We’ve all gone through work-related training schemes. Prince2 training for project managers, offshore survival training for rig workers, or licensing training for hospitality staff; it doesn’t matter the industry or job, there will always be relevant training to attend. Often offsite and always at the most inconvenient time, traditional training schemes are the bane of any work schedule.
[easy-tweet tweet=”Traditional training schemes are the bane of any work schedule.” hashtags=”tech, training, cloud”]
This is slowly coming to a halt. Online training has been on a quiet but effective revolution of the training world for several years now, particularly in the areas of IT and business management. David Baker, Business Development Manager for PMP certification providers Datrix training said “These days, there’s no need to do most training in the physical world. It’s a throwback to when technology wasn’t developed to the point where it could be more effective than pen and paper. The stage we’re at now, I can lead a class in the US from a room in Australia. Just look at the rise of online universities like the Open University: entire self-taught, online degrees. If that doesn’t tell you that the future of training is online, I’m not sure what will.”
The Benefits of Moving Online
David’s point on the technological advancement is a good one. We are at a stage where it is possible to drive a business almost entirely from the mobile devices in our pockets. Where before a course had to be researched, developed, tested, accredited, and distributed in physical forms, now these steps can all be achieved electronically, with the course then hosted online. The benefits of this are sizeable:
Cost-effective and environmentally friendly – Companies can incur significant costs through conventional learning systems. Rather than paying for the physical copies of the course material, employees simply use a computer or mobile platform to take part in the course. This saves money on the production of the course material. This reduction in paper consumption – combined with employees not having to travel for training – means that online training is far more environmentally friendly.
Ease of access – Where before the training would be limited to a physical location, now it can be carried out anywhere. This removes the logistics of booking rooms for training or finding the appropriate time; now all employees can train in their own time, at their own space, in any location. In theory, employees can have 24-hour access to a training course, giving them free reign to interact with training as they see fit.
Reduction in wasted man hours – Previously, employees would have to take large amounts of time out of their working day to attend training. Traveling to a location, getting set up, the course itself, then returning back to work – these all take time out of the working day. Now, it’s possible to attend training without even leaving the desk, cutting out a large amount of wasted time.
Why Online Training Is Important to Success
With the rate at which technology is developing, training for staff is a constant process. Millennials are the first “tech-fluent” generation, but they are still in the minority in the workplace. The majority of the workforce comes from the baby boomers and Gen X-ers. These generations aren’t so tech-taking longer to familiarise themselves with emergent technologies. One thing they all have in common, however, is the knowledge and ability to use a desktop station. This allows them access to online courses where they can develop their skillset and understanding of a topic.
[easy-tweet tweet=”Now, it’s possible to attend training without even leaving the desk!” hashtags=”tech, cloud, training”]
Something as simple as IT certification in technological terms can have a massive impact further down the lines. Understanding the terms of a topic allows us to communicate effectively in that area. Effective communication leads to streamlined and productive collaboration.
Beyond this, further training in the theory behind a technology and its appropriate applications allows employees to make informed decisions when it comes to utilising new technologies. With the rise of the Internet of Things (the IoT) and cloud-based technologies, the possibility of incorrect application of tech through lack of training and understanding has increased massively. Ensuring staff are up to date in their training avoids wasted investment – both in man hours and monetary senses – and promotes efficient internal work practices.