Online Training Benefits In The Retail Sector
Keeping retail employees informed about company policies, procedures, and processes is key to its success, but giving them the training they need often requires a great deal of both time and money. However, there is a way to provide employees with the knowledge and skills they need to do their job effectively without going over budget. And this is no other than online training! In this article, you’ll learn about the most important online training benefits in the retail sector.
- Employees stay up-to-date with the latest products and services.
In traditional training courses, employees might not find out about the specs or features of a new product or service for weeks. The training manager would have to develop and print learning materials and, then, to book an instructor for a specific training date. However, thanks to online training, retail employees can stay up-to-date with the latest products and services, without any formal corporate training involved. They can simply access an online training module that details the specs and benefits of the new item. The same goes for store promotions. More and more retail stores are now holding “flash promotions” which involve promotions that only last a few days, at the most. Online training gives employees the opportunity to stay informed about current promotions and brush up on their product knowledge. - Improved employee retention.
Employees who are well informed and have access to training materials are typically happier employees. Rather than having to jump onto the sales floor without any prior knowledge of a product or a process,employees know exactly what they are selling and how to carry out a transaction. The retail sector is well known for its high turnover rates and one of the benefits of online training in the retail sector is that it can help employees to increase retention rates by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to fulfill their job responsibilities. In addition, onboarding new employees is more cost effective and practical thanks to online training. So, in the event that a company does experience periods of high turnover, they won’t have to worry about investing an abundance of resources in training new employees who are likely to leave the company within a short period of time. - Increased sales and customer satisfaction.
Customers cannot make informed buying decisions if the retail staff isn't well informed about the products on offer. Another benefit of online training in the retail sector is that online training keeps employees informed about the products they are selling, so that they can pass this knowledge onto the customer. This leads to an increase in customer satisfaction and buyer confidence, which results in higher sales and profits. It’s a domino effect, beginning with a sound corporate online training strategy. The same rule applies to retail customer service associates. They have to be aware of processes and policies in order to offer the service that consumers expect. Otherwise, customers aren’t likely to return to the store or offer repeat business, due to the fact that the customer service staff simply didn’t have the information or skills to offer the level of support they required. - More knowledge retention and less resource allocation.
Corporate online training requires less money and time, but it leads to greater knowledge retention. There is no longer a need for on-site instructors, printed training materials or lengthy training events. This means that employers pay less out-of-pocket for training implementation and for staff training hours. Rather than sitting in a corporate training seminar, employees can complete their online training in a break room or sales terminal in a fraction of the time and at a time when it won’t conflict with their other job duties. Employees are also more likely to actually retain the information they have received, thanks to the fact that they can learn at their own pace. Instead of having to keep up with their colleagues or completing an online training session when they might be distracted, they can fully engage in the online training experience and take the time they need to acquire new knowledge and develop new skill sets. Given that online training can be fully customized, every employee is receiving only the information he/she needs to get the job done. Employees don’t have to sit through a half hour speech on human resource policies if, for example, they are in the sales department because their online training experience is customized for their specific training needs and performance goals. - Gives retail employees access to information when and where they need it the most.
Last but not least, one of the most important benefits of online training in the retail sector is that online training can take place anywhere, anytime, thanks to mobile learning. If an employee needs to know how to complete an exchange for a customer, he/she can simply access a online training video to learn all about the steps involved in the process. They can log onto the eLearning platform or application and learn about compliance updates or refresh their memory regarding a new product that is being promoted. All of the information is right at their fingertips, giving them the ability to find answers to questions at a moment’s notice. This streamlines the entire work process and makes every employee more effective in their roles. They have confidence in knowing that they can carry out their job responsibilities equipped with the knowledge required, without having to continually turn to mangers or colleagues for help. Online training offers them support and assistance when they need it the most.
These are just a few of the most significant benefits of online training in the retail sector. Why not move your retail sales and service training online, to discover the unique advantages online training can bring to your organization?
Wondering how to convert your corporate training into an online format, so that your company can begin reaping the many rewards of online training? Read the article 6 Questions You Need To Answer To Successfully Move Your Corporate Training Online where I share some tips that will allow you to make the transition from face to face training to engaging and effective online training.
Originally published on April 8, 2015
