It should go without saying that any business's most valuable asset is its people. It's also a fact that employee training is one of the best investments a company can make. In the past, employee training happened in stuffy classroom type settings hosted by a type of lecturer whose slideshows were more likely to send trainees to sleep than fill them with a renewed vigor for their job.
Thankfully, those days are gone and, in the modern world, there are lots of different options available to help businesses make the most of corporate training. In this article, we're going to be looking at the
corporate animation style of training and exploring how this enhances the employee learning experience and therefore improves productivity and effectiveness for the organization as a whole.
So what are animation style training videos ?
These are training videos which are designed to grab and maintain engagement in trainees. Using visual stories, motion graphics and compelling characters, these videos aim to deliver corporate training modules in an inclusive way and one in which the information is easy to grasp and follow.
These videos will often use vibrant visuals along with interactive elements to provide learners with the maximum learning experience.
CLICKBUTTON|link|ALL}
How Animation Videos Elevate Training
There are several benefits to using animation videos for corporate training and we'll be examining some of these in this section:
1. Boosts Engagement and Retention
Studies show that we tend to remember images - particularly video - more clearly than we do text. In fact, “People remember 80% of what they see and do, versus just 20% of what they read”. Corporate training videos have been proven to improve engagement and retention among learners as well as focus - all of which poses the biggest challenge to corporate training in more traditional settings.
2. Simplifies Complex Information
In the world of finance, learners are faced with some pretty complex financial strategies and systems. When this is presented as a big lump of text full of crudely defined regulations and sticky software, learners can quickly become overwhelmed. Video, on the other hand, especially with animation, can break down this complex information into easy to digest modules which are visually appealing and much simpler to process.
3. Appeals To Multi-Modal Learning
It's a simple fact that we all learn in different ways and at different paces. For this reason, training should never be approached on a “one size fits all” basis. Training videos with corporate animation style content allow flexibility in learning to accommodate, for example, learners who prefer audio or those who respond better to visuals. This is particularly important for inclusivity as many neurodiverse trainees are better suited to specific types of content.
These training videos can incorporate a number of levels including voiceovers, infographics and interactive content such as quizzes and subtitles to ensure that no learners are at a disadvantage.
4. Supports MicroLearning
In an increasingly busy world, it's not always practical or possible for every single trainee to dedicate large chunks of their day to their training sessions. Animated videos facilitate microlearning, where information is presented in short, relevant modules; meaning that learners can complete their training around their other responsibilities. Employees working at their own pace tend to be more efficient and display greater
knowledge retention.
5. Enhances Motivation Among Staff
We've already spoken about engagement and this goes hand in hand with motivation. When presented with large unwieldy lumps of text, employees are unlikely to find themselves filled with passion. Animated videos, on the other hand, get the trainee involved through engaging narratives and interactive content such as gamification.
When employees are engaged, they tend to become more invested in the content which lends forward momentum to the training - and motivation for employees.
Essential Features of Effective Animation for Corporate Training
So, by this time you've got a pretty good idea of how effective these videos can be, it's now time to talk about the essential ingredients that make up a great training program.
1. High quality motion graphics design
When it comes to putting together your graphics, this is something that you should never scrimp or cut corners on. High quality graphics are the most important part of your video and should use motion to clearly move your story forward. Therefore, your motion graphics should be:
● Professional
● Consistent
● Calm and smooth
● Attention grabbing
● Simple to grasp
2. Corporate / Brand visual identity
In every aspect of your business - including your training videos - your brand identity should be front and center. Your employees will respond much more emphatically to the branding that they are familiar with rather than a generic video.
Therefore your video training should be personalized with your branding including:
● Logos
● Colors
● Typography
3. Storytelling with characters
These days, storytelling is used as a powerful business tool - for good reason. When information is presented as a story or narrative, rather than just a chunk of dialogue, trainees are able to see the message in action. Not only does this make the information easier to understand, it also increases investment and engagement in the content.
4. Subtitled and voiced-over materials
As with your graphics, your written and audio content needs to be clear and professional and should include:
●
Professional scripts and narrations - don't be tempted to save cash by “winging it” with your material. Professionally written scripts and narrations with an appealing voice are essential for keeping trainees switched on
●
Corporate logos - Always include your logos throughout the video training as this centers the trainee and keeps him or her focused on the objective of the training
●
Evaluation - It's extremely important to obtain feedback from your training videos as this allows you to measure performance and enjoyment and track efficiency
5. Interactive voiceover elements
Animations such as infographics, clickables, and simulations are all proven to increase participation and engagement. Studies show that interactive learning is a lot more effective than simply sitting back and watching information being delivered on a screen. Because of this, training videos which include interactive elements are essential for success.
Case Studies
Here are three brief case studies that show the practical benefits that video training can bring.
Case Study 1: Compliance Training for a Tech Company
When a top-tier technology company identified a shortfall in engagement while training on compliance issues, it knew that it needed a different approach. The business chose to switch to video training which incorporated corporate-style animation to try to solve the problem. The company found that when using this type of training program, employee participation increased by 60% with a significant improvement in employee scores on compliance quizzes.
Case Study 2: Onboarding Process at a Healthcare Organization
An undisclosed healthcare organization needed a more dynamic onboarding process for new hires in order to speed up the process while still delivering all of the vital information. The company introduced corporate animated videos which featured company policies, medical processes, and customer service instructions. The result was that onboarding time improved by 40%, and employee self-assurance increased considerably.
Case Study 3: Training Non-Teaching Staff In a Financial Institution
A financial institution was looking for a training tool which would improve customer service and sales and increase retention of non-teaching staff. The company chose to use animations to teach advanced products, along with engaging narratives. Through this approach, the business improved performance and achieved a 75% retention rate.
Checklist For Developing Corporate Animation Training Videos
To make the most of your corporate animation training videos, you need to bring together a number of important elements. As such, the following should be considered best practice for effectiveness and consistency:
●
Be specific with learning goals: Explain the objective of the training at the beginning and conclusion of the video to keep the learner focused on the goals
●
Limit the length of videos: Aim for a target length of 2-5 minutes per module to avoid losing your audience
●
Make use of a professional script and narration: Professional content is important not only for enhanced learning but also for your brand's credibility
●
Include the corporate logo: Your brand should always be prominent within your videos to avoid a generic, faceless image
●
Evaluation: Always obtain feedback as this allows you to continually assess and approve your training videos
Conclusion
Transitioning to animated videos is an integral step on the
digital transformation journey for most businesses because:
● Trains employees effectively
● Increases engagement and investment
● Promotes a culture of improvement
● Promotes unparalleled knowledge acquisition
Modern, expertly crafted training videos which feature animation deliver vital content in an entertaining and engaging manner for greater productivity, compliance and skills.
With the right execution, this type of training will set your business apart from the competition and deliver maximum return on investment through enhanced employee training and development. Which is the reason why we, at ZandaX, provide exactly that!
