Online or virtual training is a learning process done over the internet. In a professional setting, it is used to improve the skills and knowledge of employees. Over the last couple of years, virtual training has become very popular as many companies shifted to a hybrid or work-from-home setup amidst the global pandemic. To ensure their safety without compromising their career growth, a lot of people found online training appealing when it came to their professional development.
With the wide range of virtual training courses available today, businesses can easily pick the right one that will help boost their employees’ performance. However, some companies still prefer face-to-face interactions when investing in training programs for their employees. They feel online training lacks the engagement and conducive learning environment found in classrooms.
But with today’s advanced technology and high-quality courses, online training has proven to be just as effective, if not better, than traditional on-site training. If you’re uncertain about investing in online training, here are some of the advantages that make virtual learning the better choice, depending on your preferences and circumstances.
It’s Cost-Efficient
One of the major concerns of many organisations is the costs associated with employee training. Many businesses believe online training requires a huge investment, which is why they often veer away from it.
But the truth is, it can be more affordable than classroom training. When you do online training, you no longer have to handle the costs of the trainer’s travel expenses, printed materials, and training site rentals. If the training will be held in another venue, you also won’t have to pay your employees for several days’ worth of training and transportation to the training centre.
With virtual training, the only expenses you need to take care of are the course fees. All learning materials and resources your employees will need are often included in the initial fee. Also, many businesses specialising in training offer discounted prices to train large groups of people, which can help you save up more money.
It’s Convenient
Virtual training has a flexible schedule, which means your employees can attend a session anytime, anywhere. As long as they have an internet connection, they can participate in the training using their laptop or tablet. They can take the training course during their breaks or after work at home. This flexibility allows employees to focus on the learnings rather than think about the work responsibilities they need to catch up on when attending face-to-face training.
In addition, employees can set their own learning pace with online training. Since everyone has their own way of absorbing and processing new information, one employee may need more time understanding new concepts than another. With online training, a person can go back to a previous lesson if they need to review anything.
It’s Scalable
Another advantage of virtual training is that it can accommodate a lot of students. So, if you need every employee in your company to learn about a specific module, everyone can access it. You just need to coordinate with the online training company so that multiple people can use the online resources. So, there’s no need to look for available instructors or spaces large enough to accommodate all your employees. Instead, all your people need to do is log in to the online course from their own desk or even from home to begin their training.
It Can Accommodate a Global Workforce
Online training is a great solution for multinational companies. Since anyone can take the training wherever they are, physical distance is not an issue. Indeed, companies can invest in enhancing the skills of all their employees, even if they’re located in different parts of the world.
Also, this kind of learning helps foster collaboration among employees, no matter where they are or what department in the company they belong to. For instance, individuals working in various teams can contribute to larger company discussions during the training sessions.
It Ensures a Standard and Consistent Training
With virtual training, you can be sure your employees all get the same high-quality program even if they undergo it on different schedules. A lot of online training courses have been standardised to meet the objectives and needs of the learners.
Also, these types of training don’t rely on the teaching styles of the instructors. Even if they follow the same module, the way each instructor delivers them can differ in a classroom setting. Some people may also find certain trainers more engaging than others. So, when the instructor changes, the quality and student experience of teaching during the training sessions can also change. In online training, this won’t be the case because each course stays consistent.
It Helps Monitor Employee Performance and Proficiency
When your employees attend a traditional training session, you often have to depend on assessments, on-the-job observations, and client feedback to find out the effectiveness of the training program. It makes tracking employee progress limiting.
Virtual training programs, on the other hand, allow you to monitor different aspects of your employees’ training. A lot of learning management systems today have tools and features that can help you track employee progress and performance. Some of these systems can also help identify a learner’s strengths and weaknesses, letting you know which areas an employee may need support in.
There are various benefits to taking online training compared to traditional classroom setups, as mentioned above. Whether you’re taking a virtual course for your personal development or to improve your employees’ productivity and performance, be clear about your goals. it will help you find the right course and make sure your investments are worth it.
Priority Management Australia are offering online classes you can do anywhere. See the list of our online classes here.