Online staff training

Online staff training is indispensable for SMEs today. But many HR managers find themselves asking: How do I successfully introduce digital training without losing oversight or overwhelming my employees? Increasing demands, time and cost pressures, and the skilled worker shortage mean we need to rethink our approach to training. In this article, you’ll find out what options there are for implementing online staff training, which software you really need, and how you can generate the greatest added value for your company.

As an HR manager, part of your job is preparing your employees for future challenges. Skills shortages, new technologies, and changing work requirements demand fast, flexible learning. Online staff training offers exactly that. It enables you to train employees at multiple locations, save time and money, and encourage knowledge sharing on demand. Your employees can access content at any time and from anywhere—in the office, at home, or on the go.

Online staff training enables you to reach all your target groups, from newcomers to experienced specialists and managers. You can establish uniform learning standards, regardless of each individual’s department or location. Plus, this style of training increases motivation as your employees can take a self-directed approach.

Online staff training courses are now indispensable for imparting knowledge quickly, efficiently, and sustainably. They make training plannable, measurable, and scalable, especially in SMEs that need to deploy resources strategically.

Not all online training courses are created equal. If you’re an HR manager who wants to establish digital training in your company, it’s worth taking a closer look. Do you offer real online training for employees or just digital lectures? The difference is crucial to motivation, learning outcomes, and sustainability.

If you want to introduce online staff training, you’re faced with one key question: Do you want to buy ready-made courses, commission custom ones, or develop content yourself? Each option has specific strengths and challenges.

Advantages:

• You receive content that’s ready to use right away.
• Standard topics such as compliance, data protection, and soft skills are all covered.
• You save time and internal resources.
• The courses are legally audited and didactically tested.

Disadvantages:

• The content isn’t tailored to your specific requirements.
• Your employees notice the lack of connection to their own day-to-day work.
• You can’t adapt the content at all, or only at great expense.
• The design doesn’t always align with your corporate identity.
   

Ready-made courses are particularly suitable for standard and mandatory training courses that all employees need to take.

Advantages:

• You receive customized content that fits your company perfectly.
• Your processes, products, and values are taken into account.
• The courses are professionally designed and tailored to your target groups.
• You benefit from didactic and technical expertise.

Disadvantages:

• You’re dependent on external partners.
• It takes longer to create than to buy ready-made courses.
• Custom courses are more expensive than standard solutions.

Custom courses are suitable for topics that convey specific knowledge from within your company.
 

Advantages:

• You retain full control over content, design, and amendments.
• You can update or expand content yourself at any time.
• You save money in the long term if you build up internal expertise.
• You strengthen digital competence in your team.

Disadvantages:

• You need time and expertise in didactics, technology, and design.
• Creation requires a well-organized team and clear processes.
• Without experience, quality can suffer and projects can remain unfinished.

Creating courses in-house is best when you need to update content frequently or want to convey specific knowledge directly within the team.
 

In practice, no single approach is ideal. Many companies combine ready-made courses with custom content and units they develop in-house. This enables them to efficiently cover standard topics but still impart custom knowledge at the same time.

Example: You might buy ready-made courses for compliance and data protection, commission custom courses for onboarding, and develop short tutorials on internal processes in-house.

Another approach is blended learning. This is where you combine online staff training with face-to-face formats such as workshops and team meetings, giving you all the advantages of digital learning formats plus personal interaction and hands-on practice on-site.

With a clever mix of ready-made courses, external production, content developed in-house, and blended learning, you can offer future-oriented and sustainable training in your company.