How Is Corporate Training Technology Improving

Corporate training technology is constantly evolving. The ever-changing climate provides companies with plenty of opportunities, if they are willing to embrace a new way of training their employees. There are some compelling reasons for businesses to consider modern training technology. New training methods are more engaging, more efficient and more effective. However, there’s more to consider than the technology’s benefits and capabilities. Companies must also consider who they are training, because young professionals expect modern technology to be involved.

How are millennials changing the face of corporate training technology?

Millennials have been a primary catalyst in the drive to improve corporate training technologies, and this can be clearly seen with eLearning. Millennials will represent close to 75 percent of the 2025 workforce, so companies are having to adapt to what this generation wants from their training regimen. So, what do millennials want? They want meaningful training that connects directly with what they do. They want customized development tracks that promise future development. They want the ability to tackle their training as aggressively as they see fit. They want their training to leverage current technology to create a compelling learning experience. If companies want to attract the best and brightest of this generation, they will need training methods that offer all of the above.

What are the most effective corporate training technologies and trends currently?

While the future of corporate training technology is extremely bright, it’s also pretty bright in the present. The wealth of online resources and the tech-savvy Millennials have forced companies to update their training procedures, to the benefit of everyone. While traditional corporate training methods still have their place, many of them are too slow, too dull or too unreliable to meet the needs of modern business. Fortunately, the corporate (and educational) world is on the brink of a golden age of improved training methods. Some of them include:

1. Always-available eLearning – eLearning is, perhaps, the most important corporate training trend going on now, and it looks like a long-term trend. In fact, the academic and corporate eLearning industries generated close to $200 billion in revenue in 2018.

Why is eLearning so compelling? A primary reason is because both businesses and employees appreciate the flexibility that comes with it. Further, there’s no mystery involved with eLearning, because we’re all familiar with the concept. Anyone who has watched a YouTube video on how to fix a leaky pipe or perform an oil change has engaged in eLearning. In the corporate training world, eLearning technology is just a streamlined way of delivering industry or company-specific training, solely using online resources.

With improved video streaming and delivery options, businesses can put together their own training content with ease, and can deliver it via a stream or with videos on demand, or VODs. Employees are particularly fond of VODs, as they can be utilized in a just-in-time fashion, with the employee choosing when and where to train. Employees can also proceed at their own pace and even customize their training approach, should their employer allow for it.

If there’s one corporate training technology that companies must prioritize, it is eLearning. It provides the convenience and tech-focused form of training that younger employees especially appreciate.

2. Virtual reality – Virtual reality, or VR, has the potential to revolutionize many experiences, including the world of corporate training. Modern VR systems can generate environments and scenarios that are incredibly lifelike, often fooling people who are new to the technology, at least for a short time.

VR technology is attainable for most businesses, and compared to many corporate training technologies, VR is quite affordable. Even better, it’s unlike anything most people have experienced, so it leaves a lasting impression on trainees.

There are a couple primary reasons why companies should consider VR for their training methods. One, training scenarios can be rapidly developed for VR platforms, so no matter what material needs to be delivered, there is likely already VR training software available for it. This is a new market that will respond to emerging demand, so important training modules will likely be released nonstop for the foreseeable future. This is a platform that has a lot of support from hardware and software developers, so long-term support is expected.

VR is also one of the few training methods that incorporates several forms of learning. VR is obviously visual, but it also provides an audio and tactile component that other learning technologies don’t always offer. Once the user gets comfortable with the technology’s controls, they can manipulate their environment in a natural way. When it’s time to put that training into practice, they will have muscle memory on their side. For this reason, VR training is an exciting option for employees that rely on mechanical skills.

3. Collaborative learning – Collaboration is an important corporate function, for both training and project execution. On the training front, companies are connecting their employees together for shared learning experiences, usually powered by sophisticated collaboration technology. This includes interactive flat panels, which can serve as a true multi-tool for a company. Interactive flat panels are already appreciated for their ability to drive meetings and presentations, but they also provide a compelling option for trainers.

With interactive flat panels and other collaborative technology, companies can promote a culture of learning that never stops. When a huddle room opens up with an interactive flat panel, anyone interested in training can duck into the space for some rapid-fire learning. Giving employees control over their own learning is something that professionals want, and is also particularly attractive to younger professionals.

Corporate training technology is developing at an incredible rate, and training methods that would have been considered impossible just a decade ago are now emerging. As a result, companies can enhance their employees’ knowledge and skills like never before, as long as they commit to this golden age of training.