eCom Scotland research shines light on Key Trends

DUNFERMLINE, Scotland - Jan. 25, 2022 - PRLog -- After publishing what it believed would be eight 'Key Learning and Development (L&D) Trends' in 2022, the provider of online training and assessment, eCom Scotland, has carried out further market research among its clients to gauge the accuracy of its predictions. It appears that – mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic's continuing influence on lifestyles and working arrangements – the trends most demonstrably coming to fruition are:

1.     Hybrid working

Wendy Edie, eCom's Managing Director, said, "Governments around the world continue to encourage people to work from home where possible – principally to counteract the effects of Covid19 on the population and economy. This has seen hybrid working become a major component of working arrangements, especially for knowledge workers. Consequently, some 80% or our clients have incorporated aspects of hybrid working into their 'permanent' corporate culture over the past few months.

"This is benefitting digital learning and assessment providers, such as eCom, since these technologies are the most accessible and effective ways of informing, upskilling and assessing a hybrid, dispersed workforce."

2.     The shift from physical to virtual space, and from classroom-only to online (including immersive technology)

Wendy continued, "The trends influenced by the coronavirus pandemic – notably the shift from physical to virtual space, from classroom-only to online and the increase in the use of immersive technology - seem to be ringing true, with some 75% of our clients telling us that these shifts in learning and assessment are producing workforce productivity increases above the norm. As such, this now seems to be an established and escalating practice.

"This trend isn't just about moving from face-to-face to online learning," she added. "It includes elements of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) immersive learning, as well as micro-learning and gamification – and eCom is seeing an increase in interest from clients for development and assessment materials using these technologies."

3.     Upskilling and reskilling

eCom's earlier research indicated that over 50% of its client organisations were saying that, in 2022, their employees will further develop problem solving skills to support demands from their market and within their industry.

Wendy commented, "We appear to have made another accurate prediction with this trend – especially where our clients in the oil and gas sector are concerned. Not only are these clients having to devise new 'green' approaches to their operations but their workforce needs to upskill and reskill to follow these new procedures, systems and mindsets."

Continuing, Wendy said, "We've seen less practical and demonstrable support so far for the other three trends we identified at the end of last year."

For further details of eCom's predicted trends for L&D in 2022 visit: https://www.ecomscotland.com/news/learning-trends-for-2022/