At New Leaf, we have witnessed firsthand how the eLearning industry has been reshaped over the last four years. It has not been an easy journey for our clients – with most needing to adapt and reimagine how their training takes place.
In order to acknowledge just how far we have come since Covid, I thought it important to highlight some of the challenges we have faced and how the industry has adapted and grown over the years.
2020 – The Shift
The pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for businesses around the globe. The sudden shift to remote learning meant that we were required to procure and adopt new technology, develop new training material and establish entirely new ways of content delivery. With such little time to implement all of this, these solutions were cobbled together – generally meaning that they didn’t work! I am sure we can all remember the hours of zoom sessions, the text heavy documentation, the boring powerpoint slides and the Legacy learner management software that we had to endure. It created a really bad reputation for eLearning.
Through our Training Intelligence System, we saw a really big push to go online in the first few weeks of lockdown. This was followed by a real drop in uptake. The difficulty of maintaining engagement, motivation and retention in online environments, especially for long-term and self-paced courses was evident.
2021 – Sealing over the cracks
2021 saw some interesting changes. At New Leaf, we were involved in two types of conversations. While we were all grappling with the fact that this was the new normal, some started looking at longer term solutions. We could see that, although fingers were burnt in an attempt to go online in 2020, lessons were learnt and there was a clearer idea of what businesses wanted. The larger businesses valued stability, security, and robust reporting capabilities. Others (slower to join the online bandwagon) needed assistance and expertise to catch up – these were the small to medium sized businesses who didn’t have any internal capacity to go online.
No matter who we spoke to though, everyone wanted engaging content. Zoom fatigue had set in and learners were demanding quality, self paced content. But quality content is not cheap. On the lower end, it costs an average of R180 000 to develop 1 hour of eLearning content. On the higher end, it costs up to R560 000 to develop 1 hour of content. This is quite the investment – one that most were not willing to pay. So we introduced Customer Success Bundles to our clients. A concept that allowed clients (no matter the size) to purchase hours in bulk so that they would have access to all of our resources at a fraction of the price.
2022 – Navigating the New Normal
As we entered 2022, the eLearning landscape had settled into a rhythm that combined lessons learned from the challenges of the previous years with innovative solutions for the evolving needs of businesses in South Africa. The initial rush to move everything online had subsided, and companies continued their focus on refining and optimising their training strategies.
At New Leaf, we continued to witness a growing demand for more personalised and adaptive learning experiences. The traditional one-size-fits-all approach was quickly becoming outdated, and businesses sought ways to tailor training content to individual needs. This led to an increased emphasis on data-driven insights and analytics to understand learner preferences and performance.
Despite the challenges of the past, businesses started recognising the value of investing in quality content. The success of our Customer Success Bundles demonstrated that companies were willing to commit to long-term partnerships, ensuring access to engaging and impactful eLearning materials without breaking the bank.
2023 – Consolidating Progress and Embracing Hybrid Learning
By 2023, the eLearning landscape had matured further, with businesses embracing a hybrid approach that combined both online and in-person training. The lessons from the pandemic had shown the importance of flexibility, and companies sought solutions that seamlessly blended virtual and face-to-face learning experiences.
We also saw a bigger push towards the localisation of eLearning, adapting content, language and culture to reflect the diversity and context of South African learners. A growing demand for tools such as ReadSpeaker meant that content could be translated and read aloud in all 11 South African languages.
Predictions for 2024 – The Rise of AI and Personalised Learning Paths
Looking ahead to 2024, it would be remiss not to anticipate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into eLearning platforms to become more prevalent. AI-driven tools will provide personalised learning paths based on individual strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. This not only enhances the learning experience but also contributes to better outcomes and increased employee engagement.
Additionally, the focus on upskilling and reskilling will intensify as businesses recognise the need to adapt to rapidly changing industries. The role of eLearning in supporting continuous learning journeys will be more critical than ever.
As always, we are committed to staying at the forefront of these developments, continuing to provide end-to-end eLearning solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving world of training and development. As we move forward, the lessons learned from the challenges of the past will guide us in shaping a future where learning is not just a necessity but a strategic advantage for businesses in South Africa.
