Why You Should Train Your Employees in Digital Skills Now
There is no doubt that businesses around the world have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and are still struggling to get back on their feet. But the availability of digital technologies offers a ray of hope and is gradually transforming the way enterprises function, survive and thrive. Since March 2020, over 50% of business enterprises have increased the use of digital tools in their customer interactions. Despite this changing environment, most companies are yet to focus on the workforce training and development required for gaining digital skills. But the fact remains that business enterprises need to have a healthy pool of digitally skilled employees to achieve business success and enhance their productivity.
Recent research studies have revealed that 10% of employees don’t even have basic digital skills, while 11.3 million employees have incomplete knowledge of digital skills. By the year 2030, the demand for employees with digital skills is expected to grow by nearly 70%. To grow their business to the next level, companies must realize the importance of digital skills for their workforce.
What are the basic digital skills for the workplace – and how can enterprises benefit from them? Let us discuss.
Which digital skills are most in demand?
Depending on the industry domain, there is a range of in-demand digital skills. Here is a look at a few of the essential ones:
Communication and collaboration skills – or the ability to use digital communication tools like WhatsApp, Slack, or Skype to collaborate with other team members.
SEO skills – that is essential for digital marketing to ensure higher website ranking on popular search engines like Google.
Data analytics – that leverages data collected from different sources to reveal valuable insights about brands, products, or customers.
Cybersecurity – or the knowledge about various security threats like malware, phishing, data breaches, and ransomware – and how to prevent them.
eLearning skills – or the use of a centralized learning management system (LMS) that is useful for workforce training and development.
Next, let us dive into the 5 benefits of learning digital skills for corporate employees.
1. Helps in attracting and retaining talent
These days, employees worry about automation technologies like AI and robotics replacing their jobs, which is why they constantly look to upgrade their digital skills. Hence, companies investing in digital skills training programs can attract and retain the best talent. For the existing workforce, employee upskilling initiatives help them feel more valued at work, thus improving their motivation and productivity levels.
2. Provides a competitive edge
In today’s times, business enterprises need a skilled workforce to stay ahead of their competition. For instance, employees with data analytics skills can help organizations derive maximum insights from large volumes of business data. This can lead to better decisions and business strategies. On the other hand, employees lacking in digital skills are a liability for any organization, bringing down the overall efficiency and productivity at the workplace.
3. Improves workplace efficiency
More enterprises are realizing the importance of having digital skills in workplace for greater efficiency. For instance, in the age of virtual working, the use of collaboration tools like Slack and Google Drive enables employees to share or exchange documents much faster without leaving their work desk.
Similarly, virtual onboarding skills improve hiring efficiency by allowing remote workers from different geographical locations to get started on their assigned jobs. In short, digital skills enable enterprises to achieve more efficiency at lower costs and in lesser time.
4. Saves business costs
For most enterprises, hiring a skilled worker can be a time-consuming and expensive affair, as they always demand an attractive salary package. On the other hand, companies that train their existing workforce on the latest digital skills can save both time and money. Further, low-cost skill development programs in the form of mobile-based learning can improve employee satisfaction and productivity.
5. Helps in growing company revenue
Digital skills impart a competitive advantage to companies, which can leverage them to grab a higher market share and increase their revenues. According to industry experts, digitally enabled companies have stronger revenue streams and are typically 10-25% more profitable than those without digital enablement.
For instance, a workforce trained in the latest digital marketing skills can help in reaching out to a bigger customer base and achieve more conversions that can boost revenues.
Also Read: Choosing The Best Mobile Learning App in 2021
Conclusion
As digital technologies continue to evolve, enterprises need to ensure that their employees are trained in the latest digital skills. This is vital for them to increase their customer base, improve productivity, and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Now a part of the BetterPlace team, Oust Labs facilitates different companies with a customized digital training solution for employees. There is a range of solutions to choose from, including microlearning, eLearning, bite-sized learning, learning management system (LMS), and virtual onboarding.
Do you want to learn more about how to improve the digital skills of your existing workforce? Request and book a free demo on the website today.