Organizations are looking for smart ways to enhance their workplace productivity and efficiency, particularly as they transition to hybrid work environments. Virtual employee learning can play a valuable role where this is concerned, but it's important to have the right business communication technology in place to ensure success. Here's how virtual learning supports workplace efficiency and how unified communications can enable effective virtual employee learning.
Why workplace productivity and efficiency matter
Productive and efficient organizations generate more revenue than their peers. According to Gallup's 2022 State of the Global Workforce Report, business units with engaged workers have 23% higher profit compared with business units with disengaged workers. A productive and efficient workforce can also give an organization the agility it needs to effectively compete and navigate unexpected challenges like the pandemic and supply chain disruptions.
Workplaces are also experiencing rapid change. According to projections from Forrester, many organizations will adopt a new, flexible "office + anywhere hybrid" model that still includes offices but also allows employees to work anywhere they choose for at least a few days each week. Organizations are prioritizing strong internal collaboration and communication so that employees can remain engaged and productive while working remotely. To properly support their employees, organizations will need the right collaboration and communication technologies as well as high-quality virtual learning.
How virtual training supports workplace efficiency and productivity
Virtual employee learning can play a key role in helping organizations engage employees, enhance workplace productivity and efficiency, and become more agile. According to LinkedIn's 2022 Workplace Learning Report, 87% of executives agree learning and development had some to a great deal of involvement in helping their organizations adapt to change. Research cited in the report indicates that employees feel having opportunities to learn and grow is the No. 1 factor that defines an exceptional workplace environment.
Organizations that foster a great work culture are also more likely to excel at internal mobility—and they retain employees for nearly twice as long (an average of 5.4 years) as those that don't (2.9 years). With better employee retention, organizations can retain crucial institutional knowledge, remain productive and save money they would otherwise have to spend hiring new employees.
Increasingly, organizations are focusing their learning and development initiatives on upskilling employees or digitally upskilling them to enable digital transformation initiatives. Almost half (46%) of respondents to LinkedIn's survey indicated they planned to focus on upskilling and reskilling employees, while 26% noted that they expected to zero in on digital upskilling and digital transformation.
Virtual employee learning could also help address executives' concerns about potential skills gaps within their organizations. For example, 49% of learning and development professionals said executives are concerned that employees don't have the right skills to execute business strategy—a problem which, left unaddressed, could directly impact workplace productivity and efficiency.
How unified communications can help with virtual training
The right communication tools can help an organization deliver a more effective virtual training program. This is especially true now that many organizations are pursuing a hybrid workplace approach. Employees need to be able to quickly and reliably connect with one another in real time from a variety of locations—whether they're joining a virtual training session or collaborating on important projects. Unified communications for business gives them the tools they need to do just that. For example, these tools allow them to remotely participate in video training sessions where they can see the instructor, follow along with visual learning materials and interact with fellow participants from across the organization.
Unified communications can also streamline the virtual learning experience and enhance workplace efficiency and productivity. Because unified communications integrates all of an organization's communication tools into a single solution, all employees have access to exactly the same features—such as voice and video calling, text messaging and presence. When employees have one platform for all of their business communication needs, the learning curve is easier to manage than it would be if they had to navigate different interfaces for separate individual communication tools. Removing the potential barrier of a technology learning curve can boost workplace productivity. Employees can focus their attention on the content of the virtual learning session and access its insights much sooner.
Accelerate your virtual learning program
Virtual learning can enhance workplace efficiency and productivity, allowing organizations to upskill employees and foster a dynamic work culture. The right communications technology matters when pursuing a virtual learning program. Unified communications for business gives employees all the tools they need to engage in virtual employee learning without having to manage a significant technology learning curve. This simplified approach lets organizations accelerate their virtual learning programs and access the workplace productivity benefits they offer even faster.
Learn how Verizon's unified communications services help employees connect quickly and reliably.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.