Traditional eLearning programs are great – for the Enterprise and individuals with hours to spare. But eLearning for the contact center is a completely different challenge because it’s difficult for agents to spend a lot of time taking long CBT courses that may not be the right fit for every individual. Contact centers have very specific education needs and technology requirements that can’t be met with a one-size-fits-all education approach.
Today, emerging eLearning technologies are designed to fit the unique call center environment and also personally address each agent’s unique education needs. For example, eLearning tools now allow supervisors and management to tailor training to each agent’s particular learning style. These tools also provide a solution for agents that cannot be away from the phones. eLearning tools also gives supervisors and call center managers a way to cut through the deluge of information already bombarding agents, and get agents critical updates that they’ll immediately see and understand.
So, how is successful eLearning achieved? By focusing on two main areas — content and delivery. The first area, content, must have several options that allow supervisors and managers to directly address agents’ unique needs. Based on these needs, trainers must have the option to create eLearning content with easy-to-use tools, link to computer-based training and/or utilize existing content in order to maximize training dollars. The flexibility of multiple agent training options provides supervisors with the right tools to train agents and provide them with critical information and updates to meet the changing demands of contact centers.
The second area of focus for contact centers to achieve success is delivery. eLearning must be delivered directly to agents at their desks at the right time. This ensures agents receive education when it does not adversely affect incoming calls. Whether content is delivered immediately, during coaching sessions scheduled through the workforce management application or when call volumes are low, putting information at agents’ fingertips at the right time dramatically improves agent performance. Flexible delivery allows supervisors to deliver content to agents as soon as they see a need, which helps agents improve right away. Delivery to the desktop also allows agents to review educational information in the privacy of their workstations and learn at their own pace.
Your agents are the key to successful business results, trainers must strive to help agents be more effective by focusing on delivering the right information at the right time to improve performance. Incorporating a successful eLearning education solution into your contact center environment gives organizations the opportunity to help build a future of effective agents who, in turn, help the business lower costs, lower customer churn and increase revenues.