E-Learning is growing very popular, with new channels and mediums popping up what seems like daily, there are various types of learning happening. Learning on one’s own no longer means studying through purchased book materials and instead takes on the form of the popular Skillshare website, or even free university classes offered through online mediums. These classes come ripe with like-minded students that can oftentimes be more engaged than students that are forced to attend classes on subject matter they are not interested in. While there may be few students in each class that are not as engaged as others, there are support articles and an abundance of additional information available online to supplement learning and really propel the most successful uptake of the knowledge at hand.

This year, VAIRKKO will be attending the SHRM Conference in Chicago, Illinois. While it is not the first year that we have been in attendance, we are showcasing some products that we have been hard at work on over the last year. These products include our HR Cloud, e-Learning Cloud and Certification Cloud.

With new regulations on the horizon for companies in California that sell, produce, distribute, and install solar panels, there has never been a better time to adopt software solutions that help your company become and stay organized. In early May, 2018, California became the first state to introduce new regulations on houses being built, by 2020 each new house must use solar power. While California has long been the leader with its clean energy goals, many states will likely follow this initiative. 

E-learning has taken the business world by storm. Originally adopted by educators all over the world, online learning and training has since been adapted to meet the needs of on-the-job training and continued education within an organization. E-learning is still a relatively new concept in both the education world and business world alike. With many sceptics and late-adopters of the learning management platforms, there is still some convincing to do before it is as necessary to a businesses survival as having some sort of cash flow - which, let’s face it, is necessary.

Businesses have been pretty slow to adopt e-learning for their organizations when considering the introduction of technology to the learning process. In the early 1920s, machines were introduced to take tests that helped with grading - think the scantrons of today - and yet, it took another 80 years for organizations to really use these types of tools for the betterment of their companies. While the widespread use of the internet, relatively low costs of personal computers, and ease of use with present-day learning management systems have definitely increased the adoption rate for internal training and an abundance of on-the-job education opportunities, there is still a long way to go.

Small business professionals are no strangers to hard work and its value for an organization. Oftentimes jumping into multiple tasks that are not tied to a job description but helpful for the health of the organization, small business employees and managers work tirelessly to propel a small business to success. It is not uncommon to find small businesses that go without the technology and advances of the larger corporations because of limited resources and time, but if there is one piece of software a small business should not go without - it is workforce management software.

Old habits die hard. We’ve all heard it said, and within a company it couldn’t be more true. From employee number one to employee “X” habits become culture - what is set into motion in the beginning tends to become the foundation, and changing a foundation is difficult. While sometimes it doesn’t make sense when strategizing for a business to take into consideration what you envision future success will look like, but failure to do so can lead to employee habits that eventually get your business into trouble.

Small businesses, whether a start-up or a purposefully small business by design, can face many challenges when it comes to just about every facet of the organization - from hiring the right talent, to retaining that talent in the face of more glamorous big brands, from choosing the right software that is not only affordable but is scalable, to finding the time to even explore solutions to problems before it is too late. Oftentimes, executives and managers within a small business are wearing multiple hats with various roles and responsibilities - no task is too small for a small business manager to dive into, nor is a task too large in scope to exclude all employees. Oftentimes most, if not all, employees are included in making big picture decisions, and even the smallest of voices with the seemingly littlest amount of influence are heard and considered. While each of these scenarios can present a unique challenge that are not seen as a company gets larger, this is often how small businesses rise to success - they are not bogged down by bureaucracy and red-tape especially when onboarding new solutions: software, in particular.

Perhaps you have heard of Instructional Design, perhaps you haven’t - but if you’re in the field of corporate training or working to produce content for adults or children to learn from, it’s likely helpful to have a working knowledge of instructional design. To that extent, we wanted to provide a resource in which to reference as you are creating training material, putting together courses, or working to teach others on any subject matter.

So you’re a corporate trainer - or maybe you’re not - but you have been tasked with the learning and development of your organization. Whether you are in a small business setting or at the enterprise level, there is a lot riding on your position to be able to effectively disseminate information for the masses and ensure its appeal. This is no small order, but we think if you keep these five principles in mind when working through your learning and development program - you are off to a great start in terms of ensuring your programs success.