Corona has shown how important digitalization is in education. Companies across all sectors are affected by this. The crisis has shown many where deficits still exist and what one cannot do without in the future. But even before that, there was a major deficit: the digital neglect of so-called "firstline workers" (this also includes blue-collar workers) – employees on the "front line": sales staff, production workers, delivery drivers, etc. The need for further training is by no means less here, yet they are involved in digital educational offerings far less than office staff, for example. We show how this can be changed.

Why are firstline workers neglected in terms of digital education?

With over 60 percent, firstline workers (nursing staff, drivers, cleaning staff, blue-collar workers, etc.) make up the largest proportion of all employees worldwide. However, they have so far benefited only to a small extent from modern tools of digital corporate training. There are many reasons for this. Often they have…

• No fixed workplace
• No company email address of their own
• Heterogeneous working hours due to shift work
• Language barriers
• Low digital affinity

Of course, this cannot be generalized and differs from industry to industry. But these are hurdles that many HR managers face when they want to digitally train and include their firstline workers.

What options are there for training firstline workers digitally?

Mobile E-Learning Software/Learning App

A major challenge is the lower technical networking of firstline workers. For an administrative employee, for example, it is a matter of course that they have a desk with their own PC and their own access. They work with it every day, after all. A cashier or blue-collar worker, however, does not need any of this. There is nothing wrong with that, but it makes access to your company's digital training offers more difficult. Here, one can take advantage of the increasing mobilization of end devices: Every employee has a smartphone, or you can provide such devices for little money. Modern e-learning software is mobile-first developed. This means they can be played out equally on any end device (desktop, tablet, smartphone). In this way, firstline workers also get the opportunity to further their digital education and get in touch with you. Furthermore, waiting times can be wonderfully used for learning – for example, when there are longer lulls in sales.

Learn when and where you want

A mobile e-learning software also solves the hurdle of heterogeneous working hours (shift work). This is because employees can learn when and where they want and do not have to be brought together for a joint face-to-face seminar.

How do employees log into the e-learning software without an email address?

Here, there is the possibility of giving employees like blue-collar workers so-called voucher codes.

Quiz Battle for more fun during training

Learning should be fun, and good e-learning software motivates employees to continue their education. In addition to a good design, the factor of gamification plays an important role. Imagine your firstline workers (but of course all other employees as well) would learn new learning content via a quiz. They can challenge each other, see who is leading the leaderboard, and which questions are the most difficult overall. This learning model is very successful and has the advantage that employees like to and voluntarily use the learning app.

There is more information here on the Quiz Battle.

Intuitive and catchy e-learning design

The demands on apps – and this of course also applies to professional learning apps – are very high today. Instagram and co. shape user behavior. If software wants to be used, it should adopt this user behavior. Then it is also very likely that employees will find their way around and enjoy learning with it. This means much more than that the learning software should be "pretty," but also that it is easy to use, the paths are short, and new content is accessible with a few clicks. The design should invite you to explore. Ideally, even those employees who otherwise work little with operational software will find their way around here.

Conclusion - There are many ways to digitally involve and train firstline workers

Modern mobile e-learning software has the potential to optimally involve employees in production, service, or retail in digital corporate training, among others. Content can be made available in several languages, the learning apps are easy to use and are based on apps that are also used privately. Due to mobile use, no fixed workplace is necessary. Optimally, offline use is also possible, so internet access is not mandatory. And last but not least: With modern software, your firstline worker employees not only motivate themselves to learn, but you also bind them better to yourself. Because your company shows itself to be: modern and motivating.

Find out here what possibilities the e-learning software keelearning offers you.

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Prepare yourself optimally for the introduction of e-learning in your company:

» Download e-book "Data Protection in E-Learning" + Infographic

» Read also our article on how to involve your works council in good time with the introduction of e-learning  + Infographic