3 Reasons Why Mobile-Optimized Learning is Now Non-Negotiable

Consider the last time you learned something valuable. Maybe it came to you through your headphones via a podcast or video. Maybe it was something interesting in an email newsletter or article. Or, maybe it was something you discovered on social media. 

No matter what you learned, there’s a good chance you didn’t learn it sitting at a desk or while reading a paper — you probably consumed it on your smartphone or tablet.

Recent research indicates that over 92% of people who have access to the internet access it via mobile devices. In the 21^st century, education of all stripes happens everywhere around us. Why should it be any different in the business world?

Yet, while the rest of the world has evolved to accommodate mobile technology, corporate learning has largely been stuck in a realm of in-person instruction, paper-bound manuals and desktop-only tutorials. 

Leading businesses around the world have recognized this shortcoming as an opportunity. The winners will be those that embrace the mobile revolution and recognize that “mLearning” is the way of the future for workforce, customer and partner training.

In this post we’ll discuss the 3 reasons why mobile is here to stay and why it’s crucial for your company to adopt a mobile-optimized learning platform sooner rather than later.

Related Post: The Mobile Learning Revolution: Why L&D Managers Must Adapt to Survive.

1. Business is Already BYOD

Every day, each member of your team and every one of your customers walks around with a phone in hand (or pocket). They’re already using smartphones, tablets and other devices to check emails, communicate with peers, track performance and execute job responsibilities using mobile-friendly tools (e.g., Salesforce, Hootsuite, etc.). 

In short, every work environment has become a Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) workplace. Leading companies have embraced this new reality when it comes to corporate learning, as well. First movers sought opportunities to meet their learners where they already are — most likely, on a mobile device.

2. Mobile Means Accessible

The goal of any learning program is to deliver useful knowledge to the end user. But if knowledge stays siloed away in physical documents or on your company’s intranet, it may never make it to an end user in the first place. Why limit access by relying on outdated, legacy systems? 

Offer your learners the ability to access training materials any time, any where. This way, your learners will be more likely to engage with the content and apply their knowledge down the road.

3. On-Demand is Expected

People expect to be able to learn on-demand. They’ve been conditioned to believe that anything they need to know is one Google search away. 

Do you want their business? Then you’d better be on the other end of that search with the information they need. 

If your newest customer is quickly trying to get up and running with your product, but they need to wait a week before you host another group onboarding webinar, whose fault is it when they churn? 

Don’t underestimate the value of instantly retrievable information. 

The report Mobile Learning: Driving Business Results by Empowering Employees in the Moment put it best: 

"The correlation with business results is direct. Putting learning in the palm of people’s hands — exactly what they need, when they need it — can have an immediate positive effect on the bottom line."

Go Mobile with Learning Ops

Are you ready to optimize your learning program for a mobile world? It starts with understanding your learner. 

That’s why we created Learning Ops, a new approach to learning that drives measurable business results through learner-first experiences. Learning Ops facilitates an organizational shift using a 3-step framework designed to help you:

1. 1. Align teams and outcomes, and prioritize for impact.
   2. Create engaging content that drives better performance.
   3. Deliver a frictionless and human learning experience.

Get started with Learning Ops today: