Today’s workforce is extremely savvy when it comes to technology and know the benefits of SaaS. Millennials in particular are a cohort that expects to have access to information and resources at any time, without having to leave their desk or wait for a meeting with their manager. They also expect every company interaction – from onboarding to training – to be centered around their personal preferences and learning styles as much as possible. With all of these demands, companies must re-think the way they conduct in-house training and adopt new methods that are more streamlined, accessible, and cost-effective. Training employees on the job is expensive and time-consuming for businesses of all sizes. A recent study found that the average cost of onboarding one employee was $6,785 – with only 11% of U.S.-based employers spending less than $2,500 on this process. This combined with the millennial expectation for accessible and convenient resources means that SaaS-based learning is the future of corporate training. Does your LMS feature SaaS? Learn about this new frontier of online learning as well as the 8 benefits of SaaS for your remote employee training.
8 Benefits of SaaS
SaaS-Based Learning Is Always-On and Always-Available
One of the biggest benefits of SaaS is that it is always on and always available to the user. There are no scheduled times or class start and end dates to keep track of, and the user can access the platform at any time and from any device with an internet connection: desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Companies can even integrate their learning platform with their employee scheduling system to make sure that training is available when employees need it, not when it is convenient for the company. As opposed to traditional in-house training, where employees have to schedule a seat in a class and often have to wait their turn to participate in a group setting, SaaS-based learning allows employees to access any training they need at any time, in a private environment, at their own pace, and in a way that works best for them.
SaaS Makes Training Data-Driven
Traditional training is often conducted with very little data or feedback to inform the curriculum. With SaaS-based training, all data from the learners is collected and analyzed. This is major in the list of benefits of SaaS. This data can then be used to inform future training curriculum and the design of the program. By being data-driven, SaaS-based learning can be more effective and efficient at meeting the training needs of the employees. Data can also help companies identify gaps in their employees’ skill sets more quickly, as well as improve communication and collaboration between departments. This makes training more relevant and results in employees feeling more engaged and less frustrated with the process. We think this is awesome, which is why we ranked it at the top of the list of benefits of SaaS.
SaaS Makes Training Accessible for All Employees
Another one of the benefits of SaaS is that the platform can be accessed anywhere, at any time – making training more accessible to all employees, regardless of location. For example, employees in remote and regional locations with limited access to onsite training opportunities can log in at home and receive the same training as their co-workers who are based in the office. SaaS-based learning can also be incorporated into different workflows, such as the onboarding process for new employees. This can help reduce some of the pressure on HR departments and managers, who are often responsible for making sure that training is completed before the new hire starts working.
SaaS Makes Learning Continuous
One of the benefits of SaaS is that allows you to create a continuous learning experience for your team. What does this mean? Well, employees in different departments and with different skill sets can learn from one another. For example, a new hire in HR can discuss the onboarding process with an employee in IT, or a customer service representative can learn sales techniques from a salesperson. This continuous learning experience extends beyond departments and helps employees across the company learn from each other and cross-pollinate ideas, skills, and best practices.
SaaS Improves Internal Communication and Collaboration
With a centralized learning platform that’s accessible to employees at all times, there is an opportunity to encourage communication and collaboration within departments. For example, there can be a forum for employees in different departments to discuss best practices and collaborate on solving problems as a team. There also may be a library of relevant training content for employees to access and use. Internal communication is one of the most impressive benefits of SaaS.
SaaS Helps Companies Identify Their Top Trainers
A learning platform that uses data can help identify top trainers within a department or across departments. It can also help identify employees who are most engaged with the training material and who may have the potential to become a trainer themselves. This means that companies can make the most of their in-house resources and have more consistent training across the company. Data is an important component of learning platforms and another top-ranker in the benefits of SaaS.
SaaS Uses Cloud Storage
The centralized nature of SaaS-based learning means that data is stored in a virtual cloud environment. This is especially valuable for companies that rely on GDPR compliance. With a SaaS-based learning solution, you don’t have to worry about where your data is being stored or if your IT team is following strict compliance regulations.
SaaS is Mobile-friendly
SaaS-based learning platforms are mobile-friendly, which means that employees can access the platform from any device. This increases flexibility and makes training much more convenient for employees who may be taking courses during their commute or while they’re on the go.
Benefits of SaaS: Bottom Line
All of these benefits of SaaS make SaaS-based learning the future of corporate training. With an always-on and always-available platform, employees can access the information they need at any time, from any device. Data can be used to inform future curricula and make training more relevant. Continuous learning between departments is also possible with a centralized SaaS platform. Employees can also access the platform from anywhere, and it’s easy to log in on the go with a mobile app. All of these features make SaaS-based learning convenient for employees, and help companies make the most of their training budgets and resources.
We offer 24/7 live support
SaaS teaching labs are often equipped with live customer service representatives that can help out with any issues. You can expect to have 24/7 support with a SaaS lab platform like ReadyTech, with availability on all major holidays. And if you have a high-volume business with a large number of learners, you might want to look into managed services, which is part of one of the benefits of SaaS. A managed service provider (MSP) can help manage your entire SaaS learning lab, including implementation, ongoing maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting.
ReadyTech is Here
We hope this blog helped you understand the many benefits of SaaS. SaaS applications are the new frontier of teaching and learning, as the need to keep up with the growing remote learning industry is stronger than ever. If you are still interested in what SaaS is, you can read more about SaaS here. ReadyTech provides you with everything you need, and we offer a full-service setup process and 24/7 live support. Do you have questions? Contact us today.