Mobile Learning: ROI reasons for using it

Written by Jennifer Hoyt on November 8, 2011

eLearning Guild found in a recent study that 70% of Americans use their own personal phones for work activities. The study also found that 92% of companies are aware that employees are utilizing their personal phones for this purpose.

If so many employees are using their own personal phones to stay connected to their job activities why, according to ASTD surveys, is only one in five companies currently using mobile learning? These same surveys show that about half of those who do not use mobile learning content have no plans to start using it. Are these companies missing the boat on the effectiveness of mobile learning?

The direct ROI is measurable and builds a case for using mobile learning as a coordinated effort in the workplace. Better training can shorten learning time for employees, that shorter time means employees can do their job better and faster. Access to information via mobile learning increases productivity which can positively affect revenues. Faster response time using mobile learning can lower customer service issues and increase satisfaction. All elements that impact the company bottom line.

The business reasons for mobile learning:

• To increase profitable sales, salespeople can spend a few minutes brushing up right before an important sales call, or use a handheld to give their presentation while talking to someone in the office or at lunch (sales).

• To reduce opportunity costs and simultaneously reduce training expenses, learners can watch a course at any time on their phone/PDA device, then take the online test right afterwards (e-learning).

• To improve execution, workers can review a how-to procedure right before they start a task (performance support).

• To increase market share or better defend a higher price, professionals can show new products to prospects (marketing communications).

• To reduce turnover and build morale, HR professionals can explain

The business reason is also supported by the new way in which the workforce consumes information therefore learns new information. According to the A.C. Neilson Company, the average American watches more than four hours of TV each day. An AOL Games poll found that half of Americans age 12 to 55 play electronic games each day on their PC, phone, handheld, or TV game box. With the average age of video gamers at 29, it’s clear that today’s workers are “wired” for a different learning experience.

Is your business taking the obvious step to use mobile learning? For more on the advantages of using mobile learning, check out the white paper, Generating Business Results with m-Learning at ej4.com. White paper is free to download and read.

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ej4 has created 1000′s of e-learning business training videos for today’s busy professional. Our videos are 7-10 minutes long and are packaged for multi-platform delivery via our e-learning campus, in your Learning Management System, or video enabled smart phones and tablets like the iPad.