Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has penetrated almost every
industry on this planet and the learning technology industry is following
suite. AI-enabled solutions, including AI in LMSes and LXPs are constantly driving
the effectiveness of training delivery. Here we explore the rising value of
Artificial Intelligence in improving employee Learning & Development
(L&D).
Everyone has, at least once, experienced
an AI-enabled solution with or without being aware, be it on social media or in
the vastness of the World Wide Web, including online shopping, speaking to
customer support bots, or just browsing random websites.
There are numerous applications of AI and AI-powered solutions out there. One of the most commonly known and accepted application is the Chatbot. There have been numerous predictions suggesting that 85% consumer interactions will occur without a human and 80% of organizations will use chatbots by 2020.
From sales and marketing to news and weather, AI-powered solutions like
the Chatbot are impacting every domain due to their diverse applications, not
only because AI is incredibly reliable but also because it lacks human shortcomings
of unconscious errors, forgetfulness or ever needing a break. And, with the availability of
limitless amount of data in organizations waiting for analysis to draw
actionable insights, there is no doubt that AI will have a massive impact on every
function in every industry, and that includes Learning & Development.
Rising Value of AI in Employee L&D
Before gawking at the innumerable applications of AI, let us first gain
a relative understanding of what is AI. Speaking at the People
Matters TechHR 2019 panel discussion, our Director, Amit Gautam, had the
opportunity to discuss AI and
employee engagement– ‘Anything
that is measured is data and anything that is data can be processed and
analyzed. AI algorithms can be written to make sense of the large amount of
learners’ data, which can then be used to combine and analyze data from various
systems. Using machine learning, data science and better understanding of
learners’ needs and behaviors, real-time and intelligent insights can then be
drawn.’
Adoption of AI in corporate employee
training used to be a ‘good-to-have’ in the recent past. But, with latest
innovations and availability of limitless data, AI has exploded unto the
learning scene and is fast becoming a ‘must-have’ feature in corporate L&D.
With millennials expected to make up 75% of the global workforce by 2020 and 87% millennials preferring workplaces that offer learning and development opportunities, the benefits of adopting AI in corporate employee training are limitless. As global employee engagement rates continue to slacken, advanced AI-enabled learning solutions like the LMS and/or LXP can prove to be quite effective. Can you imagine the boost in engagement and productivity when employees are provided with personalized learning, learning that is tailor-made for ‘them’? Well, no need to imagine, as the adoption of AI makes this possibility a reality.
AI-enabled solutions truly come in the form of a blessing for L&D
professionals, owing to the lack of time and resources to deliver personalized training.
AI offers tremendous assistance in information segregation (of training content
and programs) and thus makes training more personalized and engaging for the
learners.
There are many benefits of using AI in employee training. However, the
key advantage is its adoption in an LMS or a LXP, to make learning as seamless
as possible, and at the same time, providing insightful information about the learners’
behaviors, learning needs and patterns, completion rates and more. The reporting and analysis of this data can further improve the
training programs and fed back to the AI to deliver better and real-time updates
to the learners. In addition, as many global enterprises have a widely dispersed
and diverse workforce, AI can enable organizations to scale up their L&D
initiatives to reach their learners easily and effectively.
The numerous use-cases of AI in employee training include-
An AI interface can be an effective
instructor that delivers real-time knowledge to the diverse and dispersed
learners, in multiple languages. Such a tutor or instructor can be used to
reinforce training or offer motivation and encourage learners when lower
engagement is detected.
- AI for Employee Onboarding
Employee onboarding is one area where AI can
be highly effective. AI can simplify the entire process by enabling new employees
to ask any and all questions and talk freely with. Besides, an organization
that boasts an AI tool at its very doorstep is bound to impress the millennial
workforce.
- AI for Diversity & Inclusion
In a time when
global enterprises are paying more attention towards diversity and inclusion in
the workplace, AI can help resolve the challenges faced due to human bias. It
can eliminate biases based on gender, religion etc. and become
equal-opportunity enablers, thus helping
develop a bias-free and diverse workplace environment.
- AI for Training In-the-Flow of Work
AI can be a great enabler of learning
in-the-flow of work by providing constant access to training programs through an
AI recommendation engine, thus moving training into the flow of work,
and encouraging continuous learning. This can prove to be highly effective for employees
who are not desk-bound, but on factory floors or on-site, where the learning is
better retained due to its immediate real-world application.
AI is paving the way for better employee training, engagement and
productivity and its adoption into the workplace is set to help boost process efficiency,
at the same time enabling L&D and HR professionals to enrich the learning
and onboarding experiences of their employees.
What about you? Are you ready to leverage an AI-powered solution for
your corporate L&D?
