Over the past couple of years, rapid technological advancements and changing consumer preferences have completely transformed the automotive industry, forcing manufacturers and retailers to reimagine how cars are built, sold and serviced.
Upskilling the automotive workforce – from all areas of a dealership to operational, sales, technical, administration, and finance roles – is paramount to keeping up with all these changes and developments.
As the digital revolution reshapes education worldwide, eLearning has emerged as a transformative force in South Africa, making it a promising avenue for advancing education in the automotive industry and bridging the learning gap.
Let’s take a look at how eLearning is boosting the industry and how you can take advantage of it.
Benefits of eLearning for industry training
eLearning through a customisable Learning Experience Platform (LXP) allows students to study independently and set their own pace. These AI-driven, adaptive platforms can tailor learning journeys that cater to individual needs, accommodating trainees with different learning styles and time commitments.
eLearning content can be developed for the full spectrum of automotive topics and subjects, and presented in a number of immersive ways that lead to better learning outcomes.
It also creates an environment where employees can learn “in the flow of work,” meaning they can access training content right at the point of need and without being taken away from their current task.
Another great benefit of a mobile-friendly LXP is that it provides everyone, regardless of location, with access to quality training materials.
One platform for everyone
With its diverse employee base, the automotive industry is a true reflection of the Rainbow Nation, employing people from all works of life and cultural backgrounds.
As a nation of 12 official languages, an eLearning system that can offer multi-lingual training content benefits all employees equitably. And, it’s good for business. Everyone gets access to the same training in their language of choice, fostering unity while improving learning outcomes.
Deliver content quickly, at scale
Smarter vehicles, the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the increased influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in mainstream applications mean change.
While change affects everyone, those who are prepared tend to enjoy the benefits of industry shifts. Employees, from technicians to sales staff, need to be continuously upskilled in these new technologies. So, a scalable system that can quickly deliver up-to-date learning material is essential.
This year, the automotive industry is also anticipating regulatory changes that could impact income tax, VAT, fuel levies, and the new NEV policy for vehicles powered by alternatives to fossil fuels like electricity. Automotive industry leaders need to be able to upskill relevant employees to rise to these changes simultaneously from a centralised platform.
eLearning will always be more cost-effective
During business and economic turmoil, eLearning offers a cost-effective and uninterrupted environment for employees to access training content.
It allows the sector to navigate adversity while eliminating burdensome expenses such as transport, accommodation and physical learning materials, as well as expenses relating to the maintenance of physical classrooms that traditionally drive up the cost and accessibility of education.
Modern eLearning systems have completely changed the way course material is developed. Today, instructional designers and developers follow various academic models, theories, and models related to how people learn. These models ensure that instruction is as effective as possible for transferring knowledge or teaching skills to learners.
Engaging an eLearning content development specialist (such as New Leaf Technologies) to create and develop your training content is always going to be more cost-effective than employing specialist lecturers and trainers every year and for every cohort.
Tailored learning for specialised demands
Every sector of the automotive industry faces different challenges and has equally varied training needs. Manufacturers, for example, do well in a blended learning environment where engineers, technicians, and mechanics receive training both online and in hands-on sessions when learning about new car technologies.
Retailers and car dealerships, on the other hand, face the challenge of changing consumer expectations and have to quickly learn how to transform into ” digital dealerships,” where augmented reality tools, online booking systems, and interactive displays that deliver a more personalised and immersive shopping experience are par for the course.
A flexible, customisable LXP is equipped to offer training in both of these scenarios. For example, learning experience designers can create product training, safety training, process training, and soft skill and sales training courses that deliver content and enable learning in these ways:
- Pick your learning mode: Based on the complexity of the courses, learners choose different learning modes, such as self-paced or instructor-led learning.
- Customised content: Adaptive learning allows training to be scheduled and assigned through personalised learning journeys that cater to specific needs.
- Not time-bound: Through a centralised content delivery system, learning materials can be disseminated to learners anytime, anywhere, and from any device.
- Evidence-based and modernised: An LXP can offer training activities such as micro-content; gamification; AR and VR training sessions; feedback systems; graded assessments, tests and surveys, peer-to-peer learning; competency mapping; holistic dashboards, and more.
- Individual coaching: Trainers can assign mentors or coaches to leverage specialised knowledge or provide extra support on automotive-related subjects.
- Analytics to do even better: Training, HR and L&D managers can access real-time data to measure the effectiveness and ROI of their training programs.
New Leaf Technologies is ready for the automotive industry
Through our valued partnership with the award-winning aNewSpring eLearning platform, combined with off-the-shelf courses and our instructional design and development, eLearning content development, and learning experience design services, New Leaf Technologies should be every L&D manager in the automotive industry’s first choice when it comes to training.
Get in touch to find out how we can partner with you and put the pedal to the metal in your automotive manufacturing, sales and marketing, and service and repair training.
