This blog was updated in July 2024 to give you the latest updates.
Gamified microlearning can offer several advantages compared to conventional Learning Managements Systems (LMS), by leveraging hyper-casual game elements, which capture learner’s attention and using Points, Badges & Leaderboard scores (PBL) to enhance the learning experience.
Learning is vital to any organization’s success because it equips the workforce with the latest knowledge and developments in the industry, drives business results and boosts overall organizational growth and productivity. Furthermore, more and more industries are undergoing digital transformation or disruption. According to the World Economic Forum, in the next five years, 23% of global jobs will change due to industry transformation, including through artificial intelligence and other text, image and voice processing technologies. World Economic Forum is working with 350+ organisations to provide upskilling and economic opportunities to 1 billion people by 2030.
However, the question arises - are Learning Management Systems (LMSs) effective enough to deliver the best learning experience & outcomes to learners or do organizations need something more than that? It has been observed that traditional LMSs have not been very successful in addressing the varied learning needs of the distributed workforce, especially for frontline sales, customer service and operation teams. Today’s workforce is mobile, in need of information in an instant and highly influenced by social media. They need on-the-go, bite-sized learning which is easily accessible, and highly engaging. Most LMS platforms ‘one-size-fits-all approach seems to be not delivering the desired results when it comes to frontline readiness – continuous upskilling, engagement and enablement.
Let’s explore some of the limitations of traditional LMS systems which come in the way of enhancing the learning experience for frontline teams.
1. LMS Design Constraints: Most LMS platforms have been designed to deliver static training courses where content does not change frequently. However, today’s learning needs are varied and demands dynamic and user-centric approach. The training needs of the frontline salesforce are specific and in need of constant calibration and unfortunately, traditional LMS platforms are not designed to make changes on the fly.
2. Not Delivering Microlearning Content: Today’s workforce want learning on the go and short training bits which they can access from anywhere, anytime. However, traditional LMSs have not been able to seamlessly create microlearning content. Creation of dynamic and mobile training content becomes a major bottleneck and renders traditional LMS platforms more designed for macro learning – learning in long form content which are delivered in more conservative formats like PDF and PowerPoint slides.
3. Absence of Gamification and Interactive Experience: Traditional Learning Platforms mostly serve linear, non-engaging and non-interactive content which offers no incentive and encouragement to learners to continue self-paced learning. Hence, learners do not feel motivated to complete their eLearning courses and assessments. This results in unnecessary administrative effort & time by trainers, content creators and even on managers to push frontline teams to engage in self-paced learning for the sake of course completion. Instead, an effective & engaging learning experience should result in time saving across the organization that allows the workforce to focus on more strategic priorities rather than administrative follow up, among other things.
Here are 3 ways how gamified microlearning can be more effective than traditional LMS:
1. Learning Retention & Learning Efficiency
Gamified microlearning delivers content in small, digestible chunks, making it easier for learners to absorb and retain information. Game elements like points, badges, leaderboards, challenges in gamified microlearning platform capture learners’ interest and motivates them to learn by completing the short bite-sized modules. Learners, trainers and managers receive immediate feedback of these challenges which can boost motivation, encourage continued participation, & modifications, if any, to be done to the training modules to simplify learning concepts. Gamification can adapt to the learner's progress and performance, tailoring challenges and content to their needs.
2. On-the-Go Training Accessibility
Frontline rep can access the content anywhere, anytime on their mobile devices thereby improving learning compliance. Gamified microlearning content is easily accessible on mobile devices in short topic-based modules through flashcards and game-based assessments. Training seamlessly integrates in their daily routines, maximizing learning opportunities and driving continuous improvement in frontline performance.
A leading alcohol beverage company partnered with Master-O®, to leverage its mobile based gamified microlearning & AI based roleplay technology to design an engaging learning journey for their sales team. This learning journey was formulated on the Learn, Assess & Practice approach. Engaging interactions, game based quizzes & assessments were leveraged to drive this intervention which was better received in comparison to traditional classroom trainings and webinars.
Key outcomes were 20% increase in width of distribution (WOD) of the products – a key metric to improve market share and deepen store/ outlet penetration, 16% increase in sales productivityamong learners who practised roleplays ranging on objection handling, influencing and customer advocacy, cross-selling, sales reps who invested productive time (2 to 5 minutes) of habitual practise daily saw 19% increase in sales productivity.
3. Learning Experience
Gamified elements make the learning experience more interactive and enjoyable, which can enhance overall satisfaction. Gamification often allows for personalization of learning experiences based on individual preferences and performance. Repetitive gameplay and practice can reinforce learning objectives and improve customer conversations for frontline reps. Gamified microlearning platforms foster peer learning and teamwork with challenges, creating a sense of friendly competition among frontline reps.
Gamified microlearning can be more effective than conventional LMS in several key areas, including engagement, learning efficiency, retention, and learner experience. By integrating game design elements, gamified microlearning platforms create a more dynamic and interactive learning environment that can motivate frontline teams, enhance their experience, and improve outcomes. However, the effectiveness of any learning approach ultimately depends on how well it aligns with the specific needs and preferences of the learners and the objectives of the training program.
Master-O®, a frontline sales readiness and gamification platform, has powered several sales enablement & frontline readiness programs for enterprise customers and been a key driver of sales strategies for leaders across industries. To make capability development, sales enablement & engagement more personalized, Master-O® empowers sales managers tap into various data points and analytics for coaching & upskilling their frontline reps. This gives sales leaders and managers much-required objective perspective to reimagine their sales coaching, capability development & enablement approach and realign it with performance metrics.
To learn more about Master-O®, please visit masteroapp.com or schedule a demo to discover how Master-O® can redefine sales readiness & frontline capability development for your organization.