7/25/22
In retail, an empowered sales associate is a successful sales associate. There's nothing better than feeling like you're in charge of your fate and accomplishments. Not only does it help create a more pleasant work environment, but it can also increase productivity and motivate your employees to work with less oversight.
There are many ways to empower your team. While words of encouragement certainly go a long way, one of the best approaches is to put learning and training in their hands.
Mobile learning is a fantastic – and necessary - alternative to traditional classroom-based training. There are an estimated 6.648 billion smartphone users in the world today. You can almost guarantee that your associates have one in their pockets, so why not take advantage of it?
Mobile learning, also known as m-learning, is the approach that puts the power in the learner's hands. Here are some ways mobile learning can empower your team to reach their full potential on the sales floor.
One significant benefit of mobile learning is that it's autonomous. Traditional in-person employee training often relies on strict scheduling and frequent reminders. That process can make your team feel forced to go through the motions rather than take the initiative themselves.
That's not the case with mobile learning. Your associates have everything they need at their fingertips. It's up to them to decide when they want to train and how often.
Letting go of the reins can be daunting at first. However, most leaders quickly realize that entrusting employees to make those decisions pays off in the long run. There's power in autonomy; people enjoy and want to hold onto that freedom.
Also, having the power to learn on their terms can make your associates feel like their work has more value than ever. It's about taking the initiative and contributing to the bottom line. Mobile learning gives sales professionals the chance to feel empowered and ready to create success on their own.
Did you know that the human brain forgets about 50 percent of new information within an hour? The forgetting curve is a bane of workplace training. But what if you could forgo those retention issues? With mobile learning, you can.
It all comes down to access and frequency. Seminars and lectures are great for delivering dense information. The issue, however, is that those learning opportunities are few and far between.
Your retail associates need multiple exposures to that information to lock it into their long-term memory. A well-designed mobile training app provides ongoing opportunities to retain information. Trainings have a lasting impact, providing your team with actionable information they can use on the sales floor.
If there's one thing we've learned from the pandemic, people want the flexibility to work and learn from anywhere. There's something beautifully empowering about getting to choose your learning environment and taking charge of how you train.
Let's face it: Classroom settings and lengthy lectures aren't conducive to everyone's way of learning. For some people, traditional forms of training quickly lead to burnout or discomfort in the entire training process.
Mobile learning is the epitome of flexibility. It's pretty easy to log into an app and take quick trainings. There's no need to fit anything into a busy schedule, and you don't have to worry about people spending valuable selling hours stuck in long training sessions.
Another perk of mobile learning is that it's adaptable to many learning styles. Some people need visual aids and multimedia to understand the point. Others prefer a hands-on approach. While not impossible, it isn't easy to cater to the needs of everyone when it’s a single presenter in front of a group of trainees.
Mobile learning trainings are typically short and incorporate different types of media. The microlearning approach is universally appealing. Meanwhile, gamification adds a fun element and teaches your team how to apply what they learn in trainings to the real world.
The versatility of mobile learning makes it easier to approach, empowering your sales associates to engage and improve.
One remarkable aspect of mobile learning is that it keeps users engaged for the long haul. We've already talked about how this approach to training turns one-time lessons into continual employee development. But the best platforms take things further by providing motivation and enablement whenever your team needs it most.
For example, mobile learning apps can send push notifications to remind your team to complete trainings. Alternatively, it can alert them to timed promotions, challenges, and other gamified opportunities. Instead of going to the nearest PC, trainees can immediately pull out their phones and engage.
It's a great form of motivation. But that's not all.
Mobile learning is great for sales enablement and in-the-moment training. These apps can deliver targeted information your team can apply immediately. Pair that with the ability to go back and review older trainings, and your associates can quickly put their knowledge to use.
Mobile technology has revolutionized our lives in so many ways. Now, it can empower your employees to create their success. Mobile learning is a valuable tool that can transform how retail associates hone their skills and generate sales.
Want to see mobile learning in action? The Intel® Retail Edge Program is an interactive training platform that keeps your associates empowered and engaged. The accompanying mobile app is feature-rich, giving your team easy access to quick training sessions, gamified lessons, special promotions, and more. Watch your associates flourish as they improve their sales skills and learn more about Intel® technologies.
Check out the Intel® Retail Edge Program and see how it can take your sales team to new heights.
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