As recent reports show, mobile internet consumption has increased exponentially in the last decade. Zenith's Media Consumption Forecasts highlights the ballooning use of on-the-go technology: "People around the world will spend an average of 122 minutes a day accessing the mobile internet via browsers and apps, an amount that has grown from just ten minutes a day since 2010." And the younger generations--most specifically, millennials--are most likely to spend large portions of time attached to their mobile devices. Yet instead of resisting this trend, more and more employers are deciding to capitalize on it -- by modernizing their management methods.
There are multiple reasons why this move works, not only for the success of the company as a whole, but also as a strategic tactic that creates better-trained, more committed employees. It's a win-win. For employers, mobile learning is efficient and effective; for employees, mobile learning is engaging and easily-accessible.
Efficient
Mobile learning platforms speed up processes that used to take days or even weeks. Onboarding employees, for instance, is a breeze with mobile training. Not only can employers upload videos and checklists to one central location, but employees can also choose when and where to complete these tasks. Down the road, employees are able to refer back to these resources whenever the need arises, making the once-dreaded hundred-page "job training manual" finally obsolete. For a more thorough look at how mobile learning can benefit all those involved, check out our guide, "Trust the Data: How Modern Learning Impacts Your Operational Performance."
Effective
For Directors of Operations and those in similar roles, mobile training is truly a godsend. Handing out stacks of intake questionnaires and quarterly assessment documents is, thankfully, a thing of the past; instead, communication within a mobile learning platform creates instant documentation while providing managers with data they can manipulate immediately. Improvements can be made and implemented within a matter of minutes, instead of having to schedule meetings, make spreadsheets, and monitor changes over long periods of time. Forbes.com reports, "Mobile learning is changing the way content is delivered and how the workforce is trained. Multimedia capabilities and on-the-go learning keep employees engaged and active with your content and vastly improves learning outcomes." The ability to track data effectively cannot be underestimated, particularly as a business grows in size. Reliable, continuous feedback about employee development and management can transform a company's performance on a daily basis.
Engaging
Anyone who knows (or is!) a millennial understands that the ability to focus and retain information has been impacted by the prevalence of technology in the modern world. As such, gaining the full attention of your employees during professional development sessions or routine training protocols can be a daunting task. Mobile learning modules make this necessity far less challenging, and the experience can even prove to be enjoyable for employees. Furthermore, information processed in this way remains in our memory for longer, making mobile learning a more productive educational tool for all those involved.
Easily-Accessible
Millennials thrive when they have choice and independence, and are far more likely to fully immerse themselves in a training course or skill-based module when they have some aspect of control - like choosing when or where to complete their training. Some employees may prefer to learn on-the-go, while commuting to work, whereas others would rather learn in the comfort of their own home. Mobile learning platforms not only cater to different learning styles and preferences, but can also offer various forms of assessment and communication for both employees and employers. Collaboration between colleagues, for instance, which is often wrought with conflict, becomes far easier when both parties are able to contribute on a timeline that works for their schedule and from multiple devices, whether at work or at home.
Overall, it is clear that mobile learning, training, and management are the future for our businesses and workplaces. Mobile learning is efficient and effective for employers; it is a practice that allows "leaders from across your organization to form stronger bonds with networking and engagement features that will extend beyond the training and throughout their careers." For employees, especially those of the ever-fickle millennial generation, mobile learning offers an engaging and easily-accessible experience that caters to their independence while fostering commitment and self-improvement. With mobile learning, both companies and careers benefit. For more innovative and forward-thinking mobile management solutions, reach out today.
