The advantages of learning Lean online

Few companies would dispute the importance of training. Whether businesses are trying to bring new employees up to speed or teach existing workers new skills, training and learning programs can help greatly expedite this process.

That said, there is a lot of debate over the best ways to run these educational programs. Should they be in-person sessions? Interactive online lessons? Reading materials with workbooks? Instructional audio and video clips? The fact of the matter is that all of these mediums have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered.

The perks of online training

Online training has become particularly attractive over the past decade as technology evolved to offer faster web connections and other features, such as webcams. Web-based programs are popular for a number of reasons.

For example, online initiatives can be conducted from literally wherever, provided trainees have access to the internet. This means that businesses don't have to rent seminar rooms at other locations or even devote a specific space within their offices to training – all of the work can be done from employees' own desks.

An additional advantage of online training is that it can be done at the employee's convenience. Rather than having to book rooms or align schedules, all training can be done when employees have the free time to participate. The hassle of scheduling training programs can be almost entirely eliminated from the process with online initiatives.

Another key perk of online training is the fact that it's so modular. Training programs can be broken down into different sessions, enabling companies to tailor initiatives to specific employees. For instance, an employee in one section may not need to go through the same sessions as another. It also allows participants to skip over irrelevant sessions and makes it easy to come back to important ones later.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of online training, though, is cost. Rather than paying to have someone come in and administer programs at each location, the same program can be used throughout the entire business. At a time where many businesses have strict budgets, saving money with online training can be a smart strategy.