Whatever objectives need to be met within an organization, there’s training for that. Whether advancing a team through improving an individual’s technical skills, offering new certifications, or preparing key employees for managerial positions, objectively evaluating the impact of efforts is only possible with a training tracking and management system in place.

In this article, we’ll examine why it’s important to train employees and look at the key features of training tracking and management software. Finally, we’ll examine the core objectives of training management and how it benefits both employers and employees.

Why It’s Important to Train and Develop Employees

Consistent employee training has a major impact on employee engagement, retention, and overall performance. In fact, ongoing career development is vital to attracting and retaining top talent. Millennials primarily think of jobs as opportunities to learn and grow, with 59% of them stating that these aspects were very important when applying for work, according to a report from Gallup Workplace. Training that aligns with employees’ long-term career goals also promotes greater job satisfaction, which in turn has a positive effect on work performance and overall productivity.

 

Optimize Learning with Training Tracking and Management Software

Training tracking and management software—also known as learning management systems (LMSs)—is used by companies to provide online learning to employees. Learning management systems allow administrators to create or upload eLearning courses, as well as assign training modules (such as a COVID training module) to employees. With training management software, supervisors or management can track each learner’s progress, grade assessments, and generate reports. SafetyStratus’ Training Tracking & Management module has every tool that administrators need to track and manage all of the training-related activities in their organization. The module is designed to seamlessly capture and manage a wide range of training data—including safety training, PPE and respirator fit testing, certifications and accreditations, and much more.

 

4 Objectives of Training Tracking and Management

1. Measure the impact of your training efforts.

Whether the overall objective of an employee training program is to upskill employees, renew certificates and licenses, and/or improve safety protocols on the job site, without the right training tracking software in place, organizations can’t effectively measure the true impact of these programs. Tracking training lends more capacity for strategic planning when approaching learning and development. It also gives insight into the correlation between an organization’s training program and overall performance, as well as making it easier to measure the ROI of training efforts.

 

2. Maintain your organization’s accreditation.

For many industries, keeping their employees’ certifications, licenses, and continuing education up-to-date is vital to maintaining accreditation. Using training tracking and management software allows administrators to keep all relevant accreditation information (including renewal deadlines and progress reports) in a centralized location. Automated reminders can be scheduled to go out when renewal deadlines are approaching.

 

3. Streamline the onboarding of new employees.

Depending on the complexity and scope of the work and the prior experience of the individual, onboarding new employees could take two weeks or longer to accomplish. Using a customized learning management platform allows users to streamline the whole onboarding process by having each learner go through standardized course modules. This simplification of arduous administrative tasks saves managers time, as the same training session will not need to be individually conducted for each new employee.

 

4. Improve workplace safety and compliance.

To keep job sites safe and compliant with applicable safety regulations, safety training modules should be uploaded to a learning management system. Employees should be able to access these modules and take assessments at the end of the training program or after each core module. Managers should be able to track the progress and final grades of each employee. Finally, employees should sign a compliance form affirming that the required safety training has been satisfactorily conducted. This shows key regulatory bodies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), that an organization is in compliance with applicable safety regulations.

If dynamic evolution and continual improvement is the purpose of a business’ operational strategy, ensuring that all staff training is as up-to-date as possible must be a part of that strategy.  A proper training tracking and management system will help employers and managers keep on top of this process. From an organizational standpoint, utilizing such tools can cultivate a more productive and safer workplace for employees.

Author Bio

The SafetyStratus Research Advisory Group (RAG) brings together thought leaders from the global environmental, health, and safety community to promote best practices and provide key insights in the profession and the industries they serve. The Research Advisory Group also advocates, where practical, the intersection of and advances with the use of technology, such as the SafetyStratus enterprise EHS software platform. Group membership consists of representatives from across varied disciplines and market sectors as well as select members of the SafetyStratus team.
The primary objectives of the SafetyStratus RAG partnership are to:

• Build a strategic partnership between EHS practitioners and the SafetyStratus team.
• Provide engaging and practical content to the global EHS community.
• Provide discipline and market feedback specific to SafetyStratus products and services.

While the objectives of the RAG are varied, the primary public-facing outcome will be available through engaging and practical content found on the SafetyStratus resource pages. Various articles, papers, and other valuable resources will be produced and shared as part of an ongoing effort to cultivate a robust community. Ultimately, the SafetyStratus RAG will expand to have a broader reach and provide opportunities for more inclusion by all interested EHS professionals in a collaborative community environment.