Successfully further educate digitally
E-learning for companies
E-learning prepares companies for further education, onboarding, and mandatory training. On this page, you'll learn how to successfully implement digital learning methods and motivate your employees.
E-learning has become an indispensable part of adult education today. About 91% of German companies use digital teaching methods and have already implemented e-learning in their company. The big goal: successfully further educate employees – using simple technology and self-directed learning methods.
Learn about the benefits of e-learning in companies on this page: Which methods are useful for your application? What do real examples from practice look like? – in the sidebar you can directly jump to the answer to your question!
Why is E-Learning important for companies?
The numbers speak for themselves: Only a few companies in the DACH region still rely solely on in-person training. Instead, the majority now uses various digital training offers and learning methods, in line with the introduction of E-Learning. Companies often combine E-Learning with a suitable learning platform. But why, actually? Learn more now about the advantages and disadvantages of E-Learning.
Advantages and disadvantages of pure E-Learning
Like everything, E-Learning has its drawbacks as well. However, it should be considered that there is not just ONE E-Learning format. Because: E-Learning is not just E-Learning!
Further education is as individual as its participants themselves, of course also in the digital space. Compared to traditional training with pure presence, there are, however, some advantages that make E-Learning as a digital learning method particularly effective and sustainable – especially for companies:
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E-learning is well planned.
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E-learning is diverse
Participants learn with multimedia and interactive content: Video, quiz, presentation, survey, and much more is possible with e-learning
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With e-learning, participants learn independently.
Participants learn independently of time and place, whenever and wherever they want. Whether at midnight on the train or at noon in the office.
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As you can see, e-learning has many advantages but also a few weaknesses: If you are aware of the challenges of e-learning, you can easily counteract them! Three aspects will help you:
Simple Technology: You don't need to be a "techie" for e-learning! Everything depends on an uncomplicated learning platform for your company. And it should be user-friendly for both course creators and participants!
Good Support: You can also do something about the lack of personality and difficult motivation: Offer your learners support at any time and use many personal videos. This way, participants won't feel left alone.
Practical Application: E-learning doesn’t have to stand alone. Supplement your online course, for example, with a final personal conversation – that way, you have a simple blended learning approach, and the participant can better apply what they have learned in practice.
Advantages of traditional e-learning in companies
What advantages does e-learning specifically have for further training in companies? Three main benefits are clearly observable and already mentioned in the table above:
E-learning is well-planned
E-learning is diverse
With e-learning, employees learn independently
Successfully start with e-learning in the company
How do I plan the launch of e-learning in my company? How do I build online courses and how do I motivate employees? Our checklist in PDF format answers exactly these questions!
Planned Method: In the company, you know exactly who the participants of the training are. You know the target group and thus the learning objectives. This way, you can perfectly decide which methods and content are sensible for your e-learning.
Diverse Content: E-learning offers a variety of media formats. Thus, training in the company does not have to be monotonous but can be enjoyable for employees, provided that the learning platform provides a basis for it.
Independent Learning: No more 3-day seminars where hardly anything sticks! With suitable e-learning software, you encourage employees in the company to learn independently. This way, what they have learned stays much better in memory. The prerequisite for this is that you provide support. Independent learning does not mean learning completely alone!
How does e-learning work with suitable software for companies?
Every beginning is difficult, including the planning of e-learning for your own company. An important tip in advance: It doesn't have to be perfect right away! Start small and use your existing content. You can gradually supplement this.
To ensure that your start into e-learning goes as smoothly as possible, you should make a plan from the very beginning.
What are your goals?
Why do you want to start with e-learning?
What options do you have?
You should answer all these questions to design the appropriate e-learning for you and your employees.
In the following graphic, you can see the most important building blocks you need for the introduction of e-learning with the appropriate learning platform in your company.
This is what companies need to get started with e-learning.
Illustration: To implement e-learning in the company, you need: A learning platform, (at least) one contact person, a plan with objectives, and of course, content!
To get started with e-learning, you need ...
… a dedicated contact person for the learners
… a schedule
… a concrete goal
… varied and appropriate learning content
… a suitable learning platform
A good e-learning software is no substitute for good planning
Very important: Good preparation is also essential for success in e-learning! This does not mean that you should have planned every detail before starting. However, you should ask and answer yourself the following questions – even with excellent e-learning software:
Who is my target audience?
What are the learning objectives?
How do I involve the management?
Methods and applications for e-learning
Illustration: Methods for E-Learning in Companies – Blended Learning, Mobile Learning, Video Training, and Co.
There are many different ways to implement digital training in the form of E-Learning in companies. However, there is no single E-Learning solution. The following methods can be distinguished.
Blended Learning
Blended Learning is technically a mixed form of in-person and online courses.
Blended Learning means the mixing of different forms of learning with the goal of bringing in the advantages of all forms of learning and compensating for the weaknesses of the other form.
Mobile Learning
Mobile Learning is also called M-Learning and means mobile learning through the provision of learning content that is available on mobile devices regardless of time and location.
Mobile Learning is especially suitable for young participants, as they can work on the course directly on their own smartphones. Of course, M-Learning is also suitable if your participants are often on the go and want to work on learning units in between.
Microlearning
Microlearning refers to learning in short bursts with small, self-contained units of learning.
Microlearning is especially useful when there is little time available for learning. The great advantage is that all learning units are short and can be worked on independently. This way, your participants can also use short breaks to learn.
Video Training
Video training is an E-Learning that is completely or primarily made up of learning videos .
Videos are suitable for almost all topics that you can represent in E-Learning. Additionally, they are also a popular change of pace for your participants in the classic online course.
Web-Based Training
Web-based training primarily refers to the way learning content is delivered. In WBT, the learning content is made available on the internet or intranet.
Essentially, WBT is the basic form of e-learning that you can combine with other digital learning methods.
Webinar
A webinar is actually a classic seminar that takes place online. A web seminar is held live and simultaneously independent of location via the Internet.
Webinars have the advantage that you can directly address questions and issues just like in a physical presence. Although they often take place live, you can, of course, also record them and make them available later.
As you can see, there is a wide range of e-learning methods that can naturally be combined with each other. They mainly differ in whether learning takes place synchronously or asynchronously – that is, whether instructors and learners meet live together or whether the course takes place independently in time and space. Before making this decision, you should ask yourself whether pure e-learning is the suitable training method for your learning goals. You can read more extensively about the available e-learning methods in the free overview.
The best e-learning methods for companies
You will find detailed definitions of these methods with helpful practical examples in the PDF overview "The Best E-Learning Methods for Companies."
Is E-learning suitable for my use case?
In principle, E-learning is suitable for almost all use cases in the company. Some seemingly valid reasons against E-learning are based on prejudices. Therefore, do not rule out E-learning altogether just because you assume that E-learning fundamentally...
is "cold" and impersonal.
has no practical relevance.
requires high technical knowledge.
The following checklist gives you a quick impression of whether E-learning or rather a traditional face-to-face event is more suitable for your use case:
Example: How is E-Learning applied in companies?
The applications of E-Learning are as diverse as the method itself. And that is precisely why E-Learning for companies is so useful. It adapts to the needs of the company and its employees and brings various advantages. E-Learning is suitable not only for classic digital further education, but it can also be used as a permanent support in everyday work (for example, in the sense of Learning on Demand) or for the onboarding of new employees. The most popular forms of E-Learning for companies can be found in the following sections.
Top 3 Examples of E-Learning Concepts in Companies
1. E-Learning as a Complete Online Course
The most common way to implement e-learnings is probably the classic online course. In most cases, the course is already completed and takes place asynchronously. The course instructor creates learning content that they provide on a special learning platform or a LMS for the participants, allowing them to access the provided learning content at any time. An online course usually consists of ...
a greeting from the course instructor in the form of a short video
a rough outline of what to expect in the course
various chapters and diverse learning content
a final test to assess the level of knowledge
2. E-Learning for Learning Support and Knowledge Management in Everyday Life
Successful training can also take place directly in the workplace and in the situation, entirely in the spirit of Learning on Demand. Many companies are already relying on this e-learning method and gradually building their own learning library in the online course. This can answer simple questions like "Where can I find what?" or explain entire processes or tools.
When employees document new work processes, for example, with a quick screencast, everyone in the company can benefit from it. It is particularly important that there is a responsible person who maintains and constantly updates the learning library.
3. Use E-Learning for the Onboarding of new employees
Probably you only thought of a typical training when you first thought of e-learning, which takes place online. You can also use the method in the onboarding process of new employees. After all, there are also phases in onboarding where the new employee must learn processes and basic knowledge. Accompanying e-learning helps new employees keep an overview and better process new impressions. In particular, videos are a good method to establish personal contact during the welcome of new employees in the online course.
Special Form: Implementing E-Learning as Blended Learning in the Company
Blended Learning is often seen as the perfect introduction to e-learning for good reason: The mix of traditional in-person and digital preparation and follow-up makes the transition significantly easier. Both course leaders and participants get used to the online learning phase while still maintaining personal interaction during the in-person sessions. This is usually also clearly in focus and the online course serves as supplementary material. But even this is an important first step towards getting accustomed to digital learning!
Typical Areas of Application for E-Learning in Companies
Of course, in addition to Blended Learning, Onboarding, and Learning Support in daily work, there are many other topics and concepts that are particularly suitable for E-Learning. For example, the following areas:
- Sales Training
- Product Trainings
- Compliance Training
- Software Trainings
- Soft Skill Training
Practical Examples for Implementing E-Learning in Companies
The most successful long-term e-learning concepts for companies use a mix of online and in-person training, known as blended learning. In the following paragraphs, we present two good practical e-learning examples from large companies:
Virtual Training and Continuing Education at DVAG
The Deutsche Vermögensberatung offers more than 17,000 freelance financial advisors a variety of training and continuing education opportunities in the form of virtual blended learning. High flexibility is a must for freelance advisors from various age groups, which is why DVAG relies on fully digital education. This consists of:
an online phase to acquire basic knowledge about the software and individual functions of the systems. These phases should prepare the active tasks in the presence.
a face-to-face phase to deepen subject-specific topics through direct digital exchanges with other learners. There are live workshops in regional groups on specific content.
The learners can always choose which form of learning suits them better. Learning should ultimately match all individuals and their individual preferences and daily routines.
The concept is based on the blended learning model "Heron" and looks as follows:
You can find the DVAG practical example along with other examples in our e-book "Successful Blended Learning Concepts for Companies." Use the practical examples as a basis to develop your own concept for your specific application!
The success in practice: With the flexible blended learning concept, NOSA manages to train highly presence-focused employees from various branches with consistently high quality. Above all, the comment function from blink.it facilitates very active participation from all participants with a high level of individual learning success.
Conclusion
E-learning in companies is successful when it is strategically aligned, pursues clear learning objectives, and is consistently integrated into workplace reality.
Digital training is more than just providing content. It is crucial that learning is structured, practically designed, and measurable. Only then does genuine competence development arise instead of mere knowledge transfer.
Companies that understand e-learning as an integral part of their human resources strategy gain flexibility, scalability, and transparency. Learning does not become an additional project, but rather a driving force for further development and future viability.
Simple e-learning for your company with blink.it
Technology is not everything, but it is essential for the success of e-learning! At the learning platform blink.it, a high level of user-friendliness is the priority: Easy operation, appealing design, and the best possible support for success.
