The Case for eLearning in Small to Mid-Sized Business

By Rob Ackley

E-learning today provides opportunities for businesses large and small. The ability to interact with people in multiple locations simultaneously, the means to archive information for future access, and the potential to reach multiple types of learners through different communication mediums are but a few of the advantages e-learning offers. What can be daunting, however, is the investment of resources and capital required. The initial investment, and ensuing investments required once the process is launched, turns many small and mid-sized businesses away from the e-learning concept. While the hesitancy to spend on e-learning is understandable, it can also be misguided.

The truth is that e-learning is appropriate for businesses of all sizes – including small to mid-sized companies.  The concept can be tailored for nearly any firm’s needs and can reap a variety of benefits.  When deciding if e-learning is appropriate for your situation, or when attempting to convince others in your organization that it should be used, it’s important to keep the following tenets in mind.

eLearning is a force multiplier

Many small and mid-sized businesses have under-staffed training departments.  Using an e-learning product to archive presentations and sessions for future retrieval enables small training staffs to provide information easier and faster than conducting all training on a face-to-face basis.  The cost of an e-learning platform is also often much less than the cost of adding additional training staff members.

eLearning is accepted by Generation X and Y

The post-boomer generations readily accept the concepts of e-learning and remote engagement.  Many Generation Xers have taken advantage of the recent explosion of online degree programs to continue their education.  Gen Y grew up with Youtube, Myspace and countless other examples of multimedia and long distance information exchanges.  This is a trend that will only continue to grow and evolve, putting additional pressure on the traditional training methods employed by many firms to continue to change along with the times.

eLearning can start as a homegrown project

Much of the software and materials required to create a rudimentary e-learning system are readily available at little or no cost.  Video capture, narration and movie production software is now produced by a large number of firms and often come pre-bundled on many computers.  Starting small with using these types of products can help get the e-learning process started as a company begins to grow and expand.

eLearning platforms are scalable

Most e-learning platforms allow for scalability as a firm's needs grow and change.  This ability to scale up means that a firm can start with a small investment and add additional capacity in manageable pieces, as opposed to incurring a large capital expenditure to launch a large all encompassing e-learning platform.  Any established e-learning provider will be able to work with you to both determine your needs and outline a long range growth strategy.

Hardware costs have fallen dramatically

The hardware costs associated with e-learning have fallen dramatically over the past 10 years and are continuing to do so.  The expense for items such as additional computer memory and processing power no longer pose an entry barrier for many firms.  Additionally, the availability of discount high-speed internet access means that e-learning is accessible in nearly every type of market – even rural ones.  These facts combine to make e-learning easier to implement today from an infrastructure standpoint than ever before.

E-learning is an expanding arena that presents rewards for businesses of all shapes and sizes.  Whether you are a small business needing to train front line employees, a mid-sized firm dealing with the challenges of multiple offices/locations or a firm somewhere in between, an e-learning solution can be created to meet your needs.  Businesses that fail to recognize and act on this fact run the risk of quickly becoming outdated and ineffective with their training programs.

About the author 

Rob Ackley is the Director of Training and Recruiting Operations for RuffaloCODY, LLC.  Founded in 1991 and based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, RuffaloCODY is a fundraising services company providing consulting, software and management solutions to over 500 non-profit institutions worldwide.  RuffaloCODY currently operates 46 locations across the United States and Canada.