E-learning or ‘electronic learning’ is a phrase we hear more and more frequently. It refers to the delivery of education via electronic resources or the ‘digitalization of education’. We may traditionally associate E-Learning with the Education industry, but many industries now incorporate some form of E-learning into their practice, as businesses strive to adapt and progress in response to the world climate.
We are going to look at four industries which are embracing E-learning; these are Retail / eCommerce, Entertainment, Education and Healthcare, to compare the ways in which E-learning is utilized.
Retail and eCommerce
The retail industry is one of the most rapidly growing online sectors, which marks the rise of ‘E-commerce’ – the buying and selling of products and services online. As online retail sales skyrocket and the industry adapts, its companies and employees must do the same. Whilst traditional, in-store retail jobs have been under threat, there is a new demand for online retail professionals to sell products online and to drive forward their company’s digital goals.
This is where retail businesses use E-learning to train and improve the skills of their employees, to meet these new online demands. With retail being such a competitive industry, it is important for retail-professionals to have expertise and up-to-date product knowledge to keep their companies at the forefront of the market. E-learning is used to train employees about new software and product developments, without them having to physically attend a training day.
As well as employee training, E-Learning is used to educate and inspire customers within the Retail industry. Many retail sites, such as amazon and eBay, include product-demonstration videos on their websites. This informs and enhances customer confidence in the product before buying and is a form of online education for customers.
The Entertainment Industry
Within the eCommerce industry lies the entertainment business, which has made huge shifts towards an online market over the last decade. Online entertainment companies use E-Learning to grow and inspire their community and fan-base, sometimes through creating specialist training apps to aid customers using their products.
The online gaming industry, for example, hosts a variety of innovative poker training apps to help customers use poker platforms and for those looking to improve their strategy. Examples include ‘DTO’ and ‘SnapShove’, two popular training apps designed and used by professionals, allowing people everywhere to practice their poker techniques whilst on the move. Such initiatives increase customer involvement and satisfaction as well as making the product more accessible and appealing to a wider community.
Education
Over the last year the Education industry has been compelled to make a huge leap towards online education. This has been a monumental shift which has most probably changed the dynamics of education for good. But even before the pandemic, Education was already leading the way in the world of E-learning.
You can now study almost anything online, from University degrees to more niche skills-based courses. Two of those at the forefront of online education are Universities and language companies. Thousands of university degrees are now available online and universities are competing to be at the forefront of distance learning. This has encouraged some traditional universities to take a technological leap forward, as they strive to provide a balance between face to face and E-learning options.
Language learning is another industry at the forefront of E-learning. There are hundreds of companies all over the world which offer online language courses and classes to connect teachers and students who are living in different parts of the world. The EFL, or English Foreign Language teaching business in particular has taken off with, for example, many Chinese companies looking for online English teachers to teach in China or other parts of Asia. This type of ‘virtual classroom’ offers possibilities for students and teachers to study, connect and work from home. The concept of teaching English or any language abroad no longer requires moving to the other side of the world.
Healthcare
As one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving industries, the use of E-learning in Healthcare has become essential. It is vital for doctors and nurses to keep up to date with ever evolving medicine to successfully treat their patients. E-learning is therefore used as an essential means of training medical staff, allowing training to be structured around their demanding schedules.
Information about diseases, therapies, the use of medical technology, and dispensing medication can be quickly updated and accessed by medics from anywhere at any time. This type of E-learning is an intrinsic part of many medics’ working day, with many hospitals now using electronic devices as quick access to a second consult. In this sense, E-Learning goes beyond a technological wave and really could be helping to save lives.
We have looked at some of the top industries to embrace E-learning, but there are a whole host of E-learning trends to watch in 2021, and the phenomenon reaches across almost every industry. People are seeking increasingly flexible working arrangements and businesses are adapting to become dynamic learning groups to keep at the forefront of their market.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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