Today the workplace is so diverse that it has increasingly become more difficult to design a one-size-fits-all ERP training program to prepare the workforce and get everybody up and running in no time. Successful training programs accommodate the diverse characteristics and personal preferences of users. Training new employees involves sharing company-specific knowledge and skills, as well as passing down key organizational values.
ERP Training Tips That Will Leave a Lasting Impact
1.Communicate Training Benefits Clearly
Today’s employees are more interested in the “end result” of a particular activity before they can commit to it, fully. Therefore, take them through the program before the training begins and inform them how the newly-acquired skill-set is critical to and will have a long-lasting impact on their work. The aim of the training is to guide them through program simulation best practices and let them see the bigger picture of how the ERP software will improve the company’s bottom-line and their careers, as well as compensation opportunities.
2. Personalized, Targeted Information
Today’s generation of employees have no patience with “cookie-cutter” solutions, and this makes it even more important to assign experienced training moderators to groups of employees, segmented into small groups according to position or department, to ensure the training is both relevant and specifically targeted.
3. Include Multimedia Content
Tying new and existing employees down continuously for over 8 hours while trying to pass a large volume of information would not yield the expected result. Structure your ERP training program to allow them to access training materials in smaller, bite-sized chunks, and in various formats. Mix self-help YouTube video tutorials with 30-minute online webinars, knowledge apps and guidance by remote experts to boost employee interest and increase productivity.
4. Use Social Forums to Foster Interaction
Today’s employees are highly interactive and responsive and, therefore, prefer to be trained in social settings. Provide them with a platform where they can receive and provide feedback from and to training moderators, as well as share issues of concern with fellow colleagues. Use digital forums such as private Facebook groups or internal CRM space to satisfy this need.
5. Focus on Result
Do not waste time and money on any ineffective training. Do not simply walk employees through the processes, functions or modules, but focus on real-world scenarios using the system created for your organization, and giving specific daily tasks and activities they will be required to perform.
6. Train Specifically for Your Company
While going through examples without your company-specific data is good, you need to take a different approach and use real-world examples specific to your company. All the training is pointless unless they can use it on your system as expected. Your training approach should aim to make employees fully understand what is expected of them and they should get comfortable using your ERP system.
No matter how good your training is, employees still need to see the real-world or practical application so that they can apply what they have learned. Whether you are outsourcing the ERP training to a consulting firm or doing it yourself, note that it should be tailored to accommodate various learning styles and learning pace.