7 E-learning platforms for workforce development
An e-learning platform used to be static and typically dull. Fast-forward to today and e-learning platforms are cutting-edge, efficient, fun, and are imperative to workforce development and company growth. Why are e-learning platforms used in the workplace? Recent data suggests that when employers spend $1,500 per employee, per year on training, they achieve improvements in profit margins of around...
- Table of contents
An e-learning platform used to be static and typically dull. Fast-forward to today and e-learning platforms are cutting-edge, efficient, fun, and are imperative to workforce development and company growth.
Why are e-learning platforms used in the workplace?Copied
Recent data suggests that when employers spend $1,500 per employee, per year on training, they achieve improvements in profit margins of around 24%.
Impressive! Furthermore, for every additional $680 a company spends, the shareholder return rises on average by 6%.
Cloud-based e-learning platform systems are the perfect environment for virtual learning and development, as they offer seamless access to information, easily shareable data, and provide tracking multi-user collaboration.
What is an e-learning platform?Copied
An online learning platform or e-learning platform is an integrated set of interactive online services that provide managers, employees and others involved in workplace education with information, tools and resources to support and enhance workforce development.
A successful e-learning platform should create a stable learning experience that feels like an educational experience, offering the traditional learning characteristics (like Q&As, discussions, collaborative projects and quizzes) but either online or through a device (for example a laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile.)
Just as there are multiple learning styles for different types of employees, the e-learning platform chosen should be able to host different content formats to address specific learning methods. Some examples of formats include articles, webinars, PowerPoint presentations, and video.
But these are just a few examples of content formats that can be used in e-learning platforms. Learning & development e-learning platforms should also include content, learning, evaluation, and communication modules.
Copied
What are the benefits of e-learning?Copied
E-learning can save your company money in comparison to instructor-led training.
But it also has so many other benefits for your employees and the company, such as:
1. Saves your organization money
Its cost-effectiveness can reduce outgoing costs on trainers, as well as expenses associated with training rooms, travel, catering, and materials for example.
2. Decreases learning time
E-learning can decrease the overall time invested in learning, simply down to the travel to a learning facility, as well as the time before and after the sessions and breaks.
3. Greater employee retention
With an interactive approach and learning modules, plus gamification and video, e-learning can increase your employee’s engagement levels and workplace satisfaction, resulting in greater retention rates.
4. Provides employees with continuous access to key resources
With convenient access at almost anytime online, employees tend to invest more time due to its flexible approach. This can motivate them to learn more and perform better due to its convenient access.
5. Fits your employee’s flexible schedules
E-learning is the ideal approach, simply because not all of your staff fit one method. Everyone has a different work schedule or workload, not only that but having an all-access approach at their convenience relieves the pressure.
6. Scalable for any number of employees
Online learning is easy to scale. Simply by adding as many users/groups as you need to your e-learning platform, it’s hugely advantageous in comparison to investing in out-of-house solutions. (Paying for each employee you sign up)
7. Provides your employees and managers with up-to-date feedback
This is one of the biggest benefits of using e-learning platforms because everything is centralized in one system. Meaning that it can be viewed in real-time, which makes it beneficial for both employees and employers.
Employees can receive feedback, while employers can track the efficiency of learning and analyze the results.
What is the difference between workforce development & job training?Copied
While both are as important as each other within any job position and industry, they both play different roles.
Job training
Job training is essentially upskilling, which focuses on a particular skill or skill set needed to perform the job. Teaching an employee to operate the software your company uses could be an example of job training. This usually happens during onboarding, as the employee builds the necessary skills to perform their everyday tasks.
Workforce development
Workforce development is an upskilling method that supports success now and in the future. It gives each employee the knowledge they need to support the business to achieve its goals. Workforce development differs from job training by focusing not on what the employee needs to know now, but how they can develop over time to contribute even more within the company.
The difference: While job training is complete when employee’s prove competency in particular areas, workforce development is an ongoing process.
What are the best Corporate Learning Management Systems (CLMS) in the industry? Let’s take a look at the top 7 e-learning platforms that drive workforce development successfully and efficiently…
The 7 best e-learning platforms for workforce developmentCopied
We have listed 7 e-learning platforms that are the most popular and most effective within the workforce learning and development industry that organizations should consider.
Moodle
This is a scalable and customizable learning management system that features blended learning, built-in courses, mobile learning – both asynchronous and synchronous learning, certification management, and video conferencing.
It can also be adapted to corporate and business applications. What’s more, it’s open-source so it’s completely free to use on your own servers.
Degreed
As an enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) solution, it enables companies to manage thousands of courses and platforms in one centralized system so employees’ can learn at convenience.
It features customizable learning pathways, and the admin can easily track employees progress. It also makes talent identification a lot easier since managers can view which employees have cross-functional skills.
TalentLMS
This mobile-friendly cloud platform learning-management system, or LMS, allows users to learn from their tablets, smartphones, or laptops. As a readily available white-labelled solution, it means enterprises, organizations, or individuals can incorporate it or even re-sell the platform as their own.
What’s more, it features complete reports, embedded tools and built-in tests. Its free plan is for up to five users and 10 courses, and they also offer larger packages and more defined customizable solutions.
Grovo
This Learning Management System (LMS) is an employee training platform that’s quick and easy to set up. The e-learning platform system provides data to help employers learn more about their employees’ strengths and weaknesses and to continuously improve their training experience within the workplace.
The platform also allows its users to access the content library of more than 6,000 bite-sized videos, a learning advisory service for personalized content, and strategy programs and training.
GyrusAim
This e-learning platform for workforce development is designed to completely manage the Learning & Development (L&D) phase of companies, ranging from 100 employees up to multi-site, enterprise organizations requiring complex training.
It features activity auditing, certificate management, attendance tracking, live event hosting, gamification, and asynchronous/synchronous learning methods.
Although it offers a free trial, the fully operational e-learning tools cost is dependent on the number of users.
Gurucan
As cloud-based software, it is predominantly aimed at Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the online media, health wellness & fitness, and video production industries. It features online courses, live webinars, and the ability to create a mobile app for Learning & Development (L&D) purposes for the workforce.
It also features asynchronous and blended learning options, live chat and webinar options, and activity grading.
Cornerstone Learning
This particular e-learning platform is easily adaptable and used by companies of all sizes and all industry types. Not only is it compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac it’s accessible by desktop, mobile app, and it’s also cloud-based. But it features activity grading, auditing, bulk user account action, certification & compliance management, gamification, and offers all learning methods.
If you are aiming for an integrated learning ecosystem to have your workforce trained on the latest requirements and trends, then you might want to consider a skills management system that integrates with e-learning platforms. For example, the AG5 skills management software can be integrated with Moodle as well as Cornerstone’s LMS.
Learning can be fun!Copied
If there is one thing about learning and development, it’s not all fun and games so to speak. However, with today’s diverse pick of e-learning platforms on offer for workforce development, it can be less daunting and mundane, and more casual and engaging!
With AG5 skills management software you can enjoy a user-friendly, easy-to-use learning environment that also supports the integration of e-learning platforms that enable employers to track progress and visualize their employees’ required and potential new skills.
AG5 can map specific skills and knowledge that can determine the organizational structure, assign the right member of staff for the job, and can enable management to enter training results directly to support workforce development.
Having trouble aligning company goals with e-learning results? We have made it easier to gain insights about your workforce’s development by providing a complete overview of training results, automatically updated into a skills database.
