All businesses can really benefit from using elearning. It can be used to train employees and new recruits. It can be used to help your workers learn new skills or update their expertise. Companies can even use it to help their vendors.
According to studies, there have been cases when vendors have placed companies in jeopardy. The risk profile of third-parties has increased over the years – specifically when it comes to cyber attacks. This can have a significant impact on business-customer relationships and in effect, profitability. Not only that, it can also ruin the reputation of your company.
To avoid this, you need to establish a strong relationship and connection with your vendors. They help in bringing in the sales in the company. You need to give them your attention and updates as they come. Fortunately, there are ways to make this easier to do – and that is through elearning.
Benefits of training vendors through elearning
There are many reasons why the use of online learning is the best option to train vendors.
First of all, there is no need for you to gather all the vendors together to inform them of a new product or update in securities and improvements. You can easily send them an online course about the update. If the vendors are scattered all over the country, gathering them together may be difficult, time-consuming, and also logistically expensive. By using online resources, it will be easier to send the material. They do not have to travel or take the time to attend a training.
Another benefit is 100% dissemination of information. You do not have to worry about vendors not being able to attend the training. The training will be brought to them. This will guarantee that 100% of the vendors will receive the information that you want to share with them.
Finally, it will be easier for vendors to absorb the material. It will not seem like a burden to learn it. They can choose when and where they will access the elearning material that you will provide them. It can also be used to train their own staff too. Since they have the learning material, can use this as a reference when it comes to customer inquiries.
How to use elearning to train vendors
The elearning material that you can send vendors can come in different forms.
You can use a video to deliver the information. This is a great option especially when there is a need to demonstrate a new product or a skill. Of course, this might be more challenging to do – if you want a high-quality video. But it will help you provide a more accurate demonstration or explanation of a new product.
A powerpoint presentation can also be something that you can use. A combination of graphics, background music, and timely transition of slides will make the elearning experience memorable for vendors. When it is memorable, it is easier for them to remember the content of the course.
There are other options like sending an online brochure, email campaign, or product catalog. You can also set up a blog that they can constantly look into for news and information.
Your choice of vendor training will depend on the material that has to be taught. Make sure that your choice will also consider the technological capabilities of the vendors. Even if you create a sophisticated video, it will be for nothing if they cannot open it.
What is great about using elearning in vendor training is you can use it again and again. Obviously, your company will constantly grow over the years. These changes will require updates to be shared with every vendor. Once you have established an online relationship with vendors, it will be easier to give them an update of what is new in the company. You will all be on the same page all the time.