Why Online Training is Better Than On-Site Training

Even before the Coronavirus forced us to do more things on-line and off-site there was a massive trend towards online learning. E-learning allows manufacturers to access high-quality learning and educational resources at lower costs — with the added benefits of being more flexible and having higher retention and completion rates.

Now, more than ever before online learning is the way forward for manufacturers.  Read on to see the top six reasons you should make the switch.

#1. Employees Learn More

The number one question employers ask is: Is online learning effective?

The overwhelming answer is yes! Study after study shows that online learning is just as effective, or maybe even more so than face-to-face learning — and employees actually have higher levels of recall with online learning courses.

In fact, one of the biggest arguments against on-site training is how little employees remember after the fact. Face-to-face teaching has benefits, but in practice, only learning experiences that speak directly to our needs — and allow for immediate application — boost memory retention.

E-learning courses divide training programs into specific areas of knowledge, which helps to increase relevancy, and means that employees are far more likely to retain key takeaways.

Online courses also give employees full control over their own learning, allowing them to work at their own speed and move quickly over the content they understand, whereas they can concentrate more time and effort on areas where they need it — meaning they spend more time learning what they actually need to learn.

Online learning courses also typically have more assessments, and self-assessments, built into the learning program, which is shown to improve engagement — and help participants to be less distracted and retain more information.

All-in-all, e-learning is an effective tool for manufacturers to train their staff and improve workplace skills and competencies.

#2. More Cost Effective

Online training sessions are not only effective at getting employees to learn and retain educational materials, they are also much more cost-effective than traditional face-to-face training programs.

Many expenses — booking training facilities, travel costs for employees or trainers — are greatly reduced with online training courses.

That doesn’t mean that elearning is free as there are costs associated with it including subscribing to learning management programs and systems, purchasing outside course materials, online facilitator fees, as well as general upkeep and administration, but these costs are much less for manufacturers than paying for on-site training.

Also — spoiler alert — online training takes up much less time employee-time, meaning less employee time away from the job.

#3. Requires Less Time

Employees, and companies alike, often put off investing in training opportunities for themselves and their organizations because of the time commitment.

But e-learning can be just as effective — or more effective — over a shorter period of time. IBM found that their employees learned five times more material in online learning courses — over the same amount of time — than they did in traditional face-to-face courses!

This is because online training puts employees in the driver’s seat of their learning and development. They get to decide how long to train, when to complete tasks, and how to structure their own development paths — not only is it a smaller time commitment on the part of your employees,, they are also able to focus on the areas they need most in that time, allowing for higher levels of learning retention.

The flexibility that is built into online training courses gives 24/7 access to training materials, meaning employees can learn on their own time, and aren’t required to keep up with their peers in a session. This means that your staff can work at their own pace and level of comprehension, empowering them to learn more and take charge of their own professional development.

E-learning courses also generally allow employees to split the time they are investing in the course in whichever way that works for them. They don’t need to be able to dedicate large chunks of time to the course, as it will be just as effective if they can set aside half an hour here or there than devoting full days to training.

As long as they complete the required training it doesn’t matter if they do it all at once, or in bite-sized chunks — whatever works best for their time-management and learning style.

This means that employees are off the job for shorter periods of time, while still getting the skills and competencies that they need.

Which leads us to our next point…

#4. More Engaging

Your team members consist of different backgrounds and experience levels — meaning everyone will have a different learning style that works best for them.

On-line training courses are usually made up of a mix of content delivery styles — videos, readings, interactive quizzes, guided tutorials, online lectures, and Q&A sessions to name a few — meaning they are better able to meet the various needs and learning styles of staff members.

Personalized training paths help each staff member to develop the skills, competencies, and knowledge that they need for their job.

More engaging learning courses also equates to higher completion rates. If employees can learn in the style — and timeframe — that best suits their needs, they will be more likely to finish the training courses, and improve their skill levels.

#5. The Greener Alternative

We all want to lessen our environmental impact these days, and online training is not only a great alternative for your staff, it’s also a great alternative for the environment.

The Open University in Britain have found that online courses equate to an average of 90% less energy and 85% fewer CO2 emissions per student than traditional in person courses.

And it’s not just universities and other traditional educational institutions that see environmental benefits. Online training means less travel-time lowering carbon emissions, and environmental footprints. Video conferencing is more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, as well as allows off-site employees to easily participate in training courses.

The Best of Both Worlds: Blended Learning

If you’re still unsure about making the switch from on-site to online training, consider a blended learning program. This enables you to gradually introduce learning technologies to your employees and steadily build an online training program, while still getting the face-to-face learning that some of your employees crave.

Many organizations have started moving to blended learning to maximize the benefits of both face-to-face and online training. The idea of blended learning is simple: learners use both online and instructor-led training. The proportion of both can vary greatly — it might be 90% online with very occasional in-person training, or the complete opposite. It doesn’t matter the format you pick, just go with what works best for you and your organization.

Blended learning has also been proven to be quite effective, and can give your employees the emotional advantages of face-to-face interaction — which can lead to higher user satisfaction among employees — as well as all of the benefits of e-learning. In short: blended learning can give you the best of both worlds.

Genius Academy — Genius ERP’s Online Training Platform

Genius Academy puts you in the driver’s seat.

With 24/7 access to our extensive and engaging e-learning system, you will have the flexibility to learn the core concepts of Genius ERP on your own schedule.

Genius Academy lets you save time and money by reducing on-site days in favor of our tailored e-courses that include all the information your team will need to get up to speed quickly and efficiently. You can also track your team’s readiness with quizzes and built-in performance metrics that verify you are ready for implementation.

Our custom assisted training lets you choose the perfect mix of e-learning and on-site training days, to customize learning to your unique requirements. And you’ll always be fully supported by our expert implementation team throughout.

Onboard New Employees Quickly

Genius Academy allows you to onboard new staff quickly and efficiently, as you will always have access to complete and up-to-date training materials, without incurring added training costs. New staff will get fully up to speed, ensuring that everyone on your team is confident, and uses Genius ERP with ease.

Continuous Learning

Continuous access to Genius Academy will allow your team to develop new skills and knowledge, to grow their expertise and competencies. As you add Genius modules, and as our software evolves, you can guarantee your staff stays up-to-date with the new features and improved processes. Measure your team’s competencies and abilities, and get Genius Certified to ensure you are using Genius ERP to its fullest capacity.

With Genius Academy you will always be able to build and manage your company’s training plan and direct your team’s development — to grow where you need it most.

Check out Genius Academy today!