Virtual is the new Normal

My different social media feeds have long been flooded with messages about the ‘new reality’.
It does not matter what I am open to: LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook (ok, boomer).
There are many messages with well-intentioned tips everywhere.  For example, how we can meet, collaborate, and how to stay as productive as possible.

As a result of the current situation, I am increasingly going digital. Not only practical things as grocery shopping, but also catching up with relatives and drinks with friends. Even the meetings of the field hockey management are now going digital – less cosy, but at least as effective.
Some time ago, I had planned to visit the SAP Training Centre in Heidelberg (Germany) to attend a training session there. This training was delivered virtual instead. Remote training to the max.

That is hardly surprising. Computer Based Training (CBT) has existed since the 1980s. The use of digital tools to support knowledge transfer is therefore not new. Since the CBT, there has been a range of materials: eBooks, MOOCS, eLearning modules and videos. An increasing number of these materials are part of training programmes that combine both online and offline activities. And rightfully so, because it ensures that training ‘Anywhere, Anywhere & Anywhere’ can actually take place.

I predict that, even after the current Covid-19 situation, we will be using more virtual and electronic tools to support transfer of knowledge. An important reason for this is the fact that new features and capabilities that the applications we use get frequently. Since we are increasingly using the Cloud, suppliers can renew or extend their applications without being required to perform implementation projects. To gather the employees in a classroom to train them on everything that is new, is no longer an option. Employees won’t be able to leave the training room. And to have them deal with innovations in business-critical applications themselves, does not seem the best idea.

Now is the time to find out how you can best help your employees in building up in their knowledge. Which mix of online and offline learning interventions will help them best? What is the best way to support them in the workplace?

The need to up-skill your employees will not disappear and the need to use interventions other then classroom training to do so is a given because of the Covid-19 situation.

I am sure that you are facing the same difficulties in training your remote workforce. I am also curious about the mix of learning interventions that you are currently using to do so and why you have chosen them. Which interventions work and which don’t? Please share your thoughts in the comments so we can learn form each others experiences.