How Does a Construction Learning App Equip Your Employees for the Latest Standards?

Every year, the construction industry faces a sea of changes. New regulations, technological innovations, and customer expectations keep popping up. In my experience, the best survivors I’ve ever seen are the ones who keep track of the changes.

So, the recipe to success is to stay on top of the industry developments. But to achieve this goal, you need to train and retain a skilled and competent workforce. That said, how can you help your employees rise to the occasion? 

The simplest answer is to use a construction learning app.

Consider a typical workday scenario in your construction firm. Your employees may be working from different locations. Most don’t have access to a workstation, with an internet-enabled computer. This is where a modern construction learning app comes to your rescue.

With a construction learning app, your employees can access training on the go. eLearning helps them adhere to the latest industry standards. Ensuring organization-wide regulatory compliance becomes easy.

The message is clear. Adopt an eLearning construction platform now or get left behind.   

In this article, we will cover:

1. The role of in-house construction training in keeping pace with the latest standards
2. Using a construction learning app for employee training
3. Developing a successful in-house training program
4. Maximizing the impact of training with eLearning construction

Why is In-House Construction Training Important?

“Why should I invest in in-house training, when I can outsource it for cut-price rates?” It’s a question that I often get asked. My answer to all is long-term gains are sweeter than short-lived boons.

Recently, I found an interesting study published by the Association for Talent Development. ATD’s research points to these eye-opening facts:

1. 41% of employees at organizations with poor training plan to leave within a year.
2. Only 12% tend to leave organizations providing excellent in-house training.

Even the right hire needs training in how your organization does things.

The Challenge of Keeping up With Industry Standards

The construction industry is evolving. So is its regulatory landscape. Running a smooth business requires you to conform to the latest industry standards.

What happens when your construction business fails to adhere to the standard regulations?

Non-compliance with the mandatory regulations can result in severe penalties. It could also lead to lawsuits, project delays, and reputational damage.

Many times, I’ve seen regulatory compliance discussed only in boardrooms. In my view, compliance initiatives should begin at the grassroots level. When your employees know the mandatory standards, they can stick to them and apply them in their work.

Keeping up with the industry standards and regulations requires ongoing training and certification. Personalized in-house construction training helps your team stay conformant. It also equips them to stay away from non-compliant practices.

What are the Benefits of In-House Training?

Every company in the construction industry has a unique way of working. In-house (internal) training allows you to train employees in your own way.

With in-house construction training, you can:

1. Customize training according to your needs. Focus on imparting skills that are relevant to your organization and customers.
2. Use your own training materials, expertise, and resources. Share current examples that your employees can connect with.
3. Align training to match your business goals, objectives, vision, and standards.
4. Promote internal collaboration by creating learning groups and peer networks.
5. Save training costs. No need to hire external venues for conducting training. Save the time and money spent on traveling to another training location.
6. Adjust learning hours without compromising your employees’ work schedules.

Why Use a Construction Learning App to Train Your Workforce?

The right construction learning app is the backbone of your training environment. It equips your people to address the evolving market requirements.

What is a Construction Learning App?

A construction learning app (LMS) is a must-have tool to train your workforce. It is a software that helps in managing your construction training cycle end-to-end.

With a modern LMS, you can create, centralize, manage, track, and deliver employee training.

What are the Advantages of Using a Construction Learning App?

Here is why you should use a construction learning app to upskill your workforce.

1. Safety and Compliance

Manage and deliver eLearning construction courses that accord with industry standards and regulations. Ensure your workforce is up-to-date on the most recent safety standards and norms.

2. Reduce Workplace Fatalities

Create and deliver impactful courses on hazard identification, fall prevention, and scaffolding. Teach your employees the ideal ways to use personal protective equipment. Reduce the number of workplace injuries and accidents. Protect your business from lawsuits and fines.

3. Anytime, Anywhere Training

Modern construction learning apps come with both web and mobile interfaces. Mobile learning helps people access training from any device onsite, on the road, or in the office.

4. Track, Manage, and Report

Track and manage all your training courses and progress made by your learners. Generate customized reports on course attendance, module-wise progress, course completion, and learners’ performance. Conduct post-lesson assessments and share feedback with your employees.

5. Organize, Store, and Secure Big Data

With a modern eLearning construction tool, it’s easy to gather all your data in one place. This also makes it easier to maintain and update your learning materials. Trainers can track the training history of a learner. They can also view data like feedback, appraisals, points earned, etc. 

Case Study: Successful LMS Implementation in Construction

The Scenario

Skills shortage in the construction industry is at an all-time high. Construction projects are growing in numbers and deliveries get delayed due to talent scarcity.

The Problem

In my research, I came across the story of a global construction firm that harnessed L&D to combat the talent crisis. The construction company was facing a record 30-year low unemployment rate. Project deliveries took a toll and budgets crashed due to unfilled job positions.

The Solution

What the firm did next is interesting and inspiring. They positioned compliance training as a fundamental element of their talent strategy. Adopting a modern LMS, they rolled out enterprise-wide safety and compliance training. Through the construction learning app, their employees get access to industry best practices.

The Results

1. Employees gained the knowledge to surpass their clients’ expectations.
2. Workers can navigate a complicated global compliance landscape.
3. Training engages employees and empowers them to make the right decisions every day.

How to Develop an Effective In-House Training Program?

Several factors go into the process of developing a successful in-house training program.

Let’s encapsulate the process into three major steps.

1. Identifying Training Needs

1. Assess and recognize the gaps in employee skills and knowledge.
2. Analyze current performance levels and determine areas that need improvement.

2. Designing Training Curriculum

1. Define clear and specific objectives for the training program.
2. Choose or create eLearning construction courses that align with defined objectives.
3. Design content and structure training activities to address identified needs.

3. Implementing Training Programs

1. Execute your training plan, ensuring proper logistics and learner engagement.
2. Deliver content using a suitable training method (eg: eLearning, webinars, instructor-led training, etc.)
3. Use techniques that engage learners and cater to diverse learning styles. Examples include using simulations, course recommendations, interactive elements, etc.

How to Maximize the Impact of Your Training with eLearning Construction?

There are three practical ways that you can adopt to make the most of eLearning.

1. Create and Deliver Engaging Training Modules

1. Ensure your training materials include text, interactive elements, and multimedia.
2. Encourage learner participation by including quizzes, polls, assessments, and quick memory tests.
3. At the end of each module, reinforce learning by providing a recap of key concepts.  
4. Provide case studies and recommended readings to encourage further exploration of the topic.
5. Give employees opportunities to assess their learning experience and share feedback.

2. Foster Continuous Learning and Development

1. Adopt a cloud-based, mobile-enabled eLearning construction software. It keeps your employees aligned to your training goals, from anywhere.
2. Ensure your training materials are up-to-date and relevant. Training should help employees remain aware of the latest industry standards and regulations.
3. Introduce gamification to build a culture of continuous learning. Reward top performers and achievers and showcase their achievements to inspire others.
4. Celebrate learning milestones. Acknowledge employees’ accomplishments when they complete a course or earn a certification.

3. Measure Success and ROI at Regular Intervals

1. Measure the impact of learning initiatives. Track KPIs such as course completion rates, employee satisfaction, and skill improvement.
2. Gather feedback from employees through pulse surveys, and face-to-face or virtual interviews.
3. Analyze employee feedback. Take cues for improvement. Adjust your strategies to build a successful, continuous learning culture.

Future-Proof Your Workforce with a Construction Learning App

Despite the cut-throat competition, the shortage of qualified construction workers is increasing. In the next two years, the construction industry will need to attract half a million workers. The only solution to equip your workforce is to embrace eLearning.

By investing in a modern LMS, you can prepare employees for the latest standards. A flexible construction learning app is an asset to your business. It makes your business current and relevant by keeping your workforce ahead of the curve.

Contemporary construction learning apps like Skill Lake coopt AI and automation. With Skill Lake, you can train your teams the way you expect. Create new eLearning courses or upgrade existing ones.

Want to see how Skill Lake simplifies L&D for your company? Book a demo and see for yourself.