E-learning and LMS blog articles

We all know by now that getting employee onboarding right is a non-negotiable for any organisation. After all, a negative onboarding experience doubles the chances of an employee seeking out an alternative opportunity, but a thorough onboarding programme increases employee retention rates by 82%. That’s why so many L&D leaders come to us looking for an e-learning solution that can help them optimise their onboarding programmes.

So why do L&D leaders choose to deliver their onboarding programmes using an e-learning platform? The short answer: online learning offers a superior delivery format when it comes to onboarding and induction training. The long answer: we’ll get to that in this blog post.

Join us as we discuss why online learning is better for induction training when compared to traditional training methods. We’ll also share the e-learning tools and functionality you should use to optimise your online induction training activities.

Before we get started, let’s cover the basics.

What is induction training?

Induction training is the process of introducing a new employee to their role within the business and typically takes place within the first few weeks of joining the business. The purpose of this training is to help new starters become familiar with their role, the organisation and what is expected of them during their employment

Looking for more info on induction training? We’ve got you covered, read our ultimate e-learning overview or watch our induction training video here.

Why online learning is better for induction training:

Tailoring the induction training process

Every new starter that walks through the door (be it physical or virtual) will come with their own set of experience, skills, knowledge, expectations, and training requirements.

A good induction training programme needs to be tailored to each individual, acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, whilst addressing their unique skills and knowledge gaps.

A tailored induction training experience feels more relevant and engaging compared to a generic ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. As a result, new starters not only feel more invested in the onboarding process but will likely get up to speed quicker.

When relying on traditional training methods such as face to face teaching or paper-based training, tailoring the induction training process can be near-impossible due to rigid structures and time-consuming manual processes. The good news is that tailored learning and modern e-learning platforms come hand in hand.

With personalised learning pathways, competency frameworks, self-enrolment, and much more, you can easily shape induction training around individuals and deliver the best outcomes as a result.

What’s more, with a diverse range of available content types, employers can cater to a variety of learning methods. With a broad range of content types to choose from, such as interactive gamification courses, videos, and audio clips, new starters can find the content that helps them get the most out of their training experience.

Give new starters the flexibility they need

The onboarding process can sometimes seem overwhelming, making it easy for new starters to feel lost and confused as new information is thrown at them from every direction. Employees need to incorporate time throughout their day to stand back and breathe, reviewing what they have learned already and identifying areas that they may need to go over once again.

However, when induction training is carried out following a rigid structure, such as scheduled face-to-face training sessions, it can feel impossible to incorporate this much needed ‘breathing space’. The solution? Flexible and autonomous online learning.

With online learning, employees can complete induction training autonomously, meaning they can learn at their own pace and structure training to suit their learning preferences. Using a learning management system (LMS), new hires will be enrolled onto mandatory courses but rather than complete these at a time determined by their manager, they can design their own training schedule.

Giving learners the flexibility to complete training at a pace that suits them will not only produce better training outcomes but will also ensure they feel trusted, valued and empowered by their new employer.

Monitor induction training without being overbearing

For some managers and L&D professionals, self-paced learning could raise concerns around productivity and training completion rates. But thanks to LMS reports, you can easily monitor employee training progress by creating custom reports that provide insights on course completion rates, sign-on rates and assessment results.

The best part? LMS reports allow managers to track induction training activities without being overbearing. Too many of us will know what it’s like to start a new job and feel like our training activities are being heavily monitored by a ‘helicopter manager’.

There’s a fine line between checking in with new starters to ensure they feel supported and making them feel like they’re learning under a microscope. Thanks to detailed training analytics and reports, using an LMS means managers can keep an eye on training progress from afar and instead use face-to-face time to carry out meaningful one-to-ones based on insights gathered from LMS reports.

Consistent training outcomes with a strong ROI

Delivering a standardised induction training programme that consists of high-quality training materials can be costly when relying on offline training methods such as expert led face to face seminars.

Achieving consistent training outcomes is one of the many reasons why online learning is better for induction training as training materials, delivery and methodology is uniform regardless of job role, location, department, and experience. What’s more, using online learning software makes it easier for employers to scale up induction training in larger organisations without sacrificing quality.

The results? Thorough induction training with consistent training outcomes that produce a strong ROI for onboarding programmes.

Don’t rely on out-dated induction training processes

Now that you understand why online learning is better for induction training, having read through just some of its benefits, perhaps you’re ready to transform your induction training programmes? Say goodbye to ineffective, outdated induction training delivery and embrace e-learning today.

Where to start? Visit our platform pages to find out what a Hubken e-learning solution can do for your onboarding function. Or read through our many dedicated onboarding and induction training resources to further explore the many benefits of e-learning.