E-Learning > The Benefits

The Benefits:
Strategic, Tactical & Operational

Knowledge is recognized as a personal competitive advantage, and it is a company’s most important asset. Continuous learning — as an individual, as a workgroup-team, and as an enterprise— is the only way to remain marketable and viable in the Information Age economy. E-Learning services these needs by enabling the following key benefits:

1. Less expensive to produce and maintain — E-Learning programs provide immense amounts of information in a smaller, cost-effective format. It can be updated more easily and quickly because of using digital formats. Since the primary message of instruction is packaged in the E-Learning media, the message is more consistent over a large audience than can be achieved when using numerous instructors.
    
2. Customizing & personalizing to the learner's unique needs increases retention — Learners have more control over their learning process and can interact with and adjust learning materials so as to better understand it. In some cases this has allowed a 60% faster learning curve, as compared to instructor-led training. Increased retention has been linked to both the multi-media format that engages several learning channels, interactivity which puts the learner into an active rather than passive processing mode, and the ability to replay material that was not clear the first time.
    
3. Self-paced — Most e-learning programs can be taken whenever needed. Usually, the learner can go through smaller chunks of training and education, use it and absorb it for a while before moving on to the next curriculum element. Learners are typically able to complete lessons faster than in a conventional classroom, in some cases up to 50% faster.
    
4. Anywhere and any time - E-learners can go through training sessions from any location and at anytime (24/7 access). This benefit can make learning possible for people who never would be able to work it into their schedules otherwise.

The following benefits illustrate a more comprehensive view of the impact of E-Learning on the enterprise — both big and small corporations and educational institutions. Note that these benefits describe to E-Learning as integrated with Knowledge Management and Performance Support components. The emphasis is not merely on the use of technology, but on the emergence of new organizational dynamics that are made possible when an enterprise utilizes E-Learning solutions.

Therefore, these solutions can be implemented in ways that impact the enterprise strategically, tactically and operationally as required. The distinctions depend on the scope and pervasiveness of implementation, the degree of budgetary commitment, and the time-frame/objectives of the E-Learning programs implemented.

Increase Productivity

• Improve and assess employee competencies.
• Define knowledge levels and skill sets of employees.
• Manage continual learning programs that enhance skills.
• Increase the speed of new technology implementations.
• Reduce knowledge gaps, providing for effective teamwork.
• Reduce operating errors.
• Share best practices and methodologies across the enterprise, saving money in operating costs through increased productivity.

Reduce Training Costs

• Reduce expensive on-site training programs.
• Make learning available to a global audience.
• Update programs and information at Internet speed.
• Eliminate cost-burdened production of materials by providing online accessibility.
• Reduce time away from the office.

Gain Competitive Advantage

• Shorten sales cycle.
• Develop products that meet customer's demands.
• Increase product knowledge of employees and customers.
• Promote innovative thinking among your workforce.
• Differentiate product offerings by providing e-Learning as a value added service.

Drive Business Transformation

• Clearly communicate and align workforce with new corporate strategies.
• Effectively integrate the enterprise post mergers and acquisitions.
• Provide training to help implement new enterprise systems such as CRM and ERP, in a matter of weeks rather than years.
• Educate entire enterprise of processes that effect business change.

Launch Products Faster

• Ensure products are launched to the entire value chain with accurate market positioning.
• Shorten product development cycles.
• Launch new products and services globally.
• Train before, during and after your launch.

Improve Customer Loyalty

• Help employees and customers better understand the intricacies of products and services offered.
• Ensure a consistent customer experience.
• Enhance customer relationships.
• Increase the value of product/service.
• Improve customer service by helping clients solve their own problems.

Train Globally 24/7

• Remove the bounds of geography with e-Learning.
• Provide accessibility to world-class learning solutions any time and anywhere.
• Global enterprises can reach all audiences through localized content and technologies.

Eliminate Knowledge Gaps

• Companies understand today that their most valuable asset is human capital.
• Investments made to retain knowledge and eliminate skill-set differentials affect the bottom line.
• Know what skills employees possess and what skills are needed to improve production, service and overall performance.
• Fill in the gaps with the appropriate learning.

Educate the Extended Enterprise

• Learning is not only required within the walls of the enterprise, but extended out to the entire value chain.
• Customers, channel partners, vendors, distributors, alliances and unions need to have the same knowledge as employees.
• Increase the use of the product, value of the service and most importantly grow revenues.
• Shorten sales cycles, improve time to market and add value to your products.

Ramp New Hires Faster

• Assessing skills and knowledge levels defines opportunities for critical training to accelerate an employee’s performance and productivity.
• Affecting sales and production, fully trained workforces give organizations a competitive edge.
• Provide access globally 24/7.

Re-skill and Retain Employees

• Trained employees are satisfied employees.
• Learning, education and cross training on new technologies increases employee efficiency, and knowledge sharing keeps skills current.
• Employees can also develop new skills for career development.
• New processes can be implemented faster with an educated workforce.

Increase Job Satisfaction

• Knowledge + confidence = satisfaction.
• Satisfied employees leads to increased customer support (empathy, responsiveness, knowledge)
• Satisfied employees lead to increased productivity and lower turnover.
• Confident employees not only positively impact the company’s image; they are more productive.

E-Learning System Architecture

The Benefits

Technology Overview