Training is critical to the onboarding process for any software, especially facility management. Teams working in educational facilities that are well-trained and provided with appropriate learning opportunities have higher rates of adoption and success. This means a better return on investment for the software and increased efficiency and productivity for your organization.
When deciding on training options for your facility management team, consider these types and what they have to offer:
In-Person Training
Most software vendors can send training professionals to give onsite facility management software training. This training can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on team size, facility complexity, and workflows. The advantages of in-person training include face-to-face interaction, immediate answers to questions, and practical software demonstrations in the school or college for a hands-on experience. The structured schedule of in-person training is beneficial for individuals who thrive in traditional classroom settings. However, there are drawbacks to this type of training, such as geographical limitations, increased costs to your facility, and reduced flexibility in the learning process.
Live Online Training
In addition to in-person training, many software vendors provide live online training sessions through platforms like Zoom. These sessions allow trainers to engage with managers and technicians in real-time, offering product training and addressing questions and concerns. The flexibility of time and location are significant advantages. However, live online training may be susceptible to technical issues and has challenges in personalization for larger groups.
Training Videos
Training videos from software providers offer a flexible learning approach. Accessible through various devices, these videos cater to the convenience of managers and technicians with different schedules or time zone constraints. Unlimited accessibility allows individuals to revisit material at their own pace, and the ease of sharing valuable content enhances information sharing. However, training videos lack real-time interaction, leading to limited opportunities for questions and discussions. And access to reliable internet and appropriate devices is essential for successful training, engagement, and adoption.
It’s important to note that educational facilities likely won’t have to choose just one type of training for managers and technicians. A blended approach to training, including two or more training styles, can be highly beneficial. Offering different training formats can help more team members learn effectively, increasing the adoption of your educational facility’s software system.