e-Learning is not only an important measure in personnel development and employer branding, but also has a monetary component. Used correctly, e-learning can increase sales.

Why do companies need e-learning? A question to which there are many answers: In times of radical change, e-learning makes companies and their employees more flexible and adaptable. Learners acquire new skills that increase productivity and the quality of the products offered. In addition, a company that provides successful e-learning offerings positions itself as an attractive employer and thus strengthens its employer brand. e-Learning is more cost-effective in the long run and helps save valuable resources. In addition to these good reasons, there is another (trivial but decisive) reason to establish digital knowledge transfer in a company: Sales can be increased with e-learning. So e-learning also has a monetary component. However, this is not always apparent at first glance. In our blog post on e-Learning ROI, we explained that sometimes it can be difficult to put a price tag on e-Learning. Nevertheless, it is indispensable to be able to justify the e-learning investment. Below, we’ll take a look at how this price tag comes about in the first place and how, specifically, e-learning can increase revenue. We have worked out three possibilities:

Companies have realized: If they want to continue to bring products or services to men and women in challenging times like these, they need to train and develop their sales managers accurately. Well-trained sales people can make a significant difference. e-Learning is an excellent way to take sales training to a new level. Unlike traditional classroom-based sales training, digital sales training is much more flexible. Learners leave their passive role and become active agents with the help of interactive and multimedia elements. In addition, e-learning-based sales training can address learners’ strengths and weaknesses individually and better measure success. The consequences: Even more qualified employees who sell more and better. In concrete terms, this means that sales training on an e-learning basis can increase sales.

While additional sales can be easily measured, there are also factors that, while they also increase sales, are not so easily calculated. Employees who are successfully trained using e-learning are more satisfied and motivated. Of course, this also has an impact on the company’s turnover: satisfied employees work more productively and usually also better. If employees feel addressed and taken seriously by the e-learning offering, they build up a stronger bond with the employer, stay longer with the company and, in the best case, carry this positive mood to the outside world. This strengthens the employer brand and makes it easier for the company to recruit further qualified employees. This can also indirectly increase sales.

Not only can e-learning increase sales indirectly, via sales training or more satisfied employees, but also directly. Indeed, e-learning itself can be a valuable product. Companies that offer complex products or services must provide their customers with information on handling, maintenance and repair – the keyword here is customer education. This product training can be digitized via e-learning and sold for good money – at least B2B. In the B2C sector, the e-learning provided should be free of charge. Customers who buy a robotic lawnmower, for example, should not have to pay extra for instructions or maintenance information. B2B is different: When companies sell complex products to other companies, permanent access to digital training can be monetized. For example, access can be sold at the outset or provided in the form of a monthly fee (subscription model).

So much for the theory. In order for e-learning to increase sales in practice, one essential prerequisite must be met: The e-learning must be well done. Sounds banal, but it’s not. Well-done e-learning is based on an e-didactic concept, specifically addresses motivational factors and creates meaningful learning experiences. With our e-learning formats and best practices, we show how well-done e-learning can look and function in practice.

Do you want to increase your sales with e-learning? We are looking forward to your message!