The global economic situation is
encouraging companies to try more flexible and "innovative" methods of
training staff, according to a new survey.
One way to ensure training does not fall by the wayside as budgets are cut is to utilise technology, said the results of an Online Educa Berlin poll.
Informal learning, e-learning and blended learning were all cited as being opportunities for improving skills and education.
The survey by the international e-learning conference organiser was conducted among consultants and training professionals.
Sue Martin, global certification portfolio manager at SAP, said enhancing the skills of employees is a plus for a firm's success.
"In times of tight or zero travel budgets and increasing environmental awareness, the importance of learning technologies has to be given a second look," she said.
Inspired use of technology is also the key to value-for-money training, according to Christophe Binot, e-learning manager at the French oil firm Total.
He remarked a PowerPoint presentation could be transformed into "a course for a thousand employees within two hours".
Recently, the TUC launched an internet safety toolkit so employers can teach staff how to prevent business networks being compromised.
The union is concerned bosses and managers are not keeping their workers' IT skills up-to-date as internet usage at work grows.
Explore the range of IT courses available at learndirect - a great way to brush up or fill skills gaps in IT for employees.
Its 2008 Get Safe Online report revealed 66 per cent of internet users said they use the same password to access several websites and 17 per cent had opened email attachments from a source they did not know.
Businesses could lose commercial or customer data, while damage to systems and downtime could cost money as a result, it said.
General secretary Brendan Barber said: "Without training, staff may well find themselves the weakest link in the security chain, without ever knowing what they are doing wrong."
