resources (HR), and LMS-centric platforms. Others are training-specific solutions with more specialized focuses, like talent management, microlearning, or training geared toward specific government compliance regulations. If a business chooses training software unsuited to its needs, day-to-day operations and overall efficiency could take a major hit.
Training platforms are evolving every day with new technologies and cutting-edge educational philosophies applied to the employee learning experience. Keeping up with a fast-moving space like this can be critical to maintaining your organization’s peak operational efficiency.
Rob Marvin is the assistant editor of PCMag’s Business section.
