Research conducted for Training Magazine’s 2014 Industry Report discovered that the time responding companies devoted to training, per employee, increased from an average of 37.5 hours per year in 2013 to 40.7 hours last year. The number is more pronounced in the retail/wholesale industry—around 60 hours on average.
Of course, whatever amount of training hours that employees receive won’t mean much if the training itself isn’t efficient. Training initiatives have a goal in mind: to teach workers the skills necessary to become more productive and, thus, contribute to a company’s profitability. Tablet training technology is emerging as a valuable means toward achieving this goal. Companies—especially ones with multiple locations—are discovering the benefits of using iPad or Surface to train employees. Here is how the latest training technology is boosting productivity across business locations:
Reduced Time to Train
Though the increased hours reported by Training Magazine is an encouraging sign, companies still want their employees to learn what needs to be learned and back on the job to apply those skills in as little time as possible. “More training” should mean workers are being taught more and not taking more time to learn the same amount of information. Tablet training technology not only improves the quality of learning, but also the efficiency of it. Employees train in less time yet are more productive.
More Convenient Options to Train
The usual training methods, no matter how effective they are, can be thoroughly inconvenient for employees and managers. Printed training manuals often are bulky and barely read; one-on-one sessions are inefficient for busy managers; and training classes pull too many employees off the floor, where they would likely rather be anyway. Training technology that employs tablets increases the convenience that many companies count on to be productive. Workers can view training content at a time and place that’s best for them—on break, during slow periods, or even at home if they want. Furthermore, employees can take an iPad or tablet with them in the kitchen, on the floor, or into the field. Training “where the action is” is far more effective than trying to learn in a windowless office in the back of the warehouse.
Training with Impact
With more Millennials entering the workforce every day, the old employee training methods seem ancient to this younger generation. Today’s tablet-based training technology resonates with this burgeoning group of workers. If they are impressed with training on an iPad, they will more likely become invested in their jobs.
Another impact of today’s training technology is the video capabilities that tablets bring to the table. Study after study has shown that visual imagery creates a more lasting impression than the printed word. Video delivers training that is absorbed faster and applied more effectively, thus boosting productivity.
Less Struggle, Better Results for Trainers
Training specialists at large companies are tasked with ensuring employees across multiple locations learn necessary skills. The task isn’t easy: Content must be delivered all over the country, with no guarantee it is being taught and applied correctly. Tablet-based training technology can eliminate many of the struggles that training managers and execs encounter. Content can be automatically sent and updated to devices throughout the company, without the need to plug in every tablet for a small revision. Communication and collaboration is simpler and more direct, thus facilitating best practices. Finally, the effectiveness of your training initiatives can be tracked, as can the subsequent boost in productivity.
How has your training programs boosted productivity across business locations?
