The benefits of elearning are endless. Whether you intend to provide comprehensive training to employees without breaking the bank or to allow users greater flexibility, they are a highly useful investment for companies striving for longevity. An important consideration when it comes to deciding on an eLearning platform however is whether to opt for a generalised platform which could be used by all businesses, or go that step further and employ a tailored system for maximum effect? To help shape your decision, we’ve compiled some useful tips on how to choose the right elearning platform and the pros and cons of both individualised and homogenized systems.
Tips for choosing the right eLearning platform
How to choose an eLearning platform can be one of the most confusing conundrums when looking to advance your business. With so many option in the market offering a world of different designs and features, selecting a platform is no small feat and can feel more overwhelming and than last-minute shopping on Christmas eve.
The critical thing to remember is the reason why you are investing in eLearning in the first place. Whether it’s to cut costs, provide remote training and accessibility or increase the company’s scalability, bearing your main objectives in mind should help drown out the promotional noise of service providers urging you to give their system a try. Another crucial step is to assess the value of the proposed system. Will this do all the things you want whilst aligning with your budget? And has this system been successful in conjunction with other companies in a similar sector? Perhaps most importantly, the key is to steer clear of boring, repetitive and unengaging programs if you want your team to raise their opinions of professional training and development as a whole.
The pros and cons of homogenized systems
If you choose a generic eLearning platform, their advantages are abundant. As they are non-specific, they can be used for a range of staff from different departments. They often include information all staff should know, for example, health and safety checks in warehouse work or customer service practices in a customer-facing industry. Furthermore, time and money is saved by not having to invest in tailoring the system.
However, as this type of system is not altered to encompass the skills and interests of its individual team members, it may not have the desired motivational effect. Employees can often see right through an attempt to polish the workforce but with minimal consideration in terms of their goals.
The pros and cons of individualised systems
A custom eLearning platform will have an opposite effect to that of a homogenised one in that it will seek to grow the individual employee by including SMART goals and action plans. These tailored programs and platforms are also better received by employees as they resonate better with individual passions and interests, overall advancing the learner’s experience and providing relevant motivation. As these platforms cater to the individual rather than the masses, their creation is more expensive than that of their generic counterparts, their design requiring more time and resources to properly prepare and maintain. The payback for can be many times the cost of that investment with a more knowledgable, engaged and valued workforce
