eLearning works. That’s a given.  It can be monitored, measured and above all, the ROI is clear.  Creating an effective eLearning platform will make a difference to your people’s performance and your bottom line.  Surveys of American business indicate a dramatic increase in the use of some sort of eLearning in all parts of their operation.  From sales to the production line, eLearning applications are making a real difference across the board.  And, while companies turn to eLearning internally as you might expect (66% of eLearners are employees) smart businesses are engaging other key groups as well.  Customers make up almost 20% of those engaged through an eLearning application with channel partners and investors making up another 14% according to a 2011 survey from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

But is it really worth the investment and time commitment to develop an eLearning campaign for your company?  Chances are the answer is ‘yes’ and with the advancements in technology and best practices it probably costs less than you’re thinking and requires less of your time.

How can eLearning help you?

We’ve recently worked on several eLearning campaigns with specific outcomes that help businesses grow, improve their bottom line and enhance their most valuable resource – their people.

1) Keeping Up with Compliance & Sharing Costs

Keeping up with changes in your own policies, state law or national policy is a never ending challenge.  eLearning tools can be quickly deployed to address change and ensure that your people are up to speed on the latest polices.  This is critical to business when revenue streams or the ability to improve customer outcomes are based on such procedural changes.

Recently, LaunchAbility, a local non-profit organization leading the cause for Early Childhood Intervention in North Texas, needed their staff to be ready for changes in statewide billing and reimbursement policies.  Not being ready meant potentially losing valuable funding.  Working closely with experts in the field of billing practices for ECI Agencies, AMS Pictures developed a comprehensive ‘ Best Practices’ eLearning site that informs, trains and tests delivery professionals within the organization to ensure that they are ready to meet new state requirements.  Adding to the solution, the agency reached out to all 56 ECI agencies in Texas to help fund the development thereby keeping the overall cost to any one agency incredibly affordable.

2) Adding Depth to Customer Services

In the ongoing challenge to build healthier employee populations and keep healthcare costs down, insurance providers and healthcare organizations are constantly looking for ways to provide more value to their services by arming employers with better tools and insights that lower risks.  eLearning applications as well as mobile apps are working to round out the full service offerings of these organizations with tools that are proven to make a difference and create more value for the provider and the corporation.

Partnering with a national healthcare provider, AMS Pictures worked to develop the online version of their complete health and wellness program aimed at the employee population of large corporations.  While the 10-week course promotes and educates employees on a balanced day-to-day lifestyle of health and nutrition, the result for the company is a stronger product offering with true, measurable results.  Employees log into the system and follow day-by-day behavior changing instruction that is making a real difference.  The online program compliments their full offering of lifestyle management programs offered to employers, giving them a competitive edge in the marketplace.

3) Targeted Training when Time is Critical

While corporations often use eLearning as a focused development tool for staff members, focusing that training to time sensitive applications can be critical.  After all, there is the type of training that offers large groups in facilitated sessions and then there’s the in your face, it’s got to be now type of training that applies to emergency management operations.  eLearning allows instant access from anywhere as well as the portability of taking the training with you via jump drive or CD-ROM.

Recently NCTTRAC (North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council) needed a robust system to train their employees across the state to operate and maintain Mobile Medical Unit emergency care centers.  The deployment of these units needed to be fast and right the first time and often, those involved need to learn on site as the situation is unfolding.  Through a modular-based, internet accessible training solution AMS Pictures developed a tool that is easy to use, speaks to the newcomer as well as veteran and best of all, is viewable in a host of situations including right off a laptop in the field where access to the internet is limited.  The result is a clear instruction set that ensures MMU’s can be deployed effectively regardless of the situation.

4) On-Boarding New Hires More Effectively.

Any organization understands the need to on-board new hires quickly and effectively.  Time is money and getting a new employee fully immersed in the culture and the process is imperative.  Targeted on-boarding systems that feature both printed take-aways and an online component continually prove more effective than simple employee manuals. And, when implemented with a sound orientation process that includes one-on-one introductions with staff, eLearning systems offer the best bang for the buck in testing retention and ensuring uniform consistency.

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is a great example of effective new hire training. Facilitated completely as an online experience, new hires work through the orientation digitally thereby saving the DFPS time and cost while ensuring every employee gets the same information and skill building.

5) Feeling Connected

One of the simplest yet most effective uses of interactive technology is leveraged by large corporations with several remote offices or locations.  While it may seem obvious to rely on interactive solutions such as webinars and podcasts to reach customers, many organizations turn to this same philosophy to engage their own employee population.  The immediate payback is not just the exchange of information executives can feel good about, “Great, I’ve told everyone what we’re doing.  Let’s go to lunch!”  The real benefit is less tangible in that employees report a great sense of belonging and connection to the corporate mission by engaging with senior level leaders on a regular basis. “Effective business communication is linked to increased profits, higher work quality and motivated and engaged employees,” so says Eryn Travis of eHow.  “It helps employees feel connected to their company.”  And, while many organizations are physically disconnected, engaging through interactive technology is reconnecting the workforce.

Two examples of just this philosophy are Fortune 500 companies who reach out regularly to their employees – as well as customers – with targeted webcasts that offer two-way dialog and document exchange.   Effective and affordable, there is perhaps no better way to keep the staff informed and engaged.

While there are many more ways to creatively use eLearning and interactive technology to engage, inform and educate we hope that we’ve generated some ideas to get you thinking about the outcomes you’re after.  And one thing is still true, while technology now makes it easy for us to connect there has never been more importance on making the right impact.  HOW you tell your story is more critical than just having the ability to do so.  In fact, Anders Gronstedt who spoke at a recent eLearning Council seminar sites the Five Super Powers of the Learning Age as:

Tell a story:  Hollywood-style, character-rich, story-centered learning simulations are redefining learning-by-doing.

Play a game: Game concepts such as points, levels, time pressure, and cut scenes make learning engaging.

Make it social: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and similar company internal social networks are embedding learning in every-day work processes and connecting people with each other.

Make it immersive: A new generation browser-based, high fidelity 3-D virtual simulations are energizing learning.

Make it mobile: Podcasting and mobile and location based apps are changing the paradigm from employees coming to the classroom to the classroom coming to the employees.

If you’re using online eLearning and web techniques to engage your target, great, you’re part of the growing trend.  Make an impact!  If you’re just getting your feet wet in this arena don’t wait, your employees, your partners and your customers are ready to hear from you online.  Connect and say what you will, but always make an impact.

AMS Pictures is a creative media company focused on connecting people.  We tell stories that inform, educate and entertain.