If you’re managing a training program for your organization, you’re sure to have noticed how long and arduous a task it can be. If you’re a large company, you’ve probably got multiple departments, each with their own training needs across IT, operations, development, marketing and others – to say nothing of general employee education and onboarding. And even if you’re a smaller or mid-sized organization, you’re always on the lookout for ways to consolidate curriculum, save costs and get your employees ramped up quickly.

Ensuring your workforce stays sharp with the skills to do their jobs and keeping up with the latest trends and technologies, can be a challenge even if you have a sizable team to manage it. Many companies are still relying on traditional sources of training: in-person courses delivered at a training location or at your headquarters if you have the space; lengthy planning cycles and a wide variety of curriculum; and the unfortunate impact of employees being out of the office or on leave for some time. Just the expenses for airfare, hotel, meals, room rental and other variable costs can reach as high as $100,000 for a group of 25 trainees, and that’s not even including the cost of the course and facilitator

In a digital world that’s rapidly emerging, workforce training online can be far simpler, cheaper and more effective – and it can have long-lasting benefits for your corporate culture. Here are some critical advantages that online certification and training can have for your organization:

1. Flexibility

It’s probably safe to say that most workers would rather not sit in a room for a day or two or three for training. There is a tremendous personal and professional benefit of conducting team training and education online, especially if you have the opportunity to A) participate in live classroom-style course where you can interact with the faculty and other students, B) access course content on-demand and work at your own pace, and C) gain practical knowledge from projects and use cases that you’ll remember when you’re in a similar situation on the job. Even complex technology training can take place in a more balanced way when it’s pursued in established online courses.

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2. Laser Focus

Whether you’re a project manager trying to improve project workflow across your teams, or a digital marketer building a new SEO program to increase lead conversions, or you’re in IT and want to strengthen your infrastructure for the next imminent cyberattack, gaining the depth of expertise with a focus on the most tangible skills is paramount. Online certification training applies not only the most widely used best practices but also keeps pace with the evolutionary changes and leverages the latest tools to ensure you’re getting the most useful instruction.

3. Speed

Training managers and department heads usually spend a lot of time planning the right approach to training, finding the right experts to deliver it, and actually conducting courses live. Online training courses kill several birds with one stone. Courses are pre-built and aligned with the latest industry and certification standards, and it’s easy to choose what you want and build it into a comprehensive curriculum. Taking courses online eliminates the need for travel and taking time out of the office. And giving employees the ability to access course content anytime from their desk (or at home) speeds their ability to absorb concepts and methodologies.

4. Breadth of Skills

Once employees see the vast quantity of skills training that is available in the online curriculum, they frequently opt to expand their core competencies and pursue other skills that will enhance their performance on the job or open up new job opportunities at their company. Software developers and product managers that understand digital marketing bring a broader perspective to the table when they build products. Operations managers that are trained in the fundamentals of software development are well-positioned to heighten their job status in DevOps or other hybrid professional roles. And most employees can benefit from project management principles or even mastering office productivity tools, all of which can be part of a broader training program. One study also showed that 72 percent of prospects were open to taking a job in a different field and trying a new work path.

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5. Lasting Impact

Online training programs help you create a culture of continuous education and professional development. Your workforce feels empowered when they can pursue certifications in a non-intrusive way online to keep their skillsets sharp and prepare them for the next career move. In fact, companies that develop a learning culture are 46 percent more likely to be first to market and 58 percent more prepared to meet future demand.3 Making an investment in your employees is the gift that keeps on giving, even back to you.

So the next time you’re planning that big outing to an off-site training locale, remember that flexibility, speed, focus, variety, and culture are all qualities that count, and online certification and training is the strongest path to sustained success.

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