In the post-COVID era, the business landscape has experienced a seismic shift, resulting in the need for upskilling and reskilling being more vital than ever before. Why is this so important, you may ask? Simply put, the rapid pace of digital transformation has rendered some traditional skills obsolete while simultaneously creating a demand for new ones.
Particularly in the realm of sales, where the ability to adapt and respond to changing market conditions is key, equipping your team with the right skills cannot be overstated. However, this shift towards a digital-centric business model poses a significant challenge to conventional training methods. In-person seminars and workshops are often no longer feasible or effective due to remote working arrangements and social distancing norms.
So, how can organizations navigate this new normal and ensure their sales teams are ready to take on the evolving challenges? The answer lies in embracing web-based training (WBT). WBT offers a flexible and adaptive learning solution that aligns with the needs of today's remote workforce.
It's time to delve into the challenges of sales enablement and explore how WBT can help overcome them. Stay with us as we unpack this topic and provide actionable steps to transform your sales training strategy.
What Is Web-Based Training?
Web-based training (WBT), also known as eLearning or internet-based training, is an innovative educational approach that utilizes digital technology to deliver instructional content.
Broadly speaking, WBT is a flexible learning platform where the course materials are disseminated online. This allows learners to access the content anytime and anywhere, provided they have an internet connection. Online learning raises retention rates by 25-60%, making it a highly effective tool for training.
One significant advantage of WBT is its adaptability. Traditional in-person training often requires attendees to be at a specific location at a given time. However, with WBT, the constraints of time and location are eliminated. This is especially beneficial for sales teams that are geographically dispersed or operate in different time zones.
Additionally, WBT offers a personalized learning experience, enabling learners to proceed at their own pace. They can revisit complex topics, skip over familiar content, or spend more time on challenging areas. A report by IBM indicated that learners who engage in online learning were found to learn nearly five times more material without increasing time spent in training.
In an era where digital transformation is critical and continuous learning is paramount for success, web-based training provides an efficient solution to equip your sales team with the necessary skills. So, how can you incorporate WBT in your organization? We will explore this in the next section.
Types of Web-Based Training
Web-based training comes in various forms, each with its unique advantages. Let's delve into the three primary types: Synchronous, Asynchronous, and Blended Learning.
Synchronous Web-Based Training
Do you appreciate the immediacy of traditional face-to-face training? Then synchronous web-based training might be your ideal choice. This type of training requires participants to be online simultaneously, much like a conventional classroom setting.
Examples of synchronous WBT include online tutoring, webinars, and teleconferencing. These platforms allow real-time interaction between trainers and learners, fostering engagement and immediate feedback. According to a study by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, 54% of learners find live online courses more engaging than recorded versions.
Asynchronous Web-Based Training
Asynchronous web-based training could be the perfect fit if flexibility is your priority. This style allows learners to access content conveniently without any time restrictions.
Some popular asynchronous WBT formats are eLearning courses, video tutorials, and screencasts. LinkedIn Learning, for instance, offers a vast library of asynchronous courses, enabling professionals to learn at their own pace and on their schedule.
Blended Learning
Blended learning is an innovative approach that combines the best elements of synchronous and asynchronous learning. It offers the immediacy of real-time interaction and the flexibility of self-paced learning.
A successful example of blended learning is Intel's approach. They implemented a blended program that saved them $1 billion in electronic support. The program combined virtual classrooms, eLearning modules, and face-to-face training showcasing how blending different training methods can lead to impressive results.
Choosing between synchronous, asynchronous, and blended learning depends on your specific needs and circumstances. By understanding these options, you can select your organization's most effective web-based training approach.
Benefits of Web-Based Training
The global eLearning market is experiencing rapid growth and is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025. This surge can be attributed to the numerous benefits of web-based training, which include:
- Convenience: Regarding learning flexibility, web-based training allows employees to access courses anytime, anywhere. This is particularly beneficial for those juggling different work schedules or working remotely.
- Learner-Centric: The online learning approach is designed with the learner in mind. It uses multimedia content to enhance understanding and retention rates and allows employees to learn at their own pace, increasing productivity.
- Easy Feedback: With features that enable quizzes and tests, trainers can easily monitor performance and provide immediate feedback. This instant assessment helps identify areas for improvement and gaps in knowledge.
- Cost-Effective: Traditional training methods often come with high costs, including venue rentals, travel expenses, and material costs. Web-based training eliminates these, resulting in significant savings.
- Industry Agnostic: Web-based training is not confined to one industry. It can be adapted across various sectors, from healthcare and education to IT and retail, making it versatile and accommodating to different learning needs and professional development goals.
How to Create Web-Based Training Content
Creating effective web-based training content is a strategic process that can significantly impact the performance and productivity of your team. Wondering where to start? Follow these steps:
- Set Clear Training Objectives: First, you need a roadmap. That's where the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) framework comes in. It helps you define clear, actionable objectives for your training program. For example, instead of 'improving sales skills', aim for 'increasing sales conversion rates by 20% within the next quarter through improved negotiation techniques'.
- Conduct a Needs Assessment: One-size-fits-all seldom works in training. To customize your program, conduct a needs assessment. Identify skill gaps, areas for improvement, and your team's specific needs. This data-driven approach ensures your training content is relevant and focused.
- Build a Cross-Functional L&D Team: A diverse Learning and Development (L&D) team brings different perspectives and expertise to the table. Include roles like Instructional Designers to develop the curriculum, Content Creators for engaging material, and L&D Specialists to oversee the program's successful implementation.
- Invest in Suitable Web-Based Training Software: Choose a platform that supports your training objectives. Tools like Learn to Win offer interactive, mobile-friendly modules, real-time analytics, and personalized learning paths, making training accessible and effective.
- Create Relevant and Role-Specific Content: Your training content should directly apply to your team's roles and responsibilities. From scenario-based exercises for customer service reps to coding challenges for your tech team, role-specific content enhances relevance and engagement.
VI. Web-Based Training Best Practices
To make your web-based training more effective, consider these strategies:
- Leverage Microlearning: Microlearning breaks down complex information into bite-sized, manageable modules. This approach not only improves attention span but also boosts knowledge retention. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, for example, faced a challenge in training their sales force, who needed to master large volumes of detailed scientific information. Using Learn to Win's microlearning platform saved over 500 hours per month, increased assessment completion rates from 36% to 89%, and saw significant improvements in the quality of conversations between reps and healthcare providers.
- Repurpose Training Content: Reusing content across different training types can extend its lifespan and maximize its value. For instance, you can transform a webinar recording into a series of short video modules or a downloadable PDF guide.
- Make training Interactive: Interactive content is more engaging and can improve learning outcomes. Learn to Win, for instance, offers gamified lessons and assessments that require the learners to interact with the content enjoyably.
- Provide Offline Access: Internet connectivity issues should not limit continuous learning. Providing offline access to training materials ensures learning can happen anytime, anywhere.
Remember, an effective web-based training program requires strategic planning and execution. Incorporating these techniques can lead to improved skill development, higher engagement, and better business outcomes.
Want to Incorporate Web-Based Training Into Your Team?
Don't worry. We're here to help you in every step of your training journey.
Whether you manage a small team or a nationwide cohort, web-based training can be a powerful tool for getting your learners quickly up-to-speed on company best practices. Best of all, properly implemented online learning, when paired with microlearning, reduces training development costs by 30% and increases delivery speed by 300%.
Learn to Win makes converting your out-of-date training materials into engaging and effective online learning easy. Whether in packets or PDFs, our platform makes it easy to import your content quickly. So, what are you waiting for? Request a demo, and one of our reps will show you how Learn to Win's web-based mobile platform can level up your training.
