The onset of the pandemic has been the catalyst that has transformed the way we learn, work, and live our lives. The rapid strides made by technology and innovation have become the great differentiator in the race to success. As a result, most organizations have become more digitally savvy and are looking to upgrade the skill sets of their leaders and employees. But like everything else, learning, too, has gone the digital route. But what are the advantages that digital learning offers businesses? Is digital learning merely a matter of convenience, or is it the way ahead? Let’s take a closer look at how digital learning initiatives impact business organisations.
Mapping Learning to Performance
One of the key changes that we see in this shift to digital learning is the perception of need. Digital learning is increasingly linked to skills development and higher performance, a marked advantage over traditional learning systems. Employees of leading business organizations are more likely to undertake digital coursework when they can see the benefits of improved efficiency and the ability to take on higher roles. Traditional courses have hitherto been linked with certification and qualification rather than performance improvement. According to a recent study, about 90% of employees in India believe that learning and development opportunities will help them stay in an organization. Digital learning is the new retention tool most organizations are banking on. This directly impacts the quality of talent in the organization.
Learning to Innovate
Famous thought leaders worldwide have expressed concerns regarding the inability of traditional learning methodologies to help employees and managers innovate and get creative. This is possible because of how the classroom coursework has been designed through the ages. Digital learning presents teachers and learners with an unlimited repertoire of tools that help them understand the mechanics and build upon them. This promotes creative thinking and innovation across industries. Simply put, digital learning encourages the customization of skills and principles to best suit the business enterprise. By 2023, it is estimated that nearly 27.3 million employees in India will require digital skills training to meet their job requirements. Digital learning is a great resource for industries with such requirements.
Continued Learning and Support
One of the top reasons why some of the top pioneers in finance and other industries support digital learning systems is that it offers continued support rather than an event at a time convenient to the organization. Let us take the example of Bajaj Finserv. Sanjiv Bajaj, the Chairman and Managing Director, believes in continuous learning and development initiatives. As a result, the organization has a repository of learning resources that can be accessed at the time when the employees need the skills rather than being sent on programs that may not immediately impact their roles. Employees are increasingly encouraged to enroll in upskilling themselves with training programs and courses that the organization itself sponsors.
Staying Relevant
Business enterprises and organizations across the country are undergoing a digital transformation to keep pace with the changing face of the economy and the markets. This directly leads to skills enhancement and training needs in these businesses. Employees need to feel relevant and grow with the organization. Businesses are increasingly relying on digital learning initiatives to meet these needs. What is more, Learning and Development teams are using a host of tools like chatbots, virtual reality, applications, and gamification to help keep millennials in the workforce and help add value.
Networking, Peer Support, and Mentorship
Unlike traditional courses and the classroom experience, digital learning systems help develop strong and robust networks of individuals in the business and industry. Some of the famous business leaders in India, such as Rajesh Gopinathan, the CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services, are focused on building peer support and mentorship in the learning initiatives. This amplifies the learning and experience-sharing potential that traditional systems fail at. The business organization reaps the rewards of digital learning through employee performance and high levels of innovation.
Skill enhancement and learning through digital initiatives is now more of a business imperative than an option for most organizations. The younger employees are highly motivated and focused on honing their skill sets. These benefits are largely reaped by organizations that offer learning tools and opportunities to perform at a higher level.
Digital learning helps leverage the company’s intellectual capital and helps align individual goals with organizational transformation. It is the key to surviving and thriving in this new technological era.
With great strides in technology and innovation, most economies are transforming at an unprecedented pace. Business organizations are racing to keep up with such a change, and the key to this lies in leveraging digital learning initiatives. Digital learning helps enhance skills and promote innovative thought in the organization. Not only does digital learning encourage individuals to develop their skills, but it also helps in creating a peer network and mentorship system that adds immense value to the organization. Furthermore, putting resources in the hands of individuals creates a system of continuous learning as opposed to the curriculum-based traditional learning systems.
