2021 Training Trends: What Gaps Can Training Companies Fill?

Social distancing and virtual happy hours may have killed your social life. But, they’ve made everyone comfortable with video conferencing software. Even so, many organizations still struggle to replace in-person training.

As a training company, you’re uniquely poised to take advantage of these gaps with your programs. What 2021 training trends do you need to follow to fill these gaps?

We’ve pulled together the latest research to guide your decisions this coming year. By following these trends, you’ll deliver the results your clients need to succeed in 2021.

1) Growing Investment in Learning Technology

Training Magazine found businesses were interested in buying new learning technology. For example, 41% of organizations anticipate buying a learning management system (LMS) in the coming year. But it doesn’t stop there. They found businesses were also interested in online learning tools, authoring tools, content development, web conferencing tools, and more.

These statistics represent employee-based businesses, though.  What are training companies looking for from their learning technology?

BenchPrep research found that organizations who sell critical learning products want to invest in high-end tools— AI-driven recommendations, gamification, and microlearning. With BenchPrep’s adaptive learning platform, your learners receive personalized learning pathways based on the BenchPrep algorithm.

🔎Learn more about how the BenchPrep platform creates personalized learning pathways in our blog post, Adaptive eLearning: How to Leverage Content For a Personalized Study Plan.

 2) Increasing Reliance on Unbundled Learning

Today, BenchPrep data shows courses are getting shorter and shorter. We’ve dubbed this trend unbundled learning.

In 2015, the average course took a learner 23.4 days to complete. By 2019, it only took them an average of 8.6 days.

Training companies need to offer shorter courses. Your consumers want flexible courses guaranteeing competency quickly. Each course may only focus on one skill. However, this flexibility allows learners to choose their own bundles depending on their needs.  

🔎Stay up-to-date on new learning trends by reading Aragon’s analyst report, High-Stakes Learning—Going Beyond the LMS to Help Customers and Professionals Develop Skills and Competency. 

 3) Soaring Demand for Learning Technology

Starr Conspiracy’s Talent & Learning Brandscape suggests the pandemic sharply revealed must-have technology. They found that companies quickly realized where they’d overinvested in “nice-to-have” technology and where they’d underinvested in “must-have” technology.

The investment trends also show investors are betting on learning technology. They’re betting that learning technology will help companies with what matters — productivity, retention, and employee engagement.

Source: Starr Consiparcy’s Talent & Learning Brandscape

For training companies, you need to focus on value and results. No one is interested in a “nice-to-have” product. Your training needs to fit in the “must-have” category. Luckily, your LMS can generate data to prove the results delivered by your courses.

🔎 Find out what features your LMS needs to make remote work a reality in our on-demand webinar, COVID-19 Requiring Remote Learning? 7 Steps to Finding the Right LMS.

 4) Accelerating Customer Education Trends

The growth of software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology will increase the reliance on customer education. These products need to focus on product adoption to increase customer retention. And, product adoption starts with customer education.

The second important trend for customer education is eCommerce. eCommerce sales rose by 32% in 2020, according to eMarketer. Sales and marketing teams were already focused on educating prospects. eCommerce will continue to push this focus even further towards customer education.

🔎If you want to find out what LMS features you need for customer education, check out our buying guide, The CLO’s Handbook for Choosing Learning Technology to Grow Your Business.

What Gaps Exist in these Trends?

2021 presents many new opportunities for you. Organizations are hungry for new technology. Learners are hungry for new courses. And, everyone wants to make 2021 a year of renewed growth.

You could help your clients grow with cutting edge learning technology. Your company could offer the must-have learning courses they need to keep remote workers engaged.

Or, you could launch unbundled learning programs. Coursera grew by 18 million users since March 2020.  Obviously, learners want short, relevant courses.

Or, you could start focusing on the extended enterprise for your industry’s software. What cutting edge software is available in your industry? Would your clients benefit from unbundled training on your industry’s digital disruption?

The options for you to grow your training company are endless. 2021 promises to be a bright time for learning companies.

If you sell critical learning products, then you need to know more than just overall L&D industry trends. Find out about high-stakes learning trends in our e-book, “Top Professional Learning Trends Driving Digital Transformation”