Online vs. In-House Training: Which is Right for Your Employees?

Employee training is a critical component of any business. However, many companies struggle when choosing the best way to provide training. Should training be given in-person with a live trainer in front of a group of people or is online training better? For today’s purposes, we won’t even talk about a hybrid of the two. Like all debates, both methods have advantages and disadvantages.

If you’re undecided on the best course of action, here is a quick look at some of the main differences between online training and in-house training in the workplace.

#1 Learner Engagement

it’s often said that one of the main advantages of in-house training is audience engagement. Instead of watching something on the computer, employees can ask questions at any time and directly interact with an instructor. However, some online courses are offered with a live instructor as well, and encourage interaction through video chat, instant message, or email. Each method appeals to different personality types and learning preferences.

#2 Flexibility

One benefit of online training is that it is much more flexible than an in-house training program. Employees can train anywhere at any time, as long as they have internet access. Classroom training is restricted by date, location, and capacity, and the focus is on the entire group rather than one individual. Online training also offers the flexibility that comes from jumping around the training materials rather than following the same agenda as everyone else.

#3 Cost

Online training courses are typically less expensive, sometimes significantly less, than in-house training. This is because online training cuts out travel costs and employees can schedule training around their schedules. In-house training often causes a break in production and requires that a large number of people get to one set location. From a cost perspective, if your company is looking for ways to keep expenses to a minimum, the use of online training is a cost-effective solution for employee training.

#4 Convenience

As we said earlier, online training is convenient. Employees can access the content at any time from any location, from any device that connects to the internet, whether that’s a computer, smartphone, or tablet. In-house training follows a strict schedule and requires employees to be available at a set time. If an employee misses one day of training, they fall behind everyone else and it’s much more difficult to re-schedule all the logistics of in-house training.

#5 Distractions

Distractions will be present regardless of the method you choose. Live training offers the distractions of others in the room: private conversations, the jokester in the back, the person up front who knows everything and wants all the attention, and the person with endless questions. When you’re training online, it’s easy to get sidetracked by incoming calls and emails, or, if you’re at home, the pile of laundry or the TV.

Analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of traditional in-house training and online training will help you decide which method best meets the needs of your employees and your business.