Corporate eLearning: Training types & practical applications

eLearning is a type of employee training that modernizes learning, making it essential for remote teams in 2025.

It removes learning barriers and ensures training reaches employees wherever they are. Yet, implementing eLearning can be challenging for HR professionals.

Adopting the right approach requires understanding your workforce’s technology and needs. Companies must choose platforms that align with their goals, create engaging content, and ensure employees stay motivated to learn. 

Flexibility, accessibility, and relevance are key to success in any eLearning strategy. This article explores eLearning’s vast potential and how it can transform workplace training.

What is eLearning? 

E-learning uses digital methods to transfer knowledge, expanding traditional training with greater accessibility, personalization, and retention. It plays a key role in corporate learning, from full courses to quick interventions.

Common techniques include microlearning, mobile learning, quizzes, slide shows, webinars, adaptive learning, and video lectures. These can be delivered synchronously, mimicking classroom settings, or asynchronously, allowing learners to study at their own pace.

Advancements in technology, workplace shifts, and generational expectations continue to shape eLearning. While innovation is essential, IT has long influenced corporate training. Understanding its history helps avoid unnecessary reinvention while refining modern strategies.

What are the different types of eLearning?

This section will review how to introduce online learning into your organization. In particular, we will introduce: 

• Massive open online courses (MOOCs) 
• Custom learning management platforms 
• In-app guidance and contextual help systems
• Digital simulation and gamified learning
• Podcasts

These solutions can offer vital tools to deliver a full range of corporate learning. 

Mass Online Open Courses (MOOCs) 

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer a wide range of business-friendly training options. Typically, MOOCs combine diverse online methods, making them adaptable to various topics and learning preferences. 

While many MOOCs are freely accessible, paid options are available for individuals seeking certification or additional benefits. MOOCs cover many topics, including business strategy, leadership, technology, etc.

How to implement Mass Online Open Courses

You can use MOOCs in various ways, so choose your implementation strategy effectively. Here are some key steps for implementation success: 

• You can incorporate MOOCs into informal training by highlighting relevant courses and directing staff to them for self-directed learning opportunities.

• If you commit to MOOCs, align them with corporate objectives. Establish internal sign-off procedures for participation. Review their content carefully to ensure it contributes to your organizational goals.

• Although these may be an outsourced form of learning, recognition and reward mechanisms should be used to acknowledge and reward employees for completing MOOCs or training from external partners. 

• Recognition can be in the form of certificates, badges, or other incentives, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Tips for using Mass Online Open Courses

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer a flexible way to learn, but making the most of them requires a thoughtful approach. Keep these tips in mind:

• Monitor and explore new MOOCs: Online education evolves rapidly, so keep up with trends.
• Balance generic and specific skills: Prioritize courses relevant to your organization.
• Align content with industry standards: Ensure it meets current practices.

Who’s it for? 

MOOCs are fantastic for delving deep into business topics. Whether marketing, human resources, sales, or product development, the huge range of learning opportunities allows you to see every side of a multifaceted topic. Wherever you have staff who need to improve their business knowledge, MOOCs are a great option. 

Custom learning management platforms 

A custom-built learning platform is an in-house educational solution designed to meet an organization’s specific training needs. While large external platforms deliver MOOCs, a custom platform allows companies to replicate this model internally. 

Unlike one-size-fits-all solutions, a custom platform is not completely adaptable to any circumstance. Instead, it is designed around the organization’s unique requirements. These could include addressing onboarding procedures, health and safety training, or other specialized training needs.

How to implement custom learning management platforms

Implementing a custom-built learning platform involves strategic planning and the use of various technologies. Consider the following steps:

• Kick-start collaboration across cross-functional teams. A learning intervention like this requires input from different parties, including instructional designers, content creators, and IT professionals. Collaboration is essential to ensuring the seamless integration of content and technology.

• Select appropriate technologies. These include learning management systems (LMS), adaptive learning platforms, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions like Teachable or LearnDash.

• Define learning goals and objectives. Identify how a custom platform would support these goals, such as improving onboarding processes, delivering specialized training, or addressing specific organizational needs.

Tips for using custom learning management platforms

Building a successful custom-built learning platform requires attention to detail and strategic implementation. Consider the following tips:

• Design should be user-centric: Focus on a seamless and intuitive learning experience, not just professional production.
• Regular updates are essential: Keep the LMS platform relevant and up-to-date.
• Implement feedback mechanisms: Gather insights from users to drive continuous improvement.

Who’s it for? 

An in-house platform’s customized learning experience is well-suited for organizations with unique training objectives, such as compliance, skills development, or product knowledge. 

It’s perfect for companies with distinct training goals. The platform offers flexibility and alignment with specific organizational objectives, ensuring tailored and strategic training. 

In-app guidance and contextual help systems 

A contextual help system is a form of in-app support utilized by software applications to provide users with assistance within the specific context they require. Unlike traditional user manuals or external sources, contextual help systems deliver guidance directly where users encounter challenges. 

Also known as “context-sensitive help” or “in-app support,” it includes features like linking to relevant articles, offering guided tours, providing pop-ups and tips, embedded chatbots, and inline instructions. These features are designed to support users within their digital workflow.

How to implement in-app guidance and contextual help systems

Contextual help systems are a breeze once they’re installed effectively. Going through an effective implementation process can, however, have some surprises. Think about these steps that you need to work through: 

• Audit your software training needs. Get feedback from staff at all levels to identify pain points in digital processes.

• Choose your software. A digital adoption platform offers comprehensive support, but smaller options can also be effective.

• Implement a contextual help system. It should adapt to staff needs, appearing exactly when help is needed.

Tips for using in-app guidance and contextual help systems

If you like the sound of a contextual help system, the following tips should help you move forward: 

• Deploy this tool during digital transformation: Train people effectively, especially in software, and ensure staff can easily get answers.
• Use in-app guidance for larger organizations: Smaller companies may benefit from informal collaborative training.
• Leverage eLearning for data analytics: In-app guidance supports staff and provides leadership with valuable ROI insights.

Who’s it for? 

Contextual help ensures that anyone within an organization who needs help will receive it promptly and in a timely manner by providing targeted support exactly where it’s needed. It minimizes the need for extensive training hours by focusing on supporting individuals who require assistance while sparing those who are already proficient, optimizing resource allocation.

Digital simulation and gamified learning  

Simulation training involves replicating real-world scenarios in a controlled environment to provide individuals with an immersive and interactive learning experience. It is not necessarily a digital solution. For decades, simulation training has been used in business through board games, role-plays, and tabletop formats. 

However, in the digital era, simulation makes special use of technology to provide a cutting-edge form of eLearning, especially through gamification and virtual reality. This type of eLearning creates a lifelike setting where participants can enhance their skills, knowledge, and decision-making abilities.

How to implement digital simulation and gamified learning

Gamification is already all around us, as consumer learning applications amply illustrate. Today, employees intuitively understand the value they can deliver. If you want to make VR and serious games part of your learning strategy, think about the following steps: 

• Assess needs and brainstorm. Are VR or serious games suitable approaches for your learning needs? If so, what could you implement? VR can be a costly investment. Make sure that it’s worth the trouble.

• Identify potential training partners. Very few companies will build these tools in-house. Fortunately, game and VR simulation purveyors can provide the packages you need. 

• Once you have obtained the appropriate software, embed it into your practice around the company. Ensure trainers know these systems are available, and encourage them to use VR and games whenever possible. 

Tips for using digital simulation and gamified learning 

Digital simulations and gamified learning make training more engaging and interactive. To use them effectively, consider these tips:

• Consider costs before implementing digital simulations: VR requires specialized equipment, software, and expertise. Simulation eLearning can enhance HR ROI, but only in specific situations.
• Avoid over-excitement over simulations: If simpler methods can achieve the same goals, digital simulation training may not be necessary.
• Balance realism and engagement in simulations: Realistic scenarios enhance practical skills, but maintaining an engaging format is crucial for sustained learner interest.

Who’s it for? 

Different types of simulation training can be offered to people at all levels of a company’s hierarchy across sectors and industries. Executive leaders can use simulation to enter high–pressure situations without the associated risks, and lower-grade employees can experience their first taste of risky negotiations. 

Podcasts

Within the context of eLearning, podcasts represent a versatile and informal method of delivering educational content through digital audio files. These audio recordings, often episodic and downloadable, cover various topics, including professional development, business disciplines, and specific industry insights. 

Podcasts contribute to the diversification of eLearning methods, providing an alternative to visual or text-based formats. They cater to auditory learners and offer a convenient way to disseminate information, making them an effective tool in eLearning strategies. 

Utilizing podcasts in eLearning involves creating or curating audio content that aligns with educational objectives. This content can include interviews, discussions, expert insights, or storytelling formats relevant to the subject matter.

How to implement podcasts 

To implement podcasts as an eLearning method, take these steps: 

• Effective content creation and curation are essential for learning through podcasts. Decide whether to create in-house podcasts or curate existing content. In-house creation allows customized, organization-specific content, while curation enables access to a broader range of expertise.

• Start by using podcasts as supplementary content for other eLearning provisions. Identify specific points in the learning journey where podcasts can enhance understanding or provide real-world examples and ensure staff knows where to find them. 

• Build up a solid resource base of podcast material that people can access repeatedly. Many podcasts have a long shelf life, and digital media makes it easy to retain them for generations of staff. 

Tips for using podcasts 

Podcasts are a convenient way to deliver bite-sized learning, but their impact depends on how you use them. Keep these tips in mind:

• Choose engaging topics: Focus on relevant subjects that resonate with your audience and complement your eLearning content.
• Keep episodes concise: Ensure your podcasts are short and to the point to maintain listener engagement and complement the learning experience.
• Incorporate actionable insights: Provide practical takeaways that listeners can immediately apply to enhance their learning journey.

Three practical applications of eLearning 

eLearning’s versatility means it can be implemented in almost any organizational training context. This section will explore its benefits at three pivotal moments: onboarding, change management, and compliance training. 

These critical phases are key in shaping employee morale, ensuring adherence to legal requirements, and addressing other essential aspects of organizational functioning. 

In these scenarios, targeted eLearning applications can streamline processes, promote a positive work environment, and improve overall operational effectiveness.

Onboarding 

eLearning is a powerful tool to enhance employee onboarding by providing a flexible and interactive platform. 

Organizations can deliver consistent and standardized onboarding material through well-designed eLearning modules, ensuring every new hire receives essential company policies, procedures, and cultural information. 

eLearning transforms the onboarding process into a dynamic and efficient experience that establishes​​ the foundation for a successful and informed workforce. In some situations, eLearning is essential for onboarding, such as when onboarding employees remotely. 

Compliance training 

In the context of compliance training, eLearning emerges as a crucial ally, seamlessly integrating into the modern corporate landscape. 

Through consistency, accessibility, and interactive learning techniques, eLearning ensures employees receive standardized training on industry regulations, legal requirements, and internal policies. It provides a cost-efficient, trackable, and adaptable solution, supporting organizations in maintaining a workforce well-versed in compliance matters. 

As the business landscape evolves, staying attuned to eLearning advancements is essential for effective compliance training strategies.

Change management 

During change management projects, when transitions in processes, tools, or organizational structures occur, eLearning becomes a versatile tool for communication, training, and fostering adaptability. 

eLearning techniques can improve change training for employees and leaders. Various approaches can provide targeted training on the new systems, processes, or skills required during the change. This ensures a consistent understanding of the changes across the workforce, mitigates resistance, and enhances overall readiness. 

eLearning also provides a scalable solution for organizations with dispersed teams, ensuring all employees receive the necessary training regardless of location. Incorporating eLearning into change management initiatives, organizations can streamline the transition process, boost employee confidence, and increase the likelihood of successful implementation.

eLearning as the new normal

In the past, eLearning was just one of the many methods you could use to deliver effective corporate training. Today, it’s a non-negotiable part of your company’s training portfolio. 

Unsurprisingly, Statista research shows that various eLearning methods dominate the US’s most popular training delivery methods. Its on-demand nature ensures employees can access training anytime, keeping up with evolving skill requirements.

With the pressure many HR leaders face from leaders to reskill their staff,  eLearning provides a flexible, scalable solution that delivers targeted and effective training whenever needed.

eLearning isn’t just convenient—it’s the backbone of a workforce that adapts, learns, and stays ahead.