As an HR or training leader, frustration from a lack of positive results in employee training programs is all too common. If you’re exhausted from trying outdated training methods that don't cut it for recruits and employees, it’s time to make a comprehensive change.
Selecting employee training tools that offer more “bang for your buck” can greatly change and improve the quality of your employee experiences, particularly for new hires who have fewer company interactions to fall back on.
Training employees is one of the most important long-term investments you can make. Adequate training ensures a workforce that’s up to date with best practices and new technologies. As a leader, there’s also a lot riding on your ability to boost team productivity, save time and money, and help employees achieve more.
In this blog, we will discuss six online employee training tools that make it easy to get your team trained and up to speed quickly.
Experience the CYPHER difference
CYPHER is leading a necessary cultural change in the disruption of traditional learning management systems (LMS) and online employee training software.
At CYPHER, we believe that creators and learners have a better chance at limitless learning when they’re able to take advantage of an intuitive experience and tools that build growth and connection—not just ticking a box on a training spreadsheet.
Not only does CYPHER include the most essential tools for employee training and knowledge retention, but our process is completely centered on recognizing genuine human potential.
CYPHER’s value is recognized by top players in the industry. Forbes Advisor ranked CYPHER Learning as the “Best Overall Employee Training Software” and the “Best Learning Management System.”
Why do you need employee training in the first place?
Employees rightfully expect to have a solid understanding of their workplace responsibilities. After all, having a clear grasp of employer expectations is one way to improve individual confidence levels and performance, adding to the ability to set and achieve goals.
Thorough training also helps employees develop better problem-solving skills, become more creative in their job roles, and increase overall job satisfaction. Additionally, employees who receive proper training are more likely to stay with a single company for longer.
Given that nearly 70% of employees who meet “high risk” criteria for job abandonment resign in order to pursue training opportunities that will advance their career, adequate training up front makes a proven difference.
6 essential tools for positive training results
Because the way people perform work is rapidly changing, the way trainers develop and educate employees also needs to adapt. Positive training results depend on having essential tools that contribute positively to team culture, rather than subtract from it.
With the six indispensable tools for employee training below, your team will be well-positioned to achieve knowledge retention, job satisfaction, and higher levels of employee engagement.
1. Online Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management Systems (LMS) are virtual platforms that enable managers and instructors to deliver online training content to employees.
With an LMS like CYPHER, users can create courses in 50+ languages, automate individual learning tracks, and monitor performance at every stage or milestone of the instructional process using the platform’s robust reporting capabilities.
Using the right LMS platform or digital employee training tool, instructors can measure success and engagement while automating administrative functions that would otherwise require manual effort. LMS platforms also inspire a collaborative learning environment that brings everyone together for a shared journey. With the right LMS, both instructors and learners can easily interact through class-based forums, instructional sessions, and quick chats.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Although artificial intelligence (AI) is a newer addition to the employee training world, it’s quickly becoming an important differentiator for effective training programs.
Nearly 25% of jobs will change over the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum. In this era of turbulence, upskilling and cross-skilling are more important than ever.
However, 76% of HR and business leaders report struggling to develop training courses and materials due to resource limitations. Many people are turning to AI to help them do more with less and expand their L&D capabilities.
AI features can expedite course development to save time and resources. Some AI tools, like CYPHER Learning’s AI 360, automatically create 80% of training courses, gamification elements, read-aloud lessons, and map courses to competencies.
In a CYPHER survey of customers, 83% said they can deliver courses in just a few days with AI 360, compared to months beforehand. 77% of customers said courses will cost less than $1,000 – that’s far less than the industry average of $10,000 per course.
To give users more control over generative AI, CYPHER enables users to upload their own resources – PDFs, videos, etc. – and AI 360 will create entire competency-mapped, gamified courses from their content.
3. Social learning opportunities
The LinkedIn Learning Community offers the following definition for social learning:
“Social learning is the process of learning from others through observation, imitation, feedback, and collaboration. It can enhance employee training by fostering a culture of continuous learning, improving knowledge retention, and increasing engagement and motivation.”
Social experiences help all employees (but especially new hires) discover and forge lasting connections with peers, leaders, and future mentors. When a new learner finds others who share similar goals and connection points, the formation of a tight-knit community naturally follows suit.
CYPHER was named one of the top social and collaborative learning platforms by eLearning Industry in 2022. It enhances collaboration through features like built-in messaging, click to chat, add users as friends, wikis, chat rooms, blogs, and more. You can collaborate at a company level or create groups for more focused messaging.
Go from boring to brilliant with CYPHER’s entertaining learning experiences
Learning platforms serve as dynamic online social networks by providing opportunities for easy interaction, brainstorming, and idea-swapping. Team-building and group projects are also beneficial tools in your comprehensive, high-level training strategy.
4. Gamification
Gamification is the process of intertwining elements of games with learning paths to engage employees and inspire learning. The process involves the evolution of standard learning into more of an automated gaming experience by including activities like points, badges, leaderboards, and other interactive milestones.
When course creators incorporate gamification, they’re able to build unique training materials that are both enjoyable and beneficial. New, gamified feedback mechanisms also inform trainers about how well learners receive and digest new content from online courses.
Don’t miss the primary purpose of this essential learning tool—engagement and retention. CYPHER automates and gamifies the modern learning experience to inspire employee motivation, send custom communications, and personalize the type of assessments that each learner sees and experiences.
5. Mobile learning
Because the world of work is more flexible than it ever has been, mobility is a crucial component of worthwhile online training tools.
Mobile learning happens when employees can access training materials and development content on mobile devices including smartphones, laptops, or tablets. On-the-go knowledge transfer helps employees stay productive as they work between their office and home, switch tasks, or travel.
Although a flexible training program has perks, employers and L&D leaders must also address concerns in on-the-go models. Potential mobile training concerns include:
- Employee accountability – How will managers ensure that each step is properly completed to satisfactory corporate training standards?
- Seamless login and security – Because some training material is protected corporate intellectual property, logins must be secure and protected. Employees may require training on how and when to share training data apart from the virtual classroom.
- Flexibility and ease of use – Mobile access can happen alongside bugs, glitches, or service interruptions. When training is required, employees should expect continuous, uninterrupted access.
Explore CYPHER’s eLearning awards for gamification and mobility!
However, if you’re struggling to engage employees in training programs, it may be because they find traditional desktop learning to be too clunky, slow, and inaccessible. Mobile learning allows for a more personal and flexible experience for the learner. Try implementing mobile solutions and gauging employees’ levels of engagement, progress and satisfaction.
CYPHER’s mobile app enables learners and trainers to access learning materials and communicate at any time, anywhere. The platform was even recognized as a top hybrid learning LMS in 2023 by eLearning Industry
6. Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual and augmented reality provide immersive learning experiences for the modern employee. Virtual reality (VR) recreates real-world operations so that employees learn how to respond in real-time. As a result, learners gain a “case study” experience based on hands-on learning during the employee training process.
Augmented Reality (AR) lets employees step into realistic, scenario-based learning exercises that test skills and knowledge in a way that saves money and resources for the company. AR closes gaps in training programs through the recreation of life-like experiences that would be expected on the job.
As essential training tools, VR and AR are perhaps more helpful in occupations where “hands on” activities are more highly anticipated. Although not every career requires immersive experiences, many benefit from life-like training modules that better equip new hires.
Develop your workforce with strategic online training platforms
CYPHER focuses on the most important asset of a company—employees. Without a team-centric, people-first mindset, organizations quickly lose sight of how to deliver value while prioritizing those who are actually responsible for it.
That’s why it’s important to clearly identify the skills necessary for specific job roles. A strong foundation lets employers develop training programs that are in direct alignment with core business objectives and KPIs. Skills gap training also ensures that all employees perform their jobs most effectively, reaching personal milestones along the way.
Job task analysis
Employee training must never be random or “one-size-fits-all.” When organizations incorporate individual nuances and personalization into the learning process, learners are able to master skills in a way that suits them best. As skills development becomes a priority, employees have a chance to excel individually as they contribute to broader strategic business goals.
Job task analysis is the first step in the design of influential employee training programs. This process involves the analysis of the tasks of specific roles and transparently defines the skills and knowledge required by employees to perform at peak efficiency.
With CYPHER, it’s simple to track learner progress on the road to training completion. Not only are progress analytics practical, but accurate training data also helps companies mitigate issues with compliance training and broader workforce regulations. CYPHER’s value is recognized across the industry.
Employee skills beyond technical know-how
Employees need skills beyond technical talents for growth and development. Training programs must also incorporate “soft skills” such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving potential.
When employee training nurtures soft skills successfully, employees then become stronger leaders and mentors, which has positive implications for the bottom line. Organizations further instill a culture of continuous improvement that benefits all parties and key players.
Improve your employee training tools with CYPHER
As you incorporate foundational training tools into your employee development programs, there’s a ripple effect. Enjoy an increase in the overall productivity of your business alongside the personal and professional growth of your team.
Explore the training options that work best for your company and culture (including what business goals you hope to accomplish in the future), and integrate a variety of approaches to meet your employees and learners where they are.
With a 93% overall customer satisfaction rating, CYPHER helps you accomplish big-picture employee training goals in less time.
