Customer demands are changing at an exponential pace. It is no secret that a skilled frontline employee can help meet these demands and deliver customer satisfaction efficiently. However, bi-annual training isn’t enough to develop the necessary skills.

Continuous learning in the flow of work must take place to ensure your frontline has the skills needed to drive the outcomes you are expecting from them. To achieve this, companies are implementing best-in-class technology, like mobile learning (or M-learning), to offer learning opportunities in the flow of work.

47% of businesses now use mobile devices to deliver online training (source- Forbes).

What is M-Learning?

M-learning is the use of mobile technology, such as a smartphone or tablet, for learning. While it may seem like a simple explanation, this L&D strategy has proven to promote continuous learning and upskilling that ensures breakthrough employee performance.

M-learning is an effective way to deliver on-demand learning material and opportunities to frontline workers globally, allowing them to expand their abilities and acquire new skills rapidly. The learner’s ability to use mobile learning with “anytime-anywhere access” is what enables training to happen seamlessly during the frontline worker’s daily routine. For instance, retail staff can conveniently learn on the job when there is a lull in foot traffic.

With M-learning, the frontline workforce has easy access to training materials and can easily turn their downtime into productive learning hours.

80% of employees say they prefer online training to in-person training due to its convenience and flexibility. (source – CIO & Leader)

In addition to being a convenient method of learning, below are 6 key benefits of making mobile learning a part of your frontline L&D strategy:

Achieve better training ROI.
Ensure faster dissemination of knowledge.
Boost employees’ engagement with opportunities to upskill.
Improve knowledge retention with bite-sized content.
Improve course completion rates.
Offer dynamic learning experiences and avoid cognitive overload.

Key characteristics of mobile learning in 2025

Mobile learning is highly effective for training geographically dispersed teams due to several key attributes:

Microlearning content

Mobile learning frequently delivers short microlearning content, 2-5 minute bursts of targeted information aimed at keeping learners engaged and improving retention. This method mirrors the daily consumption of content on social media, using brief videos, animations, gamification, quizzes, and other interactive formats to better connect with today’s workforce.

Social learning

Mobile learning often incorporates social learning elements to mirror online behaviors and enhance participation. This can involve features like discussion boards, newsfeeds, or chat options, allowing learners to exchange questions, connect with colleagues, and share knowledge.

Effortless access

While not offered by every mobile learning platform, frictionless access is becoming essential for mobile training solutions. Simplifying the login process with direct links or embedding content into native apps significantly enhances engagement, making learning more convenient and accessible for users on the move.

How to make mobile learning engaging?

To maximize the benefits of mobile learning, two highly effective techniques stand out:

Microlearning

Microlearning is highly compatible with mobile learning, as it condenses extensive information into concise, bite-sized lessons typically lasting under five minutes. This format enables users to access training content conveniently, promoting improved information retention.

Gamification

Educators have long aimed to infuse learning with enjoyment, recognizing that learners are more likely to engage when they find the experience enjoyable.

Gamification offers a versatile approach, allowing for both casual and competitive elements. It incorporates various game features such as sequencing, matching, quizzes, leaderboards, and occasionally tangible rewards,

3 Steps to implement mobile learning in corporate training

Implementing mobile learning in a corporate setting involves a thoughtful plan, including:

1) Assessing training objectives

Before implementing any training program, it’s crucial to assess the core skills and knowledge areas that need improvement. This involves understanding both organizational goals and individual employee competencies to ensure training is aligned with overall business needs. Conducting a thorough evaluation helps identify skill gaps, prioritize learning objectives, and tailor training content accordingly.

By accurately determining the areas that require development, organizations can create targeted learning plans that enhance productivity, performance, and professional growth. Proper assessment ensures that the training not only addresses immediate needs but also supports long-term business and employee success.

2) Selecting appropriate platforms

Choosing the appropriate platforms for corporate training is essential to maximize learning effectiveness. Look for tools and applications that support a variety of multimedia formats, such as videos, infographics, and animations, as well as interactive elements like quizzes, simulations, and gamification. These features not only enhance engagement but also cater to different learning styles, making the training more dynamic and memorable.

Additionally, ensure that the chosen platform is user-friendly, mobile-compatible, and scalable, allowing seamless access across devices. By selecting the right technology, organizations can create an immersive learning experience that drives better retention and outcomes.

3) Designing flexible and targeted materials

Creating adaptable and relevant training content is crucial for meeting the evolving needs of both employees and the organization. Materials should be tailored to the specific skills and competencies required, while also allowing for customization based on feedback and emerging industry trends. Flexibility ensures that content remains up-to-date, whether for changes in company strategy or technological advancements.

Incorporating user input helps to fine-tune the material, making it more effective and personalized. By designing training content that can be easily updated and adapted, organizations can provide continuous learning that remains engaging and aligned with business goals.

Maximize M-learning – 5 ways to improve mobile learning for your employees

M-learning is a learner-driven approach that supports frontline growth by shaping their learning trajectory. However, the success of mobile learning in your organization is dependent on how you deliver it.

Here are effective ways to deliver mobile learning successfully in your organization. Here are 5 effective ways to ensure you deliver a mobile learning environment successfully for your organization.

1) Leverage a mobile-first training tool to boost learning engagement

87% of HBR survey respondents feel their companies would be more successful if frontline workers were given digital technologies to make decisions. (Source – Harvard Business Review)

Accelerate learning progress and keep your distributed workforce productive by implementing a Frontline Training Platform that’s compatible with electronic devices and mobile training. Easily deliver immersive m-learning experiences to get frontline workers job-ready from the first day. Plan learning interventions to unlock their full potential.

Adopting a mobile-first mobile-centric approach enables you to:

Design personalized learning plans.
Monitor learning and development KPIs.
Provide context-sensitive training aligned with on-the-job requirements to improve employee engagement.

2) Microlearning to deliver impactful knowledge nuggets

It is rightly said, “Big things come in small packages”; this principle is especially important when it comes to m-learning. Thus, it is crucial to break the extensive training content into small digestible chunks to make it more consumable and effective for the learner.

Microlearning is small digestible chunks of information that are easy to consume and apply to work. They help foster day-to-day growth. It is one of the best tactics to combat the “forgetting curve” and facilitate greater retention of vital information.

Humans forget approximately 90% of the information after a week. (Forbes – The Forgetting Curve)

Therefore it would be beneficial if we offer learning content that is precise and relevant. It should be in an interactive format that employees can easily remember and recollect when working on different tasks.

Below are some tips for incorporating a micro-learning strategy to deliver m-learning efficiently.

While designing a training course for mobile learning, make sure the bite-sized content is streamlined and not delivered too quickly. Highlight the most important piece of information and break down lessons into multiple short modules. For instance, “if you are creating a training course or program on managing online food delivery, breaking down the topic into shorter modules can help learners better absorb the information and stay engaged. Each module can focus on a specific aspect of the topic, such as how to use delivery systems, offer special discounts, or take steps when food is unavailable.
The duration of each learning module should be between 3 to 10 minutes.
Tap into learning analytics to find out which micro-learning modules are effective and which received poor enrolment and completion rates.

3) Leverage Flashcards to drive frontline engagement

Make the m-learning content visually appealing by presenting it through “Flashcards”.

90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and visuals are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text. (source – Hubspot)

Delivering learning material with modules in an easy-to-read and absorb format ensures longer knowledge retention. To enable the same retention, Flashcards are the best way to eliminate extraneous data and focus on the core information that the frontline needs to learn. Moreover, they can be customized to address your business and employees’ unique needs. Whether you want to focus on product knowledge, safety procedures, or customer service skills, Flashcards offer a versatile solution that can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.

How to use Flashcards in m-learning?

Save time with templates: Opt for a learning management system that offers flashcard templates to create and assign content easily.
Break through the clutter: Avoid overload of information, each flashcard should center around one subject.
Use multimedia: Use high-quality images, statistics, and bullet points to capture the frontline’s attention.
Break the language barrier: Present the flashcards in regional languages to increase adoption.

4) Explore diverse learning formats

If you want m-learning to be truly impactful, you must be meticulously attentive to how you deliver it. Explore various formats to deliver mobile learning.

Below are a few m-learning formats that you can leverage:

Video: In a survey of over 2,000 companies, 74% of trainers said that they use video learning as part of their training delivery. (Video training statistics)
Podcast: Monthly Podcast Listeners Have Grown 61.5% in 3 Years. (Podcast statistics)
Short blogs: 58% of employees said they would be more likely to do online training if the content was broken into smaller chunks. (Online learning statistics)
Infographics: 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. (HubSpot learning)

You can either opt for the high-performing format or a blended learning journey to maximize the impact of m-learning.

5) Gamification: An interactive and engaging experience

Combining m-learning with gamification leads to better employee engagement. Below are a few benefits of providing a great learning experience by incorporating gamification elements for learning and development.

Drive greater participation – With gamification elements like quizzes and polls, you can make learning sessions more interactive for frontline employees.
Encourage collaboration – Use breakout rooms, provide topics, and facilitate a collaborative learning environment and discussion within the frontline team.
Strike healthy competition -Implement a frontline enablement solution that offers a leaderboard and badges on the mobile app. This will fuel healthy competition between frontline workers.

Best practices for creating mobile learning content

When developing mobile learning materials, consider these best practices:

Focus on simplicity

Simplicity is key when designing effective training materials, especially for a modern workforce with diverse learning preferences. Keeping content concise and straightforward ensures that learners can easily grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed. This involves breaking down complex ideas into digestible segments, using clear language, and avoiding unnecessary jargon. Visual aids like images, infographics, and bullet points can further simplify information, making it easier to retain. By focusing on simplicity, organizations enhance learner engagement, reduce cognitive overload, and improve the overall effectiveness of their training programs.

Optimize for mobile

To maximize accessibility and engagement, it's essential to design training content that is optimized for mobile use. This means creating responsive materials that function seamlessly across various device types, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Implementing a mobile-first approach ensures that all learners have easy access to training resources anytime and anywhere. This involves testing content layouts, ensuring readability, and maintaining functionality regardless of screen size. By prioritizing mobile optimization, organizations can enhance user experience, increase completion rates, and foster a more adaptable learning environment that meets the needs of today’s diverse workforce.

Incorporate visuals

Integrating visuals into training content significantly boosts learner engagement and retention. Utilizing videos, images, and graphics can make complex concepts more understandable and relatable. Visual aids not only break up text-heavy content but also capture attention and maintain interest, catering to various learning styles. For instance, instructional videos can demonstrate processes effectively, while infographics can summarize key information succinctly. By incorporating these multimedia elements, organizations can create a more dynamic learning experience that resonates with learners. Additionally, visuals can facilitate quicker comprehension, making the overall training more effective and enjoyable for participants.

Offer real-time feedback

Providing immediate feedback during training sessions is crucial for maintaining learner engagement and motivation. Real-time responses allow participants to understand their progress and identify areas for improvement instantly. This approach fosters a sense of accomplishment and encourages learners to stay involved in the learning process. By using quizzes, interactive activities, or assessments with instant results, organizations can create an environment where learners feel supported and informed. Additionally, timely feedback helps reinforce concepts, correct misunderstandings, and enhance skill development, ultimately leading to a more effective and rewarding educational experience for all participants.

How to select the ideal m-learning platform for your organization

M-learning makes the frontline training experience seamless and flexible. A distributed workforce can learn at their own pace to build the skills needed to perform their job efficiently. However, it's crucial to implement your mobile learning strategy effectively to ensure continuous learning.

Here are guidelines for what you should take into consideration when selecting a mobile learning management system for a distributed workforce:

Does the solution offer the flexibility to create a learning journey for onboarding and on-the-job training?
Is the tool compatible with various formats like PDF, video, etc.?
Does the solution offer customization to make dashboards user-friendly?
Does the solution have advanced analytics capabilities for KPI-based coaching?
Does the solution allow you to create courses in multiple languages?
Does the solution offer integration with various content providers, CRM, HRMS, etc.?

Check out the impactful frontline enablement solution from Disprz, an all-in-one learning and skilling suite that is packed with rich features to help you do all of the above and much more to provide a feature-rich mobile learning platform to your frontline employees.

FAQs

1) Is mobile learning suitable for all types of employees?

Mobile learning proves especially beneficial for workers requiring adaptability, including those in remote positions or on the front lines. Nevertheless, it might not be as suitable for positions demanding extensive or practical training. Its effectiveness hinges on factors such as the characteristics of the employee, the nature of the content, and the organization's educational goals.

2) Differences between mobile learning vs traditional eLearning

Mobile learning contrasts with conventional eLearning primarily in terms of accessibility. Whereas traditional eLearning usually takes place on desktop or laptop systems, mobile learning is optimized for devices such as smartphones and tablets. This design enables learners to study from any location at any time, enhancing the convenience and dynamism of the learning experience. Furthermore, mobile learning often provides shorter, more engaging content specifically adapted for smaller display screens.

5 Ways To Improve the M-Learning Experience

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