10 ways to empower employees and businesses using online learning

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the adoption of e-learning, also known as electronic learning, has become a cornerstone for corporate training and development. Whether a small business or a large enterprise, online training has transformed the way we develop and grow, breaking through traditional barriers and offering flexibility, accessibility, and a tailored education experience.

Here we explore the extensive list of benefits e-Learning brings to businesses including the impact on operational efficiency, employee performance, and competitive advantage. Let’s get started…

1. Cost-effectiveness

One of the reasons businesses shy away from traditional learning and development methods is the costs associated with it – think travel, venue hire, paying for a course facilitator, learning materials, and we cannot forget catering. You can see why e-Learning has become incredibly popular as the immediate costs to businesses are almost completely eliminated! Digital courses are scalable meaning they can be deployed across multiple locations, to multiple people simultaneously, providing training to a greater number of employees at very little cost.

2. Eliminating conventional training barriers with increased flexibility and accessibility

Trying to get every employee in the same room at the same time for training can seem like an impossible task for a business owner, but what if all that hassle vanished? Unlike the demands of conventional training, e-learning offers unparalleled flexibility and accessibility that accommodates busy schedules and the different learning paces of employees. This all-access pass to training not only does away with the need for physical attendance at a specific time but it also allows employees to access content from anywhere, at any time – helping your team stay sharp and keeping your business going with minimal disruptions.

3. Tailored learning experiences for each user

Digital learning platforms are built to tailor content to meet the individual needs and learning styles of users. With built-in adaptive technologies, e-learning can assess the proficiency of users in real time and adjust the difficulty accordingly. This personalised approach ensures that all employees get the most out of their training regardless of their initial skill and knowledge level.

4. Stay ahead of the compliance curve with up-to-date content

The dynamic nature of e-learning platforms allows content to be updated and distributed across an entire organisation with ease. In an area like workplace compliance, where change is a constant, it’s a crucial function that allows businesses to stay ahead of the compliance curve, ensure employees stay up to date with best practices, and maintain the company’s competitive edge. The ability for platforms to be updated regularly with the latest information not only fosters a culture of continuous learning but also encourages employees to be proactive in their learning and significantly boosts confidence and performance.

5. Improved retention and completion rates

It’s a fact that learners retain more information when engaged in an active learning process compared to passive methods like reading or lecturing. This is where interactivity comes into play, incorporating elements, such as videos, quizzes, and simulations into e-learning platforms can not only enrich the learning experience but also improve retention and completion rates.

6. Insights backed by accurate data reporting

Digital learning platforms provide businesses with valuable data on employee engagement and performance. Through analytics, companies can identify areas where learners are struggling, track progress over time, and assess the effectiveness of training programs. This data-driven approach enables businesses to make informed decisions about future training initiatives, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and meet the needs of the business and employees.

7. Environmental sustainability

By reducing the need for physical materials and travel, online learning platforms present a much more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional training methods. The digital distribution of learning materials and the ability to complete the training wherever the employee resides significantly decreases the carbon footprint associated with conducting learning in the traditional in-person format.

8. Scale up or down with ease

Growth can sometimes be unpredictable for a business, and whether you need to scale up rapidly or decrease slowly over time, e-learning can easily accommodate fluctuation in the number of users making it easier to train a large workforce, expand training programs, and cater to a range of diverse learning styles without significant additional costs. It doesn’t matter if you’re training ten people or ten thousand, e-learning is like that reliable friend who’s always there for you: ready to scale up when you hit those growth spurts and keep things steady and consistent.

9. Builds consistency across your organisation

In-person training can make it hard to ensure that every employee gets the same learning experience, where one session can leave employees even more confused than when they first walked in, and another can hit the nail on the head. With e-learning, a business can ensure that every employee, whether in the office or working remotely, can access the same content. This means that regardless of where they are or when they log in, they’re getting the same information in the same way, order, and style.

10. Promoting skill development and career growth opportunities

Investing in the education of your team is perhaps one of the best ways a business can help foster a culture that values skill development and career growth. The presence of a solid e-learning platform within a business can provide employees with easy access to a wide range of courses and training materials that support their skill development, continuous learning, and career advancement opportunities. Not only does this investment help promote a positive workplace culture but also works to improve overall employee satisfaction, retention, and loyalty.

From cost savings and enhanced flexibility to tailored learning and access to up-to-date content, the advantages of integrating e-learning into a business’s training strategies are clear. Navigating the challenges of the modern workplace can be tricky, but with an e-learning tool behind you, you’ll have a powerful platform helping you foster employee development, drive performance, and maintain high compliance standards. With its ability to adapt to the needs of a business and its employees, e-learning isn’t just a platform that educates and empowers staff – it’s a strategic asset.

Ready to take your training to the next level?

Take the hassle out of mandatory training with our Compliance Training Centre – a game-changing advancement transforming the way workplace training is delivered. Educate and empower your people in one safe and secure place.

Reach out to our Citation HR team to learn more about how we can tailor our Compliance Training Centre to your business’s needs.

If any of the information in this article has raised questions about e-learning and how it can benefit your business or if you have another workplace matter you need assistance with, please reach out to our experts here.

About our author

Lauren Stariha is a Copywriter for Citation Group and is responsible for creating engaging and meaningful content across various brands, from eBooks and email campaigns to blogs and multiple social media channels. When Lauren isn’t writing copy for content, you can find her on a long walk with her dog or enjoying a good game of sport.