How tech can improve the L&D experience for the next generation of employees
Virtual reality, augmented reality, and an LMS can all help you transform learning and development
By 2025, millennials are expected to make up 75% of the total workforce. As digital natives, they rely on technology not only to communicate with others, but also to learn new skills and educate themselves. For organisations where the workforce is made up of younger employees – at present or in the future – L&D teams have to think about what this means for the way their employees learn and develop.
Over the past three years, 59% of talent developers have been spending a larger portion of their budget on online learning, and mobile learning has also increased by 5%. Employees are now valuing more social, interactive, and collaborative online learning environments with intuitive technology which means that L&D teams have to work with the best technologies to provide this learning environment.
By investing in technologies like virtual and augmented reality, or a learning management system (LMS), organisations can transform L&D for the next generation of employees.
Take learning to the next level with virtual reality
Virtual reality is a technology by which computer-aided stimuli create the immersive illusion of being somewhere else.
Employees can learn in realistic, simulated scenarios at any time and any place and can put their skills and knowledge to use without the risk of making any real mistakes. They can also experience what it’s like to do a certain job, or they can find out how to interact with others in specific situations. Using virtual reality technology for learning can be a fun experience for employees – encouraging them to proactively focus on their training and L&D as a result – and can also be a better use of time for L&D teams.
Virtual reality technology can give organisations the opportunity to showcase themselves as an innovative, tech-savvy organisation where employees can enjoy L&D. When drawing in new, young talent, investment in virtual reality platforms for L&D could attract candidates to the job.
How can augmented reality change L&D?
Augmented reality can also help organisations transform the L&D experience for the next generation of employees.
Augmented reality is an immersive and “interactive experience of a real-world environment where computer-generated perceptual information enhances real-world objects.” We can view AR on many devices, such as mobile phones and iPads with a camera.
L&D teams can distribute training and information through a user’s smartphone – by scanning a QR code they can gain access to real-world experiences and on-site instruction that aligns with certain areas of the workplace.
For L&D teams, this augmented reality can enable employees to learn and develop at their own convenience and pace from any work location, which, during these periods of remote working, can help employees upskill even if they aren’t in the office environment.
With augmented reality, learning retention is higher – digital reality allows for 75% higher learning retention rates. For the next generation of employees, augmented reality can help them retain more information, allowing for a more effective learning and development process.
Personalise learning with an LMS
To provide the best L&D experience to the next generation of employees however, organisations don’t have to rely solely on technologies like virtual and augmented reality.
They can instead invest in an LMS and personalise the learning experience for employees.
An LMS is a type of SaaS product (software-as-a-service) used by businesses to upload, deliver, manage and report on online learning. With an LMS, organisations can identify skills gaps and recommend appropriate learning resources to employees or create bespoke learning content for the workforce.
While an LMS can help organisations keep track of an employee’s learning journey, it can also help employees learn and develop their skills and knowledge via content that is relevant to them and their job role. By choosing an LMS which is mobile-friendly, L&D teams can also help employees learn quickly and on-the-go, making learning more accessible and convenient for employees who learn at a fast pace.
Such technologies can make L&D innovative and fresh, giving both employers and employees a new perspective on learning and development. But, before you decide to invest in new technologies, you should take the time to review your current L&D processes and technologies and ask employees how they would like to learn.
Request a demo if you want to find out more about Digits’ glo™ learn LMS and how it can help you transform L&D for your employees.