Today, a growing number of businesses are struggling to bridge the increasing skills gap among employees. For instance, in a recent survey, around 69% of the 600 human resource professionals interviewed shared that their organization was experiencing a skills gap. This is up from just 55% in a similar survey conducted earlier in 2021.

Advances in automation and other technologies have accelerated the need for upskilling. This blog focuses on the benefits of online learning platforms, a user-friendly cloud-based tool that makes employee upskilling engaging, sustainable, and scalable for businesses.  

Table of Contents:

• What are Online Learning Platforms?
• Seven Benefits of Adopting Online Learning Platforms
• In Conclusion

What are Online Learning Platforms?

Online learning platforms are the single, unified cloud-based interface that brings multiple stakeholders onto one online space. Stakeholders can include employees, employers, Human resource teams, guest experts, and learning facilitators. 

Also known as a Learning Management System (LMS), this mobile-optimized learning interface comes with multiple learning tools. These comprise on-demand learning resources, gamification, and video conferencing facilities, to make learning engaging for corporate learners.

Such a platform also enables employers to leverage data to make learning more effective by tracking employees’ progress. Let’s understand some of the top benefits of online learning platforms. 

Seven Benefits of Adopting Online Learning Platforms

Today, businesses are looking to increase productivity. However, lacking the skills to perform job roles effectively can demotivate employees and reduce productivity. Hiring new employees come at a considerable cost. For instance, hiring one new employee can cost as much as half of the employee’s annual salary. 

Instead, companies can make a one-time investment in state-of-the-art online learning platforms to upskill their existing workforce.

Here is a snapshot of how such platforms enable professional learning sustainably and groom future leaders in the business: 

• A mobile-first learning strategy

Today, a growing number of professionals use their mobile phones for learning purposes. Future generations are also expected to use a mobile-first learning approach.

Virtual training platforms allow companies to prioritize mobile-first learning for employees; they enable all learning resources and events to be optimized for mobile interfaces. For instance, employees are more likely to attend live instructor-led sessions if they can log in from their smartphones. 

• Learning flexibility  

Working professionals are more likely to actively pursue learning when they can align learning activities with the demands of their daily schedules. For instance, access to byte-sized, on-demand resources enables micro-learning. This is a process where they can pack in brief learning sessions of five to ten minutes daily.

Micro-learning sessions lead to consistent daily learning and enhanced skill-building. On-demand resources can be presented in multiple formats: video, audio representations, infographics, collaborative assignments, and interactive assessments. Using gamification elements, like rewards and challenges, makes it more engaging. 

• Measurability of learning effectiveness 

Companies tend to focus a lot on content-creation aspects, such as enhancing the interactivity of content. However, measuring learning effectiveness is more important. While interactivity is a tool for engaged learning, it needs to be introduced in a manner that nudges professionals to learn.

Digital learning platforms come equipped with in-depth data analytics tools to help companies track learners’ engagement and progress. New learning resources and strategies can be introduced based on data-driven decisions.

Also Read: Advantages of Custom Learning Content Over Off-the-Shelf Courses

• Upgrade content with speed, ease  

As companies leverage data to understand learning gaps, learner behavior, and what modules are working, they can create and disseminate fresh resources at an expedited pace. The best e-learning platforms enable companies to easily create and upload a repository of multimedia resources – from eBooks to videos and gamified challenges. Each resource can be made 100% accessible. It can be disseminated securely, and learners can enjoy a unified viewing experience. 

• Host virtual live sessions  

Interspersing on-demand resources with live instructor-led sessions and guest lectures enables learners to access the knowledge and wisdom of experts in their field. The best corporate training platforms come with superior video conferencing facilities. Live sessions can be set up at short notice or scheduled in advance.

Experts and learners can log in from any location and interact through sessions. Data analytics provides insights to help companies build on this learning avenue.    

• Easy integration with third-party tools

Today, a company’s tech stack already includes several tools employees use at all levels. These include online store platforms, tools for communication, managing customer relationships, marketing content management platforms, and logistics management platforms. The best online learning platforms enable easy integrations with existing third-party applications that are already in use. 

• Standardize & customize learning opportunities

Using digital learning platforms enables consistent learning for professionals of diverse job roles, needs, and profiles. While learning can be standardized for remote and onsite employees, it can also be customized for employees of differing job roles and learning needs. For instance, coaching sessions can be introduced based on specific gaps in skills. 

Also Read: Top 10 E-Learning Companies for Corporate Training

In Conclusion 

Today, almost every sector – from hospitality and education to IT and marketing – requires professionals to keep upskilling and bringing value to their job roles. 

It is logistically challenging, expensive, and ineffective for companies to hire trainers and do onsite training regularly. The learning gaps further increase for businesses that have adopted a remote or hybrid working mode, have teams in multiple locations, or are working in the field. 

Using online learning platforms presents a cost-effective, engaging, and standardized mode for upskilling employees regularly and scaling their learning operations. New learning modules can be designed and deployed quickly, and learning effectiveness can be easily measured. 

To help identify the best and most relevant best LMS platforms, it’s advisable to partner with a seasoned technology specialist who delivers world-class learning systems for diverse learning needs. 

If your company aims to transform its learning & development ecosystem digitally, Hurix Digital will help customize online learning platforms based on your company’s real-time needs. The best LMS platforms are available as a licensed version (one-time buy) and via a subscription model. 

Connect with us, and we will help address your business’ learning needs.

Antara Harve

Performance, Results, Growth, and Life-Long Learning define my professional life. I am passionate about making workplace learning planful, purposeful, and impactful. I take pride in partnering with clients and bringing them the best in learning design and creating solutions that address business challenges.