Mobile-based training is not only more effective than traditional methods, it can be accomplished at a much lower cost.Training programs that leverage digital devices to convey information to employees offer a host of benefits compared with traditional training methods, such as printed manuals or classroom instruction.Mobile learning tools communicate information to workers in the way they’ve become accustomed to interacting with the world: through those digital devices. They can deliver information in short, easily digestible chunks via video content, allowing learners to absorb training at their own pace and review information as needed. Training can be accomplished anywhere at any time, whenever the learner has a few free moments. And research indicates that mobile learning results in increased retention, reduced training times and higher productivity than more traditional training models.In addition to those and other benefits, though, a move to mobile-based training offers a tremendous advantage. Mobile learning can offer cost savings of 70 percent or more compared with other training methods.Cashing in on the benefitsThose savings, according to IT consulting firm Cognizant, come thanks to a “radical reduction in the time it takes to create new features and increased learner adoption due to the flexibility of a platform that adapts itself to the learner’s style or business role.”Although claims of such savings may seem fantastic, in light of how worker training has typically been conducted they make perfect sense. A shift to mobile learning leads to:
Lower printing costs associated with revising training materials – Keeping mobile training materials in a central database for downloading when needed means any change can be accomplished with a simple update.
Improved productivity by moving instruction out of the classroom – Instead of spending valuable labor dollars keeping both trainer and trainee in a classroom for several days or longer, the trainee can mix learning with the application of important concepts in the performance of their jobs, where it matters the most.
Shorter training times due to increased retention – Several academic studies have found that learning delivered via mobile devices results in double-digit increases in retention rates, meaning workers spend less time absorbing and reviewing training materials.
Fashion retailer Kate Spade New York, for example, was able to reduce payroll dollars through its adoption of the INCITE Mobile Associate Communications Platform (mACP) simply by keeping associates on the sales floor longer. The INCITE platform, developed by technology firm Multimedia Plus, provides organizations with a low-bandwidth way to deliver multimedia communications and video without streaming, while at the same time delivering real-time metrics for visibility into participation and completion by field managers.Adopting INCITE enabled Kate Spade New York to eliminate the time and expense of holding two-hour training sessions every month. In between serving customers, new and established associates stay up-to-date on the latest product, branding, merchandising, workforce, corporate communications and other information – all without leaving the selling floor. INCITE eliminated the expense of inconsistent “Train the Trainer” programs, as well as costs associated with printing and shipping training manuals and their continual updates. In addition, the company saw a $20 increase in ticket averages in one of its stores after adopting the platform.Read more about Kate Spade New York’s success with the INCITE platform here. To learn more about what INCITE can do for you, email info@multimediaplus.com or call 212-982-3229.