Just in Time Training Is the Future of Learning. Have You Embraced It?

Lady industry worker imparting training to fellow worker
Featured image credit: Ika84/iStockphoto.com

Workplace learning methodologies have changed. You can no longer expect your employees to learn everything in advance on the pretext that such learning may be required primarily because jobs these days are pretty demanding.

Now, workers consistently face new problems and challenges which they need to solve urgently. This is where Just in Time Training can help.

This training methodology is an evolutionary response to the demands of a knowledge-driven and speed-oriented marketplace. It emphasizes the value of time.

According to CEB Research, 57% of employees expect learning to be “just in time” rather than earlier. This shows why such learning methodologies are gaining popularity.

So, let’s try to understand the details of Just in Time Training, including why you should care about it and how to implement the training methodology.

What Is Just in Time Training?

The Just in Time Training methodology provides personalized on-demand training according to what a specific situation requires. It uses AI, machine learning, Big Data, and advanced analytics to enhance workforce performance, while significantly reducing errors.

Workers learn all the information they require just when they need it to accomplish a task. With Just in Time Training, your employees can plug knowledge holes fast and prepare themselves for the task at hand in no time.

It works best with the latest technologies like mobile learning whereby learning solutions are distributed to the workers’ mobile devices through a learning management system and a mobile learning app.

Route4Me

Want To See For Yourself How Route4Me Can Boost Your Profits?

Whether you want to slash the time it takes you to plan routes for your drivers, increase the number of stops they can make, or keep your customers satisfied knowing that your drivers show up on time… Route4Me helps you achieve that!

Start Free 14 Day Trial

Why Is Just in Time Training Important?

Just in Time Training enhances worker productivity. One of the primary goals of the methodology is to provide real-time performance support so that workers can perform their jobs optimally by getting access to tips and solutions just when they need them.

For example, in sales, Just in Time Training is providing sales representatives with the insights, tools, and information needed to more effectively engage with prospects.

According to Forrester, B2B buyers think that 80% of sales representatives add no value and are unsatisfied with their engagements with sellers. This is because buyers expect an individualized purchase process and want solutions that are tailor-made to their unique challenges and priorities.

Just in Time Training can equip your sales representatives with the right content, messaging, and sales strategies to deal with the needs of each buyer.

But you have to remember that your field sales representatives cannot access a large amount of training content when they are in the field.

First, they have to meet as many prospects as possible each day. Second, they only have a few minutes to prepare before each meeting.

So, you have to find a solution to the traveling salesman problem.

You can use a sales territory mapping software that offers advanced route optimization capabilities to help plan 100% accurate routes.

With the most efficient routes available to your sales representatives, they’ll be able to visit more prospects every day. This means they can close more deals and make more money rather than getting stuck in nasty traffic. It will keep your remote salesforce motivated and on task.

Also, with territory mapping software, you can improve fuel efficiency and reduce transportation costs. So, it’s a complete win.

To top it all of, the best sales routing apps also improve market coverage and provide better sales data.

For example, a sales route planner comes with an interactive map that shows where you are performing well and where you are not.

A route planner for sales reps also offers a color-coding feature so you can segment your cold and hot leads by using colors. In this way,  you can focus your resources where they are most needed.

All such data will help you create bite-sized training on the go for your sales representatives that will make them more efficient. They will be better able to deal with the leads and convert them into clients.

There are more reasons why you should go for Just in Time Training, including the following:

  • Helps create more engaged employees.
  • Optimizes knowledge retention.
  • Improves learner access to knowledge.
  • Makes the learning process faster.
  • Provides accessible training on the move.

How to Apply Just in Time Training Successfully?

To apply this training methodology, you’ll need to know the sort of information your workers require on the spot.

For example, if you are in the delivery industry and use a route optimization software, you should take advantage of the integrated GPS tracking feature. This will indicate whether your drivers are driving safely as well as their strengths and weaknesses are.

This is all possible as the GPS tracker will show you the real-time location of your drivers and whether anyone in the fleet is speeding, braking harshly, turning too fast or engaging in road rage. You can then immediately communicate to ensure they drive safely. With a commercial GPS tracker, you will also be able to make sure that they are not wasting company time.

Getting all the information you need will help you devise the most suitable training program for your drivers. Just in Time Training is more flexible than regular training programs, recognizing that all your drivers don’t need access to the same information at the same time. It also takes into consideration that some drivers don’t require much training, while others do.

You can have a comprehensive driver training program in place based on the Just in Time Training methodology that tracks the behavior of each of your drivers and then automatically assigns personalized lessons based on the mistakes that they make on the road.

These lessons should follow industry standards and the rules that you have set. Make sure you allow the courses to be taken on any laptop, tablet, or any mobile device.

Below is a quick rundown of the other tactics you can use to apply Just in Time Training at your workplace:

  • Develop an active learning culture.
  • Make sure your training materials are easy to understand.
  • Organize the categories of learning to consolidate your ideas.
  • Back up every learning module with examples and scenarios.
  • Create a detailed road map of your training content.
  • Create a microlearning online resource library.

Final Thoughts

Just in time training allows your workers to access relevant information at a moment’s notice. Though the methodology is still in its infancy, it has already begun to feel like a necessity.

What do you think about Just in Time Training? Do you have any questions? Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Route4Me

Want To See For Yourself How Route4Me Can Boost Your Profits?

Whether you want to slash the time it takes you to plan routes for your drivers, increase the number of stops they can make, or keep your customers satisfied knowing that your drivers show up on time… Route4Me helps you achieve that!

Start Free 14 Day Trial

About author: Rahul Dasgupta

Rahul Dasgupta is a content writer with over 20 years of work experience. He holds a master’s degree in computer science and has written thousands of blog posts on route planning and scheduling, making it easy for readers to learn about these complex topics. Rahul enjoys playing tennis in his spare time and loves cuddling with his pet labrador Shinu. Rahul is a big fan of Roger Federer, Messi, and Bill Gates - he admires their drive to be the best at what they do and their philanthropic efforts.

Route4Me

About Route4Me

Route4Me has over 40,000 customers globally. Route4Me's Android and iPhone mobile apps have been downloaded over 2 million times since 2009. Extremely easy-to-use, Route4Me's apps create optimized routes, synchronize routes to mobile devices, enable communication with drivers and customers, offer turn-by-turn directions, delivery confirmation, and more. Behind the scenes, Route4Me's operational optimization platform combines high-performance algorithms with data science, machine learning, and big data to plan, optimize, and analyze routes of almost any size in real-time.