It’s no secret that eLearning is cost-effective. From regained employee productivity to decreased instruction costs, comparing costs alone between eLearning and pure ILT is a no-brainer. When it comes to learning, however, cost isn’t the only consideration. Comparing methods of learning delivery is not as simple as apples to apples. So instead, let’s take a look at the some of the value-drivers of eLearning–beyond the cost:
1. Customizability
An eLearning module built specifically for your organization can help you get more value out of your investment than you may have thought. When you choose to create a custom module, your own materials are used to create engaging learning that can be accessed any time, meaning several things:
- Your employees are learning the right information for their specific role, not generic information that might be inaccurate for your company
- You can print far fewer–if any–physical materials like manuals or binders, saving on material costs
- The module can be built with your industry, company, and learners in mind, making it more effective and increasing your ROL (Return on Learning)
In addition, customizing eLearning to your organization means you can keep branding and messaging consistent with other aspects of your employee experience. Your employees should know exactly how to represent their company to friends and customers alike, and your training materials should reinforce the image you’re conveying to the world. After all, if your employees don’t know your brand inside and out, how do you expect consumers to ever care?
2. Flexibility
Customizability is great and all, but the idea of such an individualized module probably calls to mind two things: price and rigidity. What happens when you need to add more materials, or if some part of it isn’t working the way you expected, or if you tweak your brand messaging? Is it worth making the investment if you’re just going to outgrow it? Thankfully, eLearning modules are far from static, and the flexibility a custom module affords you is worth, well, a lot more than its weight in gold (fun fact: data does actually weigh something!)
Modules built for your organization can be translated, added to, changed, and updated without having to go back to the drawing board over and over again. In this way, you can extend the value of your investment for years.
eLearning is also flexible on the learner’s side. Cloud-based eLearning modules can be accessed from practically any device at any time, giving employees the ability to learn when it’s convenient, and without the need to disrupt productivity. They can also use eLearning modules to easily access information exactly when they need an answer to a question.
3. Trackability
One of the common arguments against eLearning is the loss of accountability and personal interaction that comes with ILT. There are two things wrong with this argument: first, ILT and eLearning are by no means mutually exclusive, and second, a well-designed eLearning module should offer more accountability and insight into an individual’s learning than an instructor.
Like any method of delivery, eLearning does not exist in an information vacuum. We are constantly learning from each other, from our environments, and from our own initiatives and interests. Adaptable eLearning modules can allow learners to test out of content that they already know or go further into a topic that’s particularly relevant to them. Management and L&D can track their efforts, follow up on areas where they’re having trouble, and factor their learning into their performance—and with the data to back it up, it’s a pretty sure thing that you’re going to get different insights than an instructor alone could offer.
4. Scalability
The scalability of eLearning modules is related to its flexibility, but in terms of value, it offers a look into the ROI that’s a little easier to calculate. Say you create a module for a US-based office of 1,000 employees. Then, your company grows, and adds another thousand. Or, they expand to another location with 500 more. Or, you start to look overseas and you add another 1,500, and they conduct business in another language. In terms of learning materials that aren’t cloud-based, with classroom-style delivery, you’re looking at a logistical and financial nightmare.
With custom eLearning, you can deliver consistent information in a consistent manner, making employee development seamless as your organization grows. From a numbers standpoint alone, that’s a tremendous long-term value.
When it comes down to the value of eLearning, it’s not all about the cost. Its true value goes far beyond the numbers to the ability to develop a culture of learning within your organization with the power to help everyone succeed. To see for yourself how eLearning drives value, take a look at a case study on a custom eLearning module we developed:
