{"id":18317,"date":"2022-09-01T11:43:14","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T08:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/?p=18317"},"modified":"2025-01-15T15:17:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T13:17:47","slug":"online-training-advantages-disadvantages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/online-training-advantages-disadvantages\/","title":{"rendered":"Face-off: The advantages and disadvantages of online training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spurred on by the recent pandemic, online training\u2019s finally (ta-da!) gained its place in the spotlight. When COVID-19 hit, remote working became the norm<\/strong>. And businesses, reluctant to take the plunge before, were also forced to dip their toes in the digital learning waters.<\/p>\n

Most have continued to use online technology to support a more flexible approach to working<\/strong>. And have done the same with employee development.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re now doing some of your employee training online<\/a><\/strong> (or at least using digital tools to facilitate learning), you\u2019re probably reaching a crossroads. And wondering if you should continue as you are, or put complete faith in technology and move everything online.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t started to explore online training yet, you may feel as if you\u2019re approaching a dead end. Is it time to branch off and explore a new path?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Either way, before you decide, you need the full picture. So we\u2019ve researched the advantages and disadvantages of online training to help.<\/p>\n

But first, a little background.<\/p>\n

What is online training?<\/h2>\n

Unlike traditional training, which takes place in person, online training (or eLearning) happens remotely over the internet. With online training<\/a><\/strong>, a Learning Management System (or LMS), is often used to manage and deliver courses.<\/p>\n

These courses can be asynchronous (employees complete them at their own pace) or synchronous (employees attend a live, virtual session at a fixed time). All that employees need is internet access and a device (PC, laptop, smartphone, or tablet).<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t mistake online training for remote training.<\/strong> It\u2019s a common misconception that might bring confusion. Online training isn\u2019t necessarily remote training.<\/strong> For instance, in-office employees can get both traditional or online training. On the other hand, remote employees can have access only to online training.<\/p>\n

11 advantages of online learning<\/h2>\n

Online learning sounds simple, right? But that\u2019s not all. Let\u2019s look in detail at the other advantages of online learning.<\/p>\n

1. You can cut training costs<\/h3>\n

Corporate eLearning comes with low associated costs<\/strong>, compared to offline training. There are no venue hire fees to budget for. And no transportation, accommodation, or hospitality costs to consider.<\/p>\n

Additionally, with all course or study materials available online and suitable for reuse, resourcing is tighter, too.<\/p>\n

2. It’s easy to scale<\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re training 50 employees, 500, or 5000, online learning has the capacity and infrastructure in place to cope. It\u2019s also capable of meeting a sudden increase in demand<\/strong>. If you\u2019re experiencing a skills shortage and hiring at pace, for example, online learning has all the tools you need ready to go.<\/p>\n

Meaning you can onboard and train<\/strong> larger volumes of employees in a short time frame with minimal disruption to you or your HR team.<\/p>\n

3. Employees have access wherever they are<\/h3>\n

With online training, the barriers of time and location are removed. This makes it an ideal option with today\u2019s increasingly geographically-dispersed workforce. Employees can complete courses wherever they are in the world<\/strong>. And, as well as attending virtual webinars, conferences, and other training events in real-time, they can access recorded and archived sessions at a later date if time zones prove problematic.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but using tools such as online discussion forums, messaging apps, live chats, and virtual \u201cbreakout\u201d rooms keep communication flowing. Learners can talk with other participants and their instructor during online group training sessions. Or more privately in closed or one-to-one groups.<\/p>\n