One factor that affects productivity in the retail business is a lack of proper training. Most retail companies still rely on the traditional physical training method, which is costly, rigid and time-wasting. And this leads to low productivity and a high rate of employee attrition.
As with any other organisation, the success of retail companies depends on the people. An efficient training system leads to a productive and happy workforce, which in turn leads to high employee retention and an increased bottom line.
What is On-demand Training?
Also known as learning in the flow of work, on-demand training is a learning system that allows trainees to educate themselves in real-time and at their own pace. With on-demand training, the employee can access a range of instructions and knowledge through written or visual media, as they have been pre-recorded.
On-demand training works better than the traditional training system because it allows for more flexibility. It allows employees to access training whenever they need it and to implement what they learn immediately.
Why On-demand Training?
We can’t overstate the importance of remote, on-demand training. Apart from the flexibility and the convenience it gives employees, listed below are some other reasons on-demand training is essential:
One advantage that on-demand training has over traditional training systems is that it is time-saving and cost-effective. With the traditional learning system, employees have to go to a physical training point, wasting valuable time and money. With on-demand learning, however, you get to cut costs and save time.
Retail companies invest a lot of money and time in training their employees so that they will be productive and successful at their jobs. However, the industry is susceptible to high employee turnover, and therefore, they spend money on training new hires. On-demand training eradicates this. With on-demand training, there is no need to employ a new trainer or organise training events as training materials are reusable and readily available for new employees.
For training to be effective, it has to prioritize the learner. The traditional training method falls short when it comes to this. It fails to put the learners’ peculiarities into consideration. An instructor-led training method does not consider the learning style and pace of each learner. The instructor just takes a stab in the dark. And this one-size-fits-all approach to training is not effective.
Not so with on-demand learning where learners can learn at their own pace and time, with a style that suits them. They can repeat each training module as many times as they need to. This improves their assimilation rate and the ability to accurately implement what they’ve learned.
With the rise of remote working and workers looking for more flexibility, companies need now more than ever to incorporate digital technology into their systems. And this includes the adoption of on-demand learning, which allows employees to learn from their place of convenience. This flexibility increases productivity, as well as employee satisfaction and retention.