May the "Motiv" force be with you

By Ko de Ruyter and Debbie Keeling

The development of online education modules continues to be a growth market for Motivforce. While we keep expanding our enablement portfolio with some of our accounts in conjunction with the latest social loyalty tools (such as gamification), others are simply all about business partner learning. We often get asked to come up with a convincing business case that outlines how clients will start earning by learning. We think there are four key benefits, all with direct important bottom-line implications. 

1: Better lead times.

At a time when changes in many markets are happening faster than ever, a key advantage of our online learning products is that they have quicker delivery cycle times than traditional classroom-based training. So, knowledge can be brought to the market faster (weeks or even days, rather than months), for instance, when it turns out that there is a knowledge gap with respect to an upcoming product launch. This is backed up by recent research by Brandon Hall who report that online learning reduces learning time by at least 25 to 60 percent. This is because learners set their own pace, have no travel time to get to and from training events and they can dynamically focus on elements of a module they need to learn and can skip what they already know.

2: Online learning is cost-efficient.

This is not only due to reductions in training time and venues, it is also the result of a very focused angle on knowledge acquisition. UK retailer M&S reports to have saved £500k over traditional employee training as a result of switching to online learning. On top of that this High Street giant boasts a 22% improvement in reported customer experience ratings and, as a consequence, better bottom-line performance. McDonald's saved £5m over 2 years with their online learning program for their franchisees, as well as a 10% sales growth as a result of switching to online training.

3: Leads to more effective knowledge transfer.

There is a multitude of studies that report significantly higher learner engagement and learning experience scores. Also, test scores and consequent certification results go up so that mastery levels of employees and business partners improve vastly. Moreover, there is also evidence that suggests that there is a better long-term retention of information and knowledge acquired through online learning.

4: Environmentally responsible: companies can effectively reduce their carbon footprints

Finally, in an era in which companies are getting serious about environmental responsibility, a lower environmental impact is an important benefit. As online learning is now a viable alternative to paper-based learning and testing of traditional classrooms, companies can effectively reduce their carbon footprints. A recent study demonstrates that on average, digital learning platforms consume nearly 90 percent less energy and produce 85 percent fewer CO2 emissions per student. Through online learning, companies can cut down on travel and accommodation costs, reduce the need to operate physical learning facilities and accompanying costs of maintaining the facility and equipment, and save trees as paper costs are significantly less. It is no wonder that leading companies like Unilever and General Electric are demanding that their suppliers and business partners go online to learn.
 
Online learning is a (Motiv)force to be reckoned with; may it be with you when planning your next enablement discussion.