<b>By: Thomas Kieck, Business Development Director, Tial Technologies</b>

<b><img class="alignleft wp-image-140827 size-medium" src="https://www.cover.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Thomas-Kieck-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" />In today’s environment of economic unpredictability, increasing disasters (natural and man-made) and changing global dynamics, the Insurance industry needs to adopt training approaches that will help them equip their employees to manage these variables successfully. </b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">While the insurance industry continues to grow, the Learning and Development professionals in this sector have challenges of addressing the external variables as well challenges that are intrinsic to the industry. </span>

<b>What you need to know</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Those in the insurance industry realise that constant training is crucial for running your business successfully. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Everything from the products you sell to how your staff deal with customers, even processes and regulations set by external bodies need to be taught and continually updated.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">eLearning is the most modern approach when considering the most relevant and up-to-date information, it seems to be a perfect fit for the industry and for those who work within it.</span>

<b>Industry-specific challenges</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As the insurance industry needs continue to grow with the increase in population, infrastructure, and wealth, the Learning and Development teams in this sector have several challenges that need to be addressed. </span>

<b>Here are some key industry-specific challenges:</b>

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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Regulated industry</i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – This mandates that the required trainings happen across the organisation and within the stipulated time. It also requires that verification of completion and records for the same are maintained meticulously.</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Ongoing updates</i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – The need to ensure that the updates reach all users is very high. Not only does the learning strategy need to have a provision for speedy update, it also needs to ensure that these reach the users and get applied on the job.</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">High volumes of information </span></i></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Globally spread out workforce</span></li>

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<b>eLearning covers all aspects of training</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Businesses in the insurance industry can deliver almost all their training and teaching through an eLearning system. </span>

<b>Some examples of how eLearning can be useful include:</b>

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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Compliance training</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> –</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Considering all the regulatory bodies that govern this industry, it’s crucial that staff stay updated with the latest information. With eLearning, you’re able to deliver the most recent and accurate information on both company compliance and national and international regulations. As a bonus, staff can be automatically notified when they’re due to complete training to maintain their certification.</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Software training</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> –</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Software is a huge part of the insurance industry, as different companies incorporate unique tech solutions throughout their operations. eLearning makes it easy to provide initial software training during employee onboarding as well as deliver any ongoing training needed to upskill staff in order to keep up with software updates.</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Sales and soft skills</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> –</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> An insurance company is only as good as its best salespeople. Luckily, eLearning can deliver modern and relevant sales training that can allow your staff to work to the best of their ability. Other soft skills relevant to the role can also be taught with eLearning, and staff are often appreciative for the chance to expand their knowledge base.</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Products and processes</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> –</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Insurance companies generate most of their revenue from their products, making it critical that employees fully understand their company’s business offerings. eLearning allows you to deliver employee training at any level, all from the same system. New recruits can be taught about your full range of products during their orientation and existing staff can be updated whenever new products become available or new offers arise.</span></li>

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<b>Reaping the opportunities</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With the freedom to learn where and when it suits your employees best, eLearning is one of the simplest ways to increase employee engagement. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike traditional training methods, many eLearning platforms and courses allow employees to access training at any time, and in shorter spurts, to improve retention and enable successful training programs.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The usefulness of eLearning has also been proven in many other commercial and professional industries, not just the insurance industry. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As the way we learn and communicate makes a shift towards more digital-based systems, it makes sense that our education and training does too.</span>