Digital learning – on the rise
Prioritising personal development and growth has become a popular key philosophical value in today鈥檚 society, and increases in the availability of technology have allowed us to learn and grow faster than ever before in our daily lives. Digital learning, outside of a traditional classroom context, is one great example of this.
And we鈥檙e not talking about the tedious 1-hour multiple choice programs at work, completed as a career requirement for health & safety reasons. Digital learning can take many forms. For example, our programs are built around developing employees’ soft skills, like empathy, communication, and patience, through the process of continuous micro-learning over a period of many months. Digital learning comes in all shapes and sizes.
Recent reports have predicted that the global market is set to grow by a colossal $61bn within the next 4 years, demonstrating the phenomenal rising force of the industry. Whilst it鈥檚 been growing for many years, It鈥檚 one example (of many) of a collective adoption of technology that鈥檚 been rapidly accelerated by COVID-19. With classrooms shut and millions furloughed looking for useful skill development – digital learning has been a warmly welcomed solution to some of these problems.
Businesses are beginning to incorporate it more into their day-to-day operations as well. Workplaces may be closed but there are still armies of employees who need, and demand, professional skills development – and digital learning has the answers.
What鈥檚 to gain for businesses?
Future-proof your workforce – The world is rapidly changing, faster than ever before, and digital learning can give your team the tools to swim with the tide. PwC鈥檚 23rd Annual shows that those organisations focussed on expanding their employees鈥� skills were ahead of their peers in many ways and were more confident in their Future.
Meet the demands of the modern workforce – has shown that, for the majority of employees, training and development is considered a company鈥檚 most important policy. And it isn鈥檛 a fad that鈥檚 going anywhere soon – Deloitte鈥檚 open report on Gen Z shows that employers must look to robust training and leadership development to meet their working needs.
It鈥檚 not just about skills – Whilst it may sound counterintuitive, the same PwC survey also found that 41% of CEOs said that their upskilling programme has been 鈥渧ery effective鈥� in creating a stronger corporate culture and engaging employees, showing off some indirect benefits.
It鈥檚 the best way to learn – Digital learning is an exceptionally beneficial means of learning in the workplace compared to the 鈥榗lassroom鈥� context. Whilst easily fitting into the flow of work and life, it鈥檚 also worth noting that not everyone learns best the same way, and this means of learning allows for a blended approach. For example, many models include a combination of gamification methods, forums for discussion, and real-world exercises. It鈥檚 also much shorter and efficient than learning in a classroom setting. Research from shows that a digital course can take up to 75% less time overall than a traditional physical course.
How do we know it works?
We鈥檙e able to highlight some of the tangible benefits from case studies of our partners. The Italian branch of Danone implemented our program for new parents, looking to draw on their unique soft skills and apply them to the workplace. Their HR director confirmed that from implementing the program, they saw a number of improved skills, including prioritization (+35%), decision making (+15%), delegation (+35%) and managing complex situations (+10%) as well as empathy (+35%) and mental agility (+20%).
Overall, digital learning is not a flash-in-the-pan trend – it鈥檚 now a cornerstone of the modern workplace, offering much more than most think. If used properly, they can be a fantastic way to develop your workforce, which is something many businesses are beginning to learn.
Written by Riccarda Zezza, Founder of .
