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How to setup HR Systems Support Team

If you are planning to build or restructure your HR Systems Support Team you are at the right place. Transforming HR systems can be a daunting task for clients. Often, the challenge lies not just in the implementation but in establishing the right support team post-transformation. Crafted by a team of HR Technology experts with over 15 years of experience, this blog draws from our extensive background in implementing and supporting HR Systems for some of the largest organizations worldwide. We aim to guide you through the process of setting up an efficient internal HR systems support team, ensuring your transition is not just about change, but about progress.

The Role of a Successful Internal Support Team in Transitioning to Success

The transition to a new HR system isn’t just a technical switch; it’s a strategic evolution that demands a nuanced understanding of support and maintenance post-implementation. It’s here that the true value of a dedicated internal support team becomes unmistakable.

An effective internal support team acts as the backbone of this evolution. They are the champions who ensure the HR system runs smoothly, handle technical issues proactively, and adapt the system to evolving business needs. Their work is critical to minimizing downtime and maximizing the system’s value to the organization, thereby directly influencing your workforce’s efficiency and satisfaction.

The Foundation of Efficiency and Innovation

But what lays the foundation for such a high-functioning team? The answer lies in understanding the various factors that influence team setup and operation.

Key factors to consider to setup a successful HR Systems Support Team:

1. Scope of Original Implementation

The initial scope of your HR system’s implementation can significantly influence the future support requirements. If the original setup was accomplished with a minimal viable product (MVP) approach, and there are pending enhancements or significant functional rollouts, your team will need design and consulting capabilities. These are critical for extending the system’s functionalities and ensuring they align with business goals.

Actionable Step: Evaluate upcoming project roadmaps and secure system designers or consultants with the necessary expertise to guide these expansions. Ensure these roles are filled by individuals who not only understand the technical requirements but can also foresee the impacts on and benefits to business processes.

2. Number of products/modules and integrations live in production

Every additional module or integration within your HR system adds layers of complexity, demanding not just more hands on deck but also greater cross-functional expertise. It requires a team that’s not only technically proficient but also capable of understanding how different modules interact and impact each other. They need to ensure these components work in concert to deliver a seamless user experience and support the broader HR objectives.

Actionable Step: Audit the current modules and integrations to identify interdependencies and potential complexities. Train your team on these specifics or hire experts with a proven track record in managing similar ecosystems.

3. Company size and employee count

The scale of your operations is a critical determinant of your HR support team’s scope. Larger enterprises may grapple with a broader range of issues, necessitating a more substantial, more varied skill set within the team. On the other hand, smaller organizations may require a leaner team that can wear multiple hats effectively.

Actionable Step: Benchmark your organization against similar-sized companies in your industry to determine an optimal support team size. Your HR Platform vendor can provide you with such insights. Consider not just the number of employees but also geographic dispersion and operational complexity.

4. Complexity of processes

Intricate HR processes often involve nuanced problem-solving and a deep understanding of organizational workflows. A support team for a complex environment must not only troubleshoot issues but also anticipate and mitigate potential disruptions before they impact the business.

Actionable Step: Map out all HR processes in detail, highlighting areas that require specialized knowledge. Develop a training plan to upskill your team or hire specialists for these areas.

5. End User technical acumen

The variance in user technical skills across your organization means that the support team must balance between addressing advanced technical queries and assisting less tech-savvy users. This dynamic necessitates a support team with strong communication skills and the patience to educate, as well as the technical chops to solve complex problems.

Actionable Step: Conduct a survey to gauge the technical proficiency of the user base. Tailor your support strategy to provide varying levels of assistance, ensuring that users receive the right level of help.

6. Existing resources and skills

Conducting a thorough inventory of your current resources and skill sets can highlight potential gaps in your support strategy. This assessment will inform whether you can upskill existing personnel or if you need to bring in specialized talents from outside the organization to bridge the skill gap.

Actionable Step and Example: If you have an existing help desk team, consider training them to handle L1 and L2 support queries, such as pay statement inquiries or account resets. For more complex HR-specific processes, establish a specialized team that works closely with HR to address intricate system needs.

Adding HR Systems Support Team to organization structure

Centralized vs. Decentralized Structures: A Strategic Decision

The choice between a centralized and decentralized HR systems support structure is pivotal and should be made with careful consideration of your company’s culture and operational needs.

A centralized structure is akin to a hub of expertise, providing uniformity and simplified governance but can risk becoming a bottleneck if not managed properly. Focus is on creating a cohesive team with central oversight, which allows for streamlined communication and consistency in support standards.

Conversely, a decentralized structure can offer specialized support that aligns closely with individual departmental needs but may result in a lack of consistency across the organization. This model encourages departments to have their own specialized support staff, enhancing their ability to address unique departmental challenges.

A large number of clients have setup Hybrid models as well where only a part of the organisation is centralized, eg. Talent and HR whereas the business operation structures are decentralized. This is a big topic and we may write a blog about it later depending on the response of this one 😊

Actionable Step:

Conduct a thorough evaluation of your current and future operational models. If your organization values uniformity and centralized control, opt for a centralized support model. If responsiveness and local expertise are priorities, consider a decentralized approach. Ensure there are clear procedures for communication and escalation regardless of the model chosen.

Different Roles and Responsibilities you should be considering

System Owner: Oversees the entire HR system, ensuring alignment with business goals.

Functional Analyst/s: Focuses on the HR system’s functionalities and user needs.

Technical Analyst/s: Handles the technical aspects, including system maintenance and troubleshooting.

Change Analyst: Manages changes in the system, ensuring smooth transitions and end user training.

These are fundamentally required but depending on the product and complexity, your organization may need workstream leads.

Testing Structural Variations in Organizational Support Teams

Some organizations opt for technical resources to be housed within the IT department, while functional resources are placed under HR also referred as People and Culture. Others prefer an integrated approach with all team members within the HR department. Again, what your plan for the year is will play an important role. For instance – if recruitment is an area you want to focus on this year, you will be creating process configurations and integrations so it will make more sense for the team to be working with HR and Recruiters as IT team might have their own plans for digitisation and if the technical team is sitting in IT, they may not be available for the end to end testing all the time.

Most organisations have an AMS Partner as well. Deciding whether to build your support team internally or to outsource requires a balance of considerations including cost, expertise, and long-term strategic goals. Perform a cost-benefit analysis of developing in-house expertise versus outsourcing. Consider the long-term implications of each option on your organization’s agility and knowledge retention. AMS partners offer different type of support options such as monthly L2/L3 tier hours, augmentation of staff etc. See what works best for you.

Actionable Step:

Review the pros and cons of each structure in light of your organization’s workflow, communication patterns, and support needs. Map out the common issues and inquiries received by your HR system. Develop a tiered support framework that guides users through self-service for simple issues and escalates more complex issues to higher levels of support. Pilot different structures if necessary to find the best fit for your organization.

The Key to Sustainable Support (Secret Ingredient): Educating End Users

The efficiency of an HR support team isn’t just about the size or skill set of the team; it’s equally about the proficiency of the end users interacting with the system. Even the best-equipped support teams can find themselves overwhelmed if end users are not adequately trained, leading to an unsustainable volume of support requests. Our extensive experience with clients across various industries has revealed a common pattern: frustration arises not from the HR system itself but from a mismatch between the system’s capabilities and the users’ understanding of them. A system is only as effective as the way it’s utilized. When end users are unsure of how to use the system or are unaware of best practices, they generate a high volume of support tickets for issues that, fundamentally, are not system errors but training deficiencies.

Actionable Step: Invest in role-specific training programs that target the actual use cases and challenges your employees face daily. This approach ensures that each user is equipped with the knowledge and skills to utilize the HR system effectively, thereby reducing the number of basic support tickets and allowing your support team to focus on more complex queries and system enhancements.

IMPORTANT: QRGs don’t work! Text-based Quick Reference Guides often lack engagement and can overwhelm with dense information. Interactive video-based learning, however, offers visual, engaging, and practical learning experiences, enhancing understanding and long-term retention for HR systems users.

We have a solution for you!

At Anemative, we specialize in creating custom onboarding and continuous learning programs tailored to your organization’s unique HR processes. Our training solutions are designed not just to educate but to empower your workforce, fostering a culture of self-sufficiency that reduces the reliance on support teams and maximizes your HR system investment.

If you’re looking to enhance your team’s productivity and streamline your HR system’s operation, reach out to us. Let Anemative’s bespoke eLearning content development services transform the way your organization engages with its HR system. Contact us to start developing your tailored training program today and watch as the number of support tickets decreases while user competence and satisfaction soar.

Ask for a case study and demo today!

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Learning Development

Unmasking the New Wave of Phishing: A Deep Dive into Cybersecurity Threats

Building a Resilient Digital Defense: The Imperative of Continuous Cybersecurity Training

In a world where cyber threats evolve daily, continuous cybersecurity training is not just a measure, but a necessity. This article aims to provide insights into the current cybersecurity landscape and introduces an innovative training solution for organizations.

Imagine a scenario where a seemingly innocuous email lands in the inbox of a high-level executive. It appears to be from a trusted vendor or partner, complete with accurate logos and branding. The message requests urgent action – perhaps a password reset, a confirmation of sensitive details, or a quick financial transaction. This scenario, which plays out daily in organizations worldwide, is not the work of amateur hackers but the signature of sophisticated cybercriminals. Their craft is so meticulous that even the most discerning eye can be fooled, making ongoing education and vigilance paramount in the battle against digital deception.

The Advanced Threat Landscape

Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting trusted systems like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and widely-used financial applications such as Adobe and Xero. These sophisticated phishing attacks are designed to trick users into compromising security protocols, making continuous vigilance and education paramount.

  • Exploitation of Trusted Systems
  • The sophistication of modern cybercriminals lies not just in their ability to create believable phishing emails, but also in their exploitation of systems we trust daily.
    • Bypassing MFA Protocols: Scammers have developed techniques to trick users into divulging MFA codes, effectively bypassing what many consider an impenetrable security measure.
    • Manipulating Financial Software: Cybercriminals target popular financial applications like Adobe and Xero, exploiting their widespread use in corporate environments to launch attacks. These attacks might involve falsified financial requests or data breaches, taking advantage of the trust placed in these applications.
    • Exploiting Cloud Storage Security: With the increasing reliance on cloud services for data storage, phishing attempts now often mimic cloud storage notifications, luring users into providing login credentials under the guise of verifying account security.
    • Hijacking Communication Channels: Attackers are also known to hijack email threads by infiltrating legitimate email conversations, injecting their malicious requests into ongoing dialogues, which can easily go unnoticed.

Modern Phishing: Recognizing the Unseen Dangers

The latest phishing techniques are dangerously subtle, often appearing as legitimate requests from credible sources, making them hard to spot without proper training.

  • Characteristics of Sophisticated Phishing Attempts
    • Personalization and Credibility: Scams now are highly personalized, leveraging the credibility of familiar applications to trick users.
    • Creating Urgency: By instilling a sense of urgency, attackers prompt quick, unguarded actions from unsuspecting individuals.

The Role of Continuous Cybersecurity Education

In response to these evolving threats, fostering a culture of ongoing cybersecurity awareness and training is crucial. Regular updates and training sessions can significantly mitigate the risk of cyber attacks.

  • Cultivating Ongoing Vigilance
    • Regular Security Audits and Updates: Conducting frequent security audits to identify vulnerabilities and ensuring that all software is updated to the latest versions can significantly reduce the risk of breaches.
    • Creating a Phishing Response Protocol: Establishing clear protocols for employees to follow when they suspect a phishing attempt helps in quick identification and response, minimizing potential damage.
    • Implementing Continuous Training Programs: Regular, dynamic training sessions that cover the latest phishing tactics and defense mechanisms keep the team updated and prepared.
    • Encouraging a Questioning Attitude: Fostering an environment where employees feel comfortable questioning unusual requests, especially those demanding urgency or confidentiality, is key to preventing successful phishing attacks.
    • Utilizing Simulation Exercises: Conducting regular phishing simulation exercises can help employees recognize and react appropriately to phishing attempts, enhancing their ability to detect real attacks.
    • Leveraging Technology for Defense: Implementing advanced email filtering tools and intrusion detection systems can provide an additional layer of defense against sophisticated cyber threats.

Conclusion: Enhancing Organizational Cyber Resilience

As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must our strategies to counter them. For organizations looking to fortify their defenses, Anemative offers a unique solution.

  • A Unique Training Solution for Organizations
    • Our cybersecurity courses are designed to provide ongoing, bite-sized learning opportunities, ensuring teams are always equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to combat digital threats.
  • The Anemative Advantage
    • Perpetual License Offering: Training managers can purchase a perpetual license, granting unlimited access to our continuously updated course content.
    • Cost-Effective Monthly Plans: Starting from $1200, organizations can subscribe to our monthly plan, ensuring they always have access to the most current and relevant cybersecurity training modules.

Empower Your Team with Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity Knowledge

We invite training managers to explore our perpetual license offering. By investing in our comprehensive and continuously updated cybersecurity courses, you can ensure your team is always prepared for the digital challenges of tomorrow.

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    Learning Development

    Tips by HR to stop your employees from leaving

    5 Tips from HR to Retain Your Best Talent & Avoid Employee Retention Crisis!

    As an HR professional, you know how difficult it is to retain your best talent. It’s a constant struggle to keep them engaged, motivated, and satisfied with their work. But what if we told you that there are some unconventional tips that can help you retain your top employees? In this post, we’ll share 5 such tips that will make a huge difference in your employee retention efforts.

    Tip #1: Review and update your benchmarkings

    One of the most common reasons employees leave a company is because they feel they are not being paid fairly. To prevent this, it’s important to update your benchmarking rates regularly to ensure your employees are being paid at or above market rates. This not only helps you retain your current employees, but also attracts top talent to your organization.

    As a thumbrule, if your employee is getting more than 30% pay hike for the same role, you need to check your compensation benchmarkings again. If they are getting promoted in the new organisation, it might mean they were not able to progress at a pace they wanted so allow them to plan their own career pace, explained below.

    Tip #2: Allow Employees to plan their career

    One of the biggest reasons employees leave a company is because they feel that there is no room for growth and advancement in their careers. To avoid this, it’s important to allow your employees to plan their career paths and provide them with guidelines on how they can achieve their goals in their expected timeline. This not only keeps your employees engaged, but also helps them see a future with your organization.

    For example, Amazon has a program called Career Choice, which provides employees with the opportunity to learn new skills and advance their careers within the company. This program not only helps Amazon retain its best talent, but also creates a culture of continuous learning and growth.

    Tip #3: Be a Pioneer of New Employee Benefits

    One of the best ways to retain your employees is by offering unique and innovative employee benefits. This not only sets you apart from your competitors, but also helps you attract and retain top talent. Consider offering benefits such as flexible work hours, remote work options, extended maternity leave options  and recreational memberships.

    For example, HubSpot offers its employees unlimited vacation time and encourages them to take time off whenever they need it. Airbnb offers its employees a “$2,000 annual travel credit” that can be used towards any Airbnb listing.This not only helps employees achieve a better work-life balance, but also fosters a culture of trust and empowerment.

    Tip #4: Build a Sense of Community

    Employees are more likely to stay with a company if they feel a sense of community and belonging. To create this environment, it’s important to encourage collaboration and communication among your employees. This not only helps them build relationships with their colleagues, but also fosters a sense of loyalty to the organization.

    For example, Zappos is known for its strong company culture, which is built on the principles of collaboration and communication. The company encourages its employees to get to know each other and fosters a sense of community by organizing team building events and activities.

    Tip #5: Train the leaders to lead the leaders to be

    Millennials and Gen Z employees have different work styles and expectations from previous generations. To ensure that managers are equipped to handle this new generation, companies should provide appropriate training and resources. This can help managers understand the mindset of younger employees and adapt their management style accordingly.

    Google offers a “People Management” and course for its managers to help them develop the skills they need to manage a diverse and dynamic workforce.

    By implementing these 5 tips, companies can create a work environment that attracts and retains top talent, while also improving employee satisfaction and productivity.

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    Learning Development

    Onboarding New Employees: Key Challenges and Innovative Solutions

    Top 5 employee onboarding challenges - SOLVED!

    The onboarding process is a critical stage in the employee lifecycle, as it sets the tone for the entire employment experience. New hires are excited and eager to learn about their role, the company, and its culture. As an HR leader, you have the responsibility to ensure that the onboarding process is effective, engaging, and sets the stage for a successful and productive work experience. However, onboarding new employees can present a number of challenges for HR leaders, which can impact employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity.

    Challenge #1: Integration with Company Culture

    One of the key challenges that HR leaders face when onboarding new employees is ensuring that they are effectively integrated into the company culture. Company culture is a critical component of the work experience and can have a significant impact on employee engagement and job satisfaction. It is important that new hires understand the organization’s values, mission, and goals, and how they fit into the overall company culture.

    Solution: Provide Cultural Orientation 

    One solution to this challenge is to provide new hires with a cultural orientation program. This program should provide new hires with an overview of the company culture, its history, and its core values. It should also provide them with an opportunity to meet their colleagues and learn about the company’s mission, goals, and objectives.

    Client Case Study: A global logistics firm realizes that their onboarding program is not effectively communicating the company’s culture and values to new hires. We revised their program to include interactive modules that highlight the company’s vision, mission, and values and provide real-life examples of how employees are contributing to these goals. New hires are more connected to the company culture and feel more invested in their role, resulting in better job satisfaction and employee retention.

     

    Challenge #2: Time and Cost

    Onboarding new employees can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for large organizations with a high volume of new hires. HR leaders must find ways to streamline the onboarding process and minimize the time and resources required to get new hires up-to-speed.

    Solution: Implement Technology-Based Onboarding 

    A solution to this challenge is to implement technology-based, bite sized onboarding trainings. Also, online onboarding platforms can automate many of the administrative tasks associated with onboarding, such as completing forms and tracking compliance training. This can save HR leaders time and resources and ensure that new hires receive consistent and comprehensive information. 

    Client Case Study: An HR leader at a fast-paced financial company realizes that their onboarding process is taking too much time and disrupting the productivity of new hires. We introduce a virtual onboarding program that provides new hires with all the necessary information and training materials in a streamlined and efficient manner. Employees are able to complete the program on their own schedule, reducing the impact on their work productivity.

    Challenge #3: Ensuring Compliance

    HR leaders must ensure that all new hires complete required compliance training and meet all legal requirements before they can begin work. This can be a challenge, especially for organizations with a high volume of new hires and a complex compliance landscape.

    Solution: Automate Compliance Tracking 

    A solution to this challenge is to automate compliance tracking. Online onboarding platforms can be configured to track compliance training and ensure that all new hires complete the required training before they can begin work. This can help HR leaders ensure that all new hires are in compliance with legal requirements and reduce the risk of non-compliance.

    Client Case Study:

    An HR leader at a financial services company is tasked with ensuring that all new employees receive training on the company’s regulatory compliance policies and procedures, but is struggling to get new hires to fully engage in the training and retain the information. We switched from a traditional lecture-style training approach to an interactive, gamified onboarding program which has a status tracking system to monitor each new employee’s progress and also rewards them for having completed all necessary compliance training. The gamified training approach not only makes the training more enjoyable for employees, but it also helps the HR leader meet regulatory requirements and ensures that the company remains compliant.

     

    Challenge #4: Providing Comprehensive Information

    HR leaders must provide new hires with comprehensive information about the company, its policies and procedures, benefits, and job responsibilities. This information can be overwhelming, especially for new hires who are just starting their employment journey.

    Solution: Create customised training – one size never fits all 

    Provide a customized, role-specific onboarding experience to new hires which focuses on their specific needs and job responsibilities.

    Challenge #5: Onboarding Remote Workers

    HR leaders must find effective ways to onboard remote workers and ensure that they have the necessary tools, resources, and support to be successful in their new role. This can be a challenge, especially in the current remote work environment.

    Solution: Virtual Onboarding Programs 

    One solution to this challenge is to implement virtual onboarding programs that can be accessed by remote workers from anywhere in the world. Virtual onboarding programs can include online videos, virtual tours, and interactive quizzes that provide remote workers with the information they need to do their job. Compatibility testing of these trainings is crucial as employees may be accessing them from platforms of their choice i.e. Desktop, Mobile or Tablet and those may not be on the latest operating system. Also make these trainings easy to access and embed them or their quick links at relevant pages of the company website for quick reference.

    In conclusion, the onboarding process is critical for HR leaders, as it lays the foundation for the new employee’s experience at the company. By overcoming the challenges discussed and few others that we didn’t cover in this blog such as managing inconsistent processes, lack of engagement, lack of personalization and resistance to change etc. HR leaders have the superpower of creating “super heroes” that can shape the future of any company. Anemative is one company that is leading the way in creating interactive onboarding training that employees love, and HR leaders should consider working with them to create a highly personalized and engaging experience for their new employees.

    Unlock the full potential of your onboarding process. Get in touch with us today!

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    Tips for creating effective behavioral training for your organisation

    Creating a Culture of Behavioral Learning in Your Organization

    Behavior-based training is a highly effective learning model that allows individuals to develop individualized responses to different stimuli. This type of training does not require a correct or incorrect answer, rather it relies on the behavior of the individual in response to the given task or situation. By allowing learners to form their own personal responses based on their own experiences and values, this approach encourages deeper reflection and creative problem-solving. The solutions rely on the individual’s capacity to recognize patterns and make decisions based on their internalized understanding of the situation. This approach emphasizes experiential learning, allowing learners to draw upon their own experiences and interpretations of events to guide them towards a final solution or conclusion.

     

    Here are some tips for creating behavior-based training content with open-ended questions:

    Identify the behavior or skill you want to teach: 

    • Before you can create your training content, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the specific behavior or skill you want to teach. This will help you to create targeted, relevant questions and activities. For example – If a company wants to teach its employees about customer service, they need to first identify the behavior or skill they want to teach. This could include topics such as greeting customers, understanding customer needs, problem solving, or understanding body language. Once identified, these behaviors can be groomed through relevant case studies and simulations.

    Use scenario-based questions to assess personality and pivot:

    • One effective way to engage learners and encourage them to think critically is through the use of scenario-based questions. These types of questions present learners with a specific situation and ask them to come up with a solution. Continuing the last example – During a customer service training, the instructor could ask the trainees to respond to a hypothetical scenario where they work in a call center and speak with an irate customer. The instructor could ask the trainees how they would respond to the situation and use the responses for personality assessment, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and use the results to tailor scenarios to their personality type. For example, a learner who is identified as a “feeler” might be given a scenario that involves dealing with an emotional customer, while a learner who is identified as a “thinker” might be given a scenario involving a problem that requires logical analysis.

    Encourage discussion and collaboration:

    • Open-ended questions are a great way to encourage discussion and collaboration among learners. Encourage learners to share their ideas and thoughts with each other, and facilitate a dialogue around the topic after the training and note how people come up with different ideas to the same problem and how their behavior towards a particular situation differ from each other. It is important for employees to understand the different behavior traits due to their significant impact on an organization’s overall productivity and success. The ability to effectively recognize and manage individual personality differences is imperative for effective communication, collaboration, motivation, and decision-making processes. These traits are also vital to ensure that team dynamics remain healthy, as well as the ability to anticipate potential conflicts or problems that may arise among employees. Consider adding a debatable scenario to the course, for example share this scenario with learners where a customer calls your company and is unhappy with a product they recently purchased. They are demanding a full refund, but the company’s policy only allows for exchanges or store credit. As the customer service representative handling the call, you would need to listen to the customer’s concerns, apologize for their dissatisfaction, and explain the company’s refund policy. Some questions that could be used to encourage debate among trainees might include:
      • Should the company make an exception to their refund policy in this case? Why or why not?
      • Is it possible to find a resolution that will satisfy both the customer and the company? If so, what might that look like?
      • How can the company balance the needs of the customer with the need to uphold their policies?

    Add some real examples and use response based branching:

    • Some learning management systems (LMS) include adaptive learning technology that can personalize the learning experience further based on a learner’s responses to scenarios and questions. These types of scenarios can then be personalized by including different outcomes depending on the learner’s choices, none of which is wrong. To make the training more relevant and engaging, consider using examples and real-life situations in your questions from your organisation. This will help learners to better understand the concepts and apply them in a practical setting. Share all the possible outcomes of a situation and ask open-ended questions. While open-ended questions encourage learners to think for themselves, it’s still important to provide feedback and guidance where necessary. This will help learners to understand the correct way to perform tasks and make decisions in critical situations. 
    • Let’s understand how branching in courses really work with a scenario –

      Mr. Smith, calling to complain about a product he recently purchased. Sarah must choose how to respond to Mr. Smith’s complaint. She has the following options:

      Option 1: Sarah apologizes and offers to exchange the product for a new one.

      Option 2: Sarah apologizes and offers a partial refund.

      Option 3: Sarah apologizes and offers a store credit.

      Option 4: Sarah tells Mr. Smith that there is nothing she can do and ends the call.

      Depending on which option Sarah chooses, the scenario will branch off in different directions. If Sarah chooses Option 1, for example, the scenario might continue with Mr. Smith accepting the exchange and thanking Sarah for her help. If Sarah chooses Option 4, the scenario might continue with Mr. Smith becoming angry and threatening to never do business with the company again.

      As Sarah progresses through the scenario, she is presented with different challenges and must make additional choices to resolve the issue. At the end of the scenario, Sarah is given feedback on her performance and is provided with tips and best practices for handling difficult customers in the future.

      Overall, branching scenarios allow learners to practice their skills in a realistic and interactive way, while also allowing for personalized learning based on their responses to different situations.

    Summary – By using open-ended questions in your behavior-based training content, you can help learners to think critically and come up with their own solutions to problems. This approach is an effective way to teach important skills and behaviors that will be useful in the workplace. Happy learning!

    Stop spinning your wheels on ineffective employee training programs. Anemative learning solutions will revolutionize the way you train, engage and retain top talent with videos, gamification and simulations that focus on behavioral design and interactivity. Take the initiative today to get ahead of your competition by partnering with us – invest in employee success now!

    Contact Us: [email protected]

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    Learning Development

    Stop creating text based trainings!

    Say Goodbye to Text-Based Training!

    In the world of corporate training, text-based materials have long been the standard. But as technology has evolved and our understanding of how people learn has improved, it’s become clear that text-based trainings are no longer the most effective way to educate employees. In this blog post, we’ll explore why companies should consider transitioning from text-based trainings to interactive learning content.

     

     

    One of the biggest drawbacks of text-based trainings is that they are often dry and boring. When employees are presented with pages and pages of dense, unengaging text, it’s easy for them to lose interest and tune out.

    There are many reasons why companies should consider transitioning from text-based trainings to interactive learning content. Here are just a few:

     

    Reason 1: Better alignment with modern learning preferences:

    Today’s learners are used to consuming information in a variety of formats, including videos, audio, and interactive media. Text-based trainings can be dull and uninteresting compared to these more engaging formats. By transitioning to interactive learning content, companies can better align their training programs with modern learners’ preferences and expectations.

    A health care facility implemented a virtual reality simulation to train nurses on how to respond to medical emergencies. The simulation allowed nurses to experience realistic scenarios and practice responding in real-time, providing an interactive learning experience. Training using virtual reality simulation increased the nurses’ confidence and skills, they felt “better prepared”.

    Reason 2: Increased knowledge retention:

    Research has shown that trainings created using interactive learning elements such as visual animations, clickable objects, gamification etc is more effective at promoting long-term retention of information than text-based trainings. This is because interactive learning allows learners to actively process and apply the information they are learning, rather than simply memorizing it. Also video based training helps learners develop a deeper understanding of the material, which is more likely to stick with them in the long run. Check out the following example of a training designed to explain what Long Term Care Insurance is through an explainer video. For more case studies and demo content check out our portfolio page.

     


    Reason 3: Improved accessibility of learning content: 

     Interactive learning content can be more accessible than text-based trainings, especially for learners with disabilities. For example, interactive content can be designed to be more visually appealing and easier to navigate for learners with visual impairments. It can also include audio and other multimedia elements that can be accessed by learners with hearing impairments.

    A manufacturing company has implemented an interactive e-learning platform that provides video tutorials and audio instructions for their employees with visual impairments. The platform also allows employees to complete quizzes and tests with voice commands!

    Reason 4: Cost efficient solution:

    Another reason why companies should transition to interactive learning content is that it is more cost-effective in the long run. Text-based trainings require a significant amount of time and effort to develop, and they often become outdated quickly. In contrast, interactive learning content is much easier and faster to update, so it can be kept current with the latest information and best practices. This means that companies can save money by investing in interactive learning content instead of text-based trainings.

     

    In conclusion, text-based trainings may have been the standard in the past, but they are no longer the most effective way to educate employees. By transitioning to interactive learning content, companies can provide their employees with a more engaging and personalized learning experience, and save money in the long run. If your company is still using text-based trainings, it’s time to consider making the switch to interactive learning content.

    Check out our blog for interactive eLearning content development tips – “Winning Tips for Making Your Course Come Alive!”

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    Video Marketing

    Why you need a Whiteboard Animation Video more than ever!

    Whiteboard animation is becoming more and more popular in business because of its capability to showcase every piece of information clearly and transparently. Whiteboard animation is a style of video designed to look like the content is hand-drawn on a school whiteboard or white background, giving it an educational look.

    Whiteboard animation videos are compelling tools for explanatory videos as it breaks down intricate pieces of information into simpler ones, making it easier and quicker to understand. The simple graphics are fun, engaging and curiosity builders, enabling the viewer to watch the video till the end.

    Whiteboard Animation videos are a fantastic means to engage your internet visitor. They also work great if you want to add a little bit of humour or fun, to make your video more entertaining and amusing.

    When compared with conventional talking head videos, whiteboard animation has been proven to increase viewer retention by 15%. Isn’t that great! Also, these videos increase the viewer’s willingness to share by more than 65%. Imagine what that could mean for your business!

    The benefits of whiteboard animations –

    1) Increase Traffic & Conversion Rates

    2) They’re versatile. Whiteboard animations are suitable for any topic from educational videos to marketing content.

    3) Easy to Understand, Professional results, and Cost Effective

    4) Compatibility with new-age device and is engaging & interesting

    5) It is easy to consume. Be it students, potential leads or small audience, anyone and everyone can consume it.

    Who are whiteboard animations for?

    ● Sales people and marketers

    ● Students

    ● Educators

    ● HR and internal communications teams

    What makes Whiteboard Animation Videos better than other forms of video making?

    Guiding tools – Whiteboard animation videos are great guiding tools as it reveals the information step-by-step. The educational look provides it makes it look more credible. Its simplicity is what makes it different from any other form of video making, as it makes the whole learning process fun and more natural.

    Interactive and Rewarding – When the viewer sees the video, it is in the form of a story being drawn by a hand. These increases connect and interactivity is built.

    Along the course of the video, the viewer is receiving new pieces of information slowly and gradually and not all at once, making the video seem rewarding. The viewer feels that he is learning and acquiring new pieces of information while watching the video.

    Holds the attention of the viewer – As the whiteboard animation videos are short and crisp, they do not let the viewer lose interest or get distracted. The step-by-step information revealing process keeps the viewer interested in the video throughout.

    When and where to use whiteboard animation?

    To introduce a topic: if you want to launch a new initiative, product or subject, whiteboard animation can help. The combination of movement, audio and visuals grab attention and keep viewers engaged throughout.

    To explain an idea: whiteboard animations are particularly useful tools to solve even the most complex topics. You can use visual metaphors and infographics to help your audience process the information in terms they already understand.

    To summarize information: because it’s much easier to retain information from a whiteboard animation, they make the perfect plenary or revision materials. Take the key points and turn them into a short but impactful video.

    To persuade: since whiteboard animations tend to have simpler designs, your message can shine and not get lost amongst stylized graphics.

    It’s easy to see why whiteboard animation has developed its genre within the corporate video scene. It’s quite unlike anything else out there and has a visual flavour all its own. Understanding the deeper reasons behind its visual and story appeal helps us develop more engaging content, sharper writing and evolving visual practices for wider future audiences without suffering the stale fate of video fads of the past.

    Other effective type of videos include Explainer Videos, 2D Animations, Infographics and Interactive videos.

    Contact Anemative for any of the above video requirements.

    Categories
    Video Marketing

    How Product Videos Are Driving Sales For eCommerce!

    Who can forget the overnight success of HP during the Diwali season when it had launched an emotional video that touched people’s hearts emotionally leading to an extensive sale of its products.

    This is the kind of impact product videos can have on eCommerce for driving sales!

    The beauty of product videos is that they help generate confidence in the customer’s buying decisions. As a product video gives a demonstrative visual tool of your product or service, it makes it very convenient for the customers to get to know about each and every aspect of it virtually without actually visiting the store.

    The motive behind these videos is just to humanise a virtual experience by becoming more interactive and engaging with the audience. Undoubtedly, with an eCommerce business, using professional videos to drive sales becomes a must.There are several videos that you can think of creating and through that, flourish your business such as –

    Product explainer videos – To demonstrate and explain the working and use of your product and give a brief overview of it.

    Testimonial videos – The videos talk about the experience of your past buyers with the product in a positive way to basically inculcate the trust of your audience

    Storytelling videos – These videos test your creativity as through them you narrate the story behind your idea of selling the product, the challenges faced by you, what future do you see for yourself, and similar discussion topics. Story-telling videos are a great tool to form an emotional connection with your buyers. Here is one example, how we, Anemative, helped one of our clients to target audience with product video.

    (Also Read- Why video marketing is important for eCommerce)

    SOME POPULAR EXAMPLES OF E-COMMERCE VIDEOS

    1) AMAZON LIVE

    Amazon leaves no stone unturned when it comes to making full use of the digitally advancing era. The business giant introduced its own platform called ‘AMAZON LIVE’ where it promotes its own products and services.

    2) APPLE

    More than half of the credit for the multinational company’s remarkable performance of generating sales up to $53.8 billion in 2019 goes to its unprecedented digital marketing strategy.

    If we take the example of the sales for ‘iPhone 11 Pro’, it was entirely marketed through product videos that helped in influencing the decision of the buyers.

    With the company’s humungous investments in digital marketing, it continues to be the leading technology giant.

    3) WOO CLUB

    Woo Club is basically a platform for brands, individuals, and marketers to display their product videos on their page. Through every sale made from the platforms, the company generates its income.

    With the company’s investments in video marketing, it was able to attract 1800+ users in the first two months alone!

    REASONS WHY PRODUCT VIDEOS ARE DRIVING SALES

    1) Google prefers videos

    If your video is appealing enough and has the right amount of customization making it stand out as a product video, google itself will not be able to resist itself for displaying it as its first result.

    If we talk about ‘Dollar Shave Club’ and how it went viral overnight, it was all because of Google. The video had set a standard for itself and was therefore in the highlight, was being used as a link for different pages, and brands kept writing about it – making it the top choice of google to show its audience.

    2) Videos build up an emotional connection Videos help in conveying information and emotions very quickly. Since it humanizes an experience with the visuals, people cannot help but build an attachment.

    Therefore, identifying your target audience and making videos that strike a chord with the viewers help in boosting your business. Here is another example of Ariel using videos to connect emotionally with audience.

    3) Videos can be easily shared

    Because of the love of humans for audio-visual content, they tend to click and share more videos than textual content. Hence, with an extensive amount of sharing, the outreach and visibility of your product increases making it drive more sales.

    4) Product videos also drive conversions

    Through this means, the chances of your videos to get highlighted and getting viral increases tremendously.

    CONCLUSION

    By taking inspiration from brands like Amazon, Apple, and Woo Club – as an eCommerce businessperson, you must focus on building engaging and appealing videos as per the requirement of your brand.

    It is a fact that approximately 83% of businesses claim that the return of investments gained through videos has always been positive for the year 2019 proving what a great tool online sales with video marketing for your eCommerce business are.

    Hence, in order to boost your revenue, make sure you invest more of your time in making interactive audience-friendly eCommerce product videos.

    Still curious about the functioning and creation of attractive videos for your eCommerce business?

    Visit – Anemative and explore to know more!

    Categories
    Learning Development

    How to build an e-learning platform?

    As a survey, which was conducted by Forbes, the e-learning market will reach $320 billion by 2025. This is the biggest reason behind the rise up of new educational startups with new innovative ideas, features, and capabilities.

    In a recent Coursera survey, online education provides more practical knowledge and plays a vital role in developing day-to-day skills about a subject more efficiently than traditional education.

    So, what is a way to create a successful e-learning platform? What model, features and investment are required? Let’s find out!

    First we need to understand the e-learning platform necessity in the marketplace –

    ● To fulfil the growing market demand for flexible and continuing education.

    ● To fill the gap between important skills and varied demographic locations as the new learning modules appear.

    ● Technologies and the internet have made the same education available globally, and it attracts more contemporary learners.

    Next, lets understand what are the basic features of an e-Learning Platform

    ● User login and authentication

    ● Filters to search the right course for you

    ● User Dashboard

    ● Payment modes

    ● Course updating and adding option

    ● Reminders and notification

    ● Admin panel.

    Having known the basics, let’s create a plan!

    How to plan and create a successful e-Learning Platform?

    # Know your target audience

    Before creating any e-learning website, it requires research about your target audience and analysis about your niche.

    Which includes:

    ● target audience age, gender, demographic location, interest etc.

    ● The subject you want to embrace

    ● What people tend to learn and have interest

    ● Field of improvement in learners and their dependency in technologies.

    It helps to think and personalize the content which can engage and be helpful for future students.

    # Find out your competitors

    Once the planning is done, now take a look at your competitors. Check what study materials and platforms they are providing. Analysis of their weakness and strength that would help you to come with the ideas of what you need to implement or what you have to avoid.

    To check the reviews and rating about several platforms, you can use:

    Good firms

    IT firms

    # Come up with engaging and contents

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    How to build an e-learning platform? 15

    An e-learning platform should be a place where everyone can learn. The best UX/UI designs are also worthless if the content is not engaging, and you are not able to deliver what you want to be. Mix the content with text, audio, video, infographics, and slides. Not all people are the same, so this will help them understand the information better.

    # Connect with professional online educators

    Great content needs great creators to deliver. In our case, the creators are teachers or SMEs(Subject matter experts). You may even want to collaborate with universities or need to look for skilled tutors who love what they do and can create a unique brand image. A masterclass is a well known e-learning platform, and have offered Marc Jacobs, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman and a few other famous personalities to cooperate with them, which turned into a big advantage for them.

    # Cost of e-learning

    Think about the revenue model while considering to build an e-learning platform carefully. A few platforms may take a percentage or commission, which can be varied according to the participant’s enrolment for any specific course or may charge on an hourly basis.

    # Have regular assessments

    To make the e-learning more effective, use assessments to track the student’s knowledge and progress. Conduct regular tests and quizzes. Most of the e-learning platforms add pop-up quizzes and questions based on the learned materials after finishing a module. These assessments and analytics or reports show the student’s strength and achievements and help the educator to adjust the learning content. It helps students to learn it at their own suitable pace. (Also see- How interactive videos help to take input from viewers in video itself)

    # Certificates

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    How to build an e-learning platform? 16

    E-learning knowledge needs to be backed up by verified certificates after the course completion. Also, the best performers should be awarded honours. These Positive reinforcements boost student’s self-esteem and encourage them to keep up with the good prospects for the future.

    # An excellent UX/UI

    Ensure the user interface and user experience fulfil the usability of your e-learning space. It should be easy to access and have a simple page layout. A visitor can find all website elements with ease. It helps students to stick with the site, and they would not be distracted by unnecessary details.

    # Feedback and ratings

    Give users the ability to share their feedback and share their reviews to know how the platform operates and allow students to rate teachers and study materials. Rating and reviews give valuable insights and help to improve the e-learning space.

    # Finally, consider a multi-language approach

    If you are looking to grow your platform on an international level, you need to provide users to opt for the preferred language. Stay prepared from the beginning for this; a multilingual website will be helpful.

    BONUS TIP – The type of video you choose is a key aspect for an e-learning platform to be successful. Here are the different types of Videos you can create for more Engaged learning

    1)INSTRUCTOR-LED LECTURES AND TRAINING

    Being a very commonly and conveniently used type of eLearning video, instructor-led lectures, and training method is the most trusted form of video training. They are essentially a video version of a live and in-class instruction.

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    How to build an e-learning platform? 17

    The videos have an optimal format that supports Lerner engagement, teacher presentation, and provision of supporting slides and screen sharing. This video format can be easily recorded as well.

    2)DEMONSTRATIONS

    Demonstrating and showing students the actual way of doing a particular thing is a way more powerful and engrossing alternative as compared to showing static pictures and drawings to train students.

    3)SCENARIOS AND SIMULATION

    For capturing scenarios and simulations that display various situations a learner may encounter during the course of specific training, videos play an extremely efficient and effective role.

    (Tip- See how interactive video helps to create scenarios and simulations)

    4)LEARNER GENERATED VIDEOS

    Learner videos include not only informal training but the professional ones as well, for example, colleagues at work. Students can practice the new skills they have learned through this platform. More of a learner-generated video, these videos are proven to be powerful in both formal and informal fields.

    For more information, you can read our blog Different types of Videos you can create for more Engaged learning.

    To read more in detail, read our Blog 7 Benefits of Video-based Learning for Students.

    As the e-learning demand is rapidly growing, WooCommerce, VooPlayer, and tutor LMS could be at the helm of your e-learning platform to fill in the gaps. So pull up your socks and create your perfect eLearning solution today!!

    Anemative can help you in content writing and preparation, UX/UI Design, eLearning Platform selection, Interactive Video development etc.

    Contact Us now for a no-obligation consultation session today.

    Categories
    Video Marketing

    Why video marketing is important for eCommerce?

    Video marketing is a strategy used by businesses online to market their product/brand/service in the form of a video.

    There is no doubt that in this fast-growing digital world, videos have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Videos are any day more interactive and memorable than simple text and hence ensure more traffic to your page. It is proven that for the year 2020, almost 80 percent of the internet traffic was driven by videos only. More the trafficking of the target audience more will be your sales, and hence more profitable will be your business.

    Listed below are a few reasons for the importance of video marketing for businesses and why an e-retail business gives special emphasis to this particular idea of marketing.

    1)VIDEOS GRAB CUSTOMERS ATTENTION

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    Why video marketing is important for eCommerce? 20

    People give more preference to their audio-visual senses.

    Hence, instead of reading long and descriptive texts, they are more inclined towards watching a short video describing your product or service. It is a fact that a one minute video is equivalent to 1.8 million words to your audience!

    Videos are, in short, more catchy and less time-consuming making them an excellent choice for marketing for offering lead generation.

    2)GOOGLE GIVES HIGHER PREFERENCE TO VIDEOS

    You may have noticed that in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERP), there is a whole separate column for videos. In fact, if you optimise your video by giving it an SEO-friendly description and title, Google might display it as its top result by giving it a higher preference than any textual result.

    Hence, search engines also understand the importance of video marketing and how beneficial it can be to them as it offers a better solution to the search query.

    3)VIDEOS OFFER CREDIBILITY

    Video marketing gives you an edge when it comes to building trust inside of your

    customers. Creating attractive videos that display your vision, mission, and the details of your company help in generating assurance among the audience. You may create testimonials, videos of influencers promoting your product, or have live sessions on social media – all these are some great tools for ensuring credibility and highlighting your brand.

    Many e-commerce app have started using videos in place of images, to demonstrate their product. (Like the one in video below. Watch after 30 sec)

    4)VIDEOS ARE A GREAT TOOL FOR M-COMMERCE

    With the demand for smartphones increasing day by day, it is evident that your customers are more likely to view your eCommerce business through their phones. Another fact is that with the increase in the number of smartphone users, the engagement of the audience towards viewing videos has increased significantly as well. Therefore, taking advantage of the situation to develop your business and generate greater revenues, retailers must divert their content creating focus towards video making.

    5)BRING YOUR BRAND INTO LIMELIGHT THROUGH VIDEOS

    Videos have the potential of making your brand popular overnight!

    We can learn from the HP company. HP shifted to extensive video marketing during the Diwali season and won the trust and of many netizens during the process. The videos of the company were such that they made people get emotionally attached to the brand resulting in them getting viral on all the social media platforms and flourishing overnight.

    If you have a creative and imaginative mind with out-of-the-box thinking skills and professional video editing and creation skills, you can very easily win the hearts of your viewers.

    CONCLUSION

    Every 8 out of 10 digital marketers praise the concept of video marketing and are extensively engaged in it. Moreover, more than half the number of marketers say that video marketing is the best form of digital marketing to produce the best ROI.

    These are some facts that tell us about the importance of video marketing and how effective it is over any other means of content marketing for your e-business.

    Hence, focus on creating attractive and engaging videos for your eCommerce business and see your profits boom overnight!

    If you wish to dig deeper into the world of animation and graphic videos, visit – Anemative and get enlightened in better detail!