Responding to changing employee learning patterns, especially those amongst Millennials, offers great opportunities for innovative HR professionals. Apps in particular tap into the way that Millennials use technology. A great example of this is the Smart Learning app by Chow Tai Fook, which provides a multifunction platform to engage and train staff. As part of a company-wide shift to create a well-defined culture of learning, Wong Siu-kee Kent, Managing Director, Chow Tai Fook spearheaded the creation of the app to unify and streamline the learning process across Hong Kong and Mainland China.
The app, which can be accessed from any smart device with an internet connection, provides courses that are taught through e-video channels. The app also synchronises with face-to-face lessons, and allows students to vote and offer opinions during traditional training events. As of print, the app offers more than 70 different courses to around 30,000 staff across Greater China—demonstrating the breadth of its reach.
The success of the app highlights the qualities that next-generation training resources need in order to thrive. Chief among these is flexibility. Training through an app is quick, and can be done at any time in any location. This has a clear advantage over traditional methods of learning, such as classroom lessons, which require large blocks of an employee’s time and have to be planned far in advance to avoid schedule conflicts. As younger employees are increasingly likely to leave jobs, training through an app offers a far better ROI to HR managers who may view the costs of traditional training as prohibitive, given the short employee lifespan.
A centralised training app also creates benefits for HR managers. Materials provided on an app can be updated instantly, and information can be taught just once for all app users rather than scheduling and teaching multiple classes.
But in order for apps to be a successful training tool, employees must be engaged. The Smart Learning app addresses this by offering staff a platform to share opinions, receive feedback and take an active role in the business. The app also integrates with other Chow Tai Fook business functions, such as sales and marketing, to intelligently predict and suggest what employees want to learn. This, combined with a simple design and clean interface, has resulted in a strong employee uptake, allowing the company to maximise its training potential.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
