How e-learning benefits SMEs

Matthew Seldon, Business Development Manager at Ecordia, explains the rise and advantages of e-learning and e-assessment.

Over the past few years e-learning and e-assessment have been quietly seeping into staff development programmes among larger organisations to the point that the percentage of people moving from paper-based or off-site training to e-learning approaches has nearly doubled over the past three years.

SMEs are increasingly looking at ways to successfully utilise e-learning packages for their staff, but many are either too busy with the day-to-day running of their business or not convinced of the benefits to pursue implementing such packages.

There are many online resources available to SMEs that start at the most basic packages for IT skills through to top-level degrees, diplomas and NVQs for all sectors.

Many learning centres deliver a diverse range of qualifications that are commercially highly relevant and mainly delivered online - furthermore many learning centres across the UK now utilise Ecordia and other e-assessment systems to deliver competency-based or vocational qualifications online.

This is a significant step forward in the development of e-learning.

The benefits of e-learning and e-assessment may not be immediately obvious to small businesses that are stretched for human resource and feel that off-site training dilutes and distracts their highly valued staff.

However, it is exactly these types of business that are in a position to gain massively from just such an investment into e-learning.

By utilising such flexible technology, employees can have access to learning materials, work portfolios and guidance anywhere at anytime.

In some cases e-assessment does not completely rule out a visit to the training centre or a visit from a tutor, especially for competency-based training, but these are minimised and, due to the effective online management of the learning process, are much more productive visits.

Off-site training tends to be 'one size fits all' - although specific in content, it can be too rigid and does not always engage the learner.

It happens at a set time, in a set location - whereas online training is accessible anytime and can be tailored to the individual's needs, enabling them to get the most from their learning and increasing the likelihood of achievement.

The internet is a crucial and powerful aspect of e-learning.

It allows support of the learner in real time and increases staff motivation by providing an engaging medium with which to learn.

Staff are able to collaborate with others such as tutors, work colleagues and with their employer management, ensuring that they feel valued and part of a team.

Moreover, they are developing professionally and personally to the point that they may view their organisation differently, not just as a workplace, but also as an arena for personal development.

Knowledge management is a much over-used term by business consultants, but it is an important success factor for many small businesses.

The issue is to retain, utilise and build on a firm's knowledge - it is this knowledge that gives many small firms their competitive advantage.

E-learning technology can help firms control learning and retain knowledge, not least through increased staff retention, but also by developing its use of e-learning technology - the mix and match of courses and learning packages can be honed overtime, increased in quality, and, with the input from your own staff, can include specific learning for your employees that directly relate to your business.

Business managers have much less control over off-site training since much of the knowledge gained is tacit and transient: it leaves when your staff do.

So how can this learning and staff development technology improve a business's bottom line? From the first instance you can stop with expensive training days out of the office, where not only the actual cost is very high, but also there is the opportunity cost of not having your staff available for that time.

Increased staff retention means reduced recruitment costs, motivated staff means increased productivity and knowledge retained means increased business efficiency and effectiveness over the long-term.

Competency-based or vocational training (which normally includes NVQs, key skills and technical certificates) suffers from specific challenges as much of the work is practical, requiring involvement from many people including a third-party training provider.

The learner, tutor/assessor, workplace manager, internal verifier, external verifier and training provider co-ordinator all require access to the learner's portfolio of work.

Portfolios can end up being the size of two lever arch files.

Logistically this is very difficult to manage, as the portfolio has to go backwards and forwards between the learner and the training centre, requiring many visits from an assessor.

The learning processes are not fluid, the portfolio difficult to manage for the learner and the net result is usually a long and drawn out process that is de-motivating for all involved.

E-assessment systems, such as Ecordia, allow the portfolio to be accessible online and available to everyone at anytime.

E-learning and e-assessment have revolutionised the learning process and dramatically increases the chances of achievement.

All those involved with the training, including the learner and assessor, find themselves much more engaged in the process; there is a sense of immediacy and teamwork when personal development is effected online to achieve qualifications.

For small businesses this has had a significant impact on staff retention, motivation and achievement.

Small business managers should look to harness this technology to reduce training costs and help their staff reach their full potential.

There are many options and packages available to small businesses and a good starting point is to discuss e-assessment with your third-party training provider if you have one, or to contact organisations such as The Open University and LearnDirect.

Other highly reputable training providers include Studyflex , which delivers Chartered Management Institute qualifications, including Management and Team Leading.

Entrust delivers competency-based training in the areas of Management, Health and Safety and Learning and Development.

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