2021 is the year of adaptability and flexibility. Organizational learning ecosystems need to be redefined in response to an influx of change. Leaders must continually adjust to provide effective learning strategies for remote workers. The demand for more visibility into performance is driving new innovations in learning analytics and interactive technology.

Are your current learning strategies providing the results that you anticipated? Here are seven emerging learning solutions for successful workforce enablement in 2021.

Enhance your virtual learning strategies

Organizations continue to be challenged to provide effective and retainable learning that is delivered virtually. Learner engagement remains critical to ensuring business success through workforce productivity. Applying experience design to learning solutions enables the human factor to be more prevalent and bridges the gaps in retention for learners. As organizations work through their virtual transformation, leaders should embrace engaging solutions such as interactive video-based learning to develop an inclusive digital strategy.

Empower your workforce with new skills

With the massive change in the way organizations do business over the last year, is there any wonder that industry reports indicate that 50% of employees will need to be reskilled? Upskilling is necessary for employees to adjust and stay current in the new digital workplace. Virtual onboarding for employees is also a top priority, ensuring knowledge is presented in an innovative setting to expedite the learning process. Due to restructured and blended roles, a considerable portion of jobs will require significant reskilling/upskilling. Advances in technology also are forcing upskilling and role redesigns to meet the demand of the new virtual landscape.

Embrace the change

Learning has now advanced to include change management as part of the day-to-day transformation. Leaders now must have insight into organizational change, coupled with the understanding of employee development requirements. Adaptability is the foundation of the role of learning leaders within an organization. With the foresight to see and manage the challenges of an uncertain virtual world, leaders are imperative in organizations’ ability to survive and remain productive.

Elevate your customer experience (CX)

The challenges in how people learn are not just limited to employees. Customer expectations have also evolved related to training on products and services. With the increasing demand for online support, companies must revisit their strategies for the customer experience (CX). What once was an in-person experience now is a virtual approach to providing the best knowledge in an interactive setting. Leaders need to create engaging customer training that addresses gaps and produces a superior experience. Customer-facing technology used for learning is evolving to ensure training content is accessible and personalized.

Develop holistic data and learning analytics

With the need for more visibility into ROI, organizations are seeking to identify ways to access richer data. The focus on learners’ experiences will provide the foundation for organizations to enhance learning design to meet skill gaps and improve the bottom line. Machine learning will become increasingly adopted as organizations look to new methods of analyzing learning data. Learning experience platforms (LXP) and Experience API (xAPI) will continue to advance as learning leaders require better visibility into predictive performance improvement.

Visualize artificial intelligence

The industry will continue to realize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning during 2021. As working from home continues, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) will be sought after by organizations for learners to experience scenarios and business simulations which will increase productivity and better achieve business goals. The usage of AI chatbots, AI instructors, and virtual mentors can provide additional performance support for remote learners.

Immersive learning is continuous learning

To effectively improve employee performance, organizations will need to design interactive solutions that will engage remote learners successfully. Microlearning interactives are vital for retainable knowledge in engaging blended solutions. Mobile learning is evolving with new design approaches that better align with virtual learning. Accessible social learning platforms offer learners the ability to interact with their teams. Gamification has also emerged in most functions within an organization. From HR (onboarding) to IT skills development, game-based learning approaches will play a role in all aspects of continuous learning.

Market and workplace uncertainty may be carrying over into 2021, but L&D leaders can navigate this transformational era by adapting both new learning approaches and established best practices.

For more advice on enhancing your virtual learner engagement, don’t miss KnowledgeWorks Global Learning at the Learning Solutions Digital Experience, including Kelly Lake’s featured talk (May 4 at 1pm Eastern), Workforce Enablement: Redefining the Learning Ecosystem 2021.

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