From small scale start-ups to fully-fledged enterprises, all companies have training needs. Providing the right learning tools is crucial to enabling company growth, which explains why an increasing number of businesses are choosing to outsource their training.
The benefits of Training-as-a-Service (TaaS)
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When some professionals think about training, they picture having to schedule regular time out of their work calendar to go to a classroom, run through the syllabus, and complete a certification within a set timeframe.
Yet as technology has expanded and evolved, this traditional training model is increasingly outdated.
Choosing online training over classroom learning makes maintaining regular education easier for individuals. Online training and resources are up to date and available, enabling the training to be flexible, fast-moving and adaptable in the face of a rapidly changing and expanding industry.
Provided, of course, that you can keep your training software and associated programme regularly updated. eLearning platforms are just like the programmes they host–constantly changing. Providers introduce new features and functionalities every so often, which means companies also need to keep the software updated in addition to the learning materials and programme administration.
This is where Training-As-A-Service (TaaS) comes in. TaaS providers manage a company’s eLearning resources, ensuring it’s updated and reducing complexity.
A managed and hosted LMS solution provides a more effective and cost-efficient way of delivering training. It means you can concentrate on the course content as the subject matter experts and we can focus on its delivery and administration.
Related reading: How Managed Learning Services can help your business scale-up
The benefits of Training-as-a-Service:
Saved time
Generating interest and enthusiasm for training typically isn’t a problem. People want to learn, and are constantly looking for opportunities to work on their skills. However, just because sales partners want to learn, it doesn’t mean they have time to spare. Lack of time is the top reason professionals knock training lower down their priority list.
Online training removes the barrier of set schedules, allowing people to participate at their own pace. This is especially important for channel partner training. These aren’t only professionals, but entire companies who are busy working on their own business. Training-as-a-Service (TaaS) platforms make knowledge accessible, whenever you’re ready to learn.
Saved budget
When it comes to traditional classroom training, there’s one element many organisers dread: the budget. Conference halls alone can put you back by thousands, especially if the training takes multiple days. Arranging transport and accommodations for everyone, especially if the training is abroad, can turn into an expensive, logistical nightmare.
TaaS abolishes those costs. Bound only by fees related to developing, implementing and managing the training programme, signing onto Learning Management Systems (LMS) is significantly more scalable and affordable than one-and-done classroom sessions. Plus, learners can revisit materials when needed, empowering them to turn theory into application out on the field. Companies no longer need to bring in subject matter experts every time a new batch of professionals come onboard, as the materials are already there and ready to be deployed.
Consistent training
Even though your sales partners are not your employees, end-users expect a consistent experience across all channels. Yet many consumers feel that departments aren’t communicating and sharing information, often getting one message from one representative, and a different one from another.
The strength of your marketing, brand voice, and service quality hinges on learners being taught the same way. And it’s harder to control for consistency during classroom training sessions, especially if you have delegated responsibility for your training to distributors and other third-parties. Facilitators can change, teaching styles differ, materials may be outdated. eLearning gives training managers absolute control over course content and its rollout, no matter where the learner may be located.
Ease of securing management buy in
The high cost of training, in work disrupted and in costs, can make classroom training a difficult sell for upper management. Many managers will also be reluctant to allow learners to dedicate days to training, which makes it harder to incentivise participation.
Online training minimises these barriers. As it’s more affordable, justifying spend is easier. The flexibility of eLearning courses and TaaS also enables managers and business owners to constantly promote the programme and encourage participation. Channel partners are more likely to push training onto their employees when they know that there will be minimal disruption.
Online access and flexibility
Accessibility is one of the biggest benefits of online training over traditional training. You can reach hundreds of learners from different regions, as long as they have a phone or a computer. Support materials are only a click away, ensuring partners can swiftly solve problems when they’re on-site.
Ease of access is an even bigger boon for companies with channel partner networks. Coordinating training between hundreds of vendors is difficult. An online resource portal ensures information is always available for partners when they need it. For instance, when a user comes in with an issue they’ve never encountered before. Learners don’t have to wait for suppliers–who may be in different timezones–to grant access or send materials. Dedicated support agents are also made available to help them navigate through pathways, no matter the time of day.
Certifications on demand
Many certifications, including major ones from companies like Adobe, SAP, and Microsoft, are subject to availability. If you miss enrolment or class schedules aren’t compatible with your schedule, you have little choice but to wait for the next round of tests. Some certifications are also only held in select testing centres–a bother for learners who don’t live near the area.
eLearning platforms enable learners to get accredited whenever they want. This helps encourage customers and partners to participate in classes, knowing that the certification exam waiting at the end is a seamless process.
Online access
Courses and support materials can be accessed any time via any online device. This offers the additional benefit of resource availability to support on-site work
Paced to suit the individual
Training can typically take more than a day, especially for technical, complex products. Some certification programmes take weeks. Yet not every learner can commit to successive days of learning. Unlike students at university, these are individuals who have their own deadlines and KPIs to meet, and can’t afford to be away from their work for very long.
Online platforms don’t ask learners to choose between finishing a report and completing a class. Your LMS provider can easily adapt programmes to the schedules of learners, increasing chances of participation and completion. People also consume and process information at different rates. A course paced to the learner’s speed and skill level can help them better retain information.
70/20/10 development
70% of learning comes from real life experience, 20% comes via feedback from managers or supervisors, and 10% comes via formal training.
Online training supports the 70/20/10 development model, offering a consistently available point of reference, learning material, and support to help professionals while on-site and learning via practical experience.
Multilingual Support
Channel partners are your key to expanding into new markets. Yet language barriers can hinder training efforts. Important information can get lost in translation. If you want to maximise results, you need to offer courses in languages learners are comfortable in.
Online training can be made available in multiple languages to support student preferences. One key requirement for the above is the Learning Management System (LMS) to support your programme needs. While many off the shelf LMS systems are available, they mostly require you to manage and administer them yourself, which requires staffing, expertise, management and risk.
How can we help?
At Wahoo Learning we are specialists in providing managed LMS solutions. Utilising our own WahooLMS, a customised LMS solution can be deployed within days which matches your organisations brand. The solution is hosted and managed on your behalf and with an SLA guaranteeing 99.99% up-time, you can be confident that your customers get a great experience.
Related reading: Everything you need to know about our Managed Learning Services
Whether you have your own eLearning content already, or require custom content to be created by our expert instructions designers, we’ll get you up-and-running in no time. For more information about how the Wahoo Learning can help you, take a look the details here, or get in touch.
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