The Covid-19 pandemic transformed the working world as we once knew it. The shift to remote, the Great Resignation, and a general rethinking of values meant millions of people and businesses placed new emphasis on skills and corporate training trends. 

Specifically, training helps people develop in the areas they care most about and fosters greater innovation and loyalty within companies.

Nearly 90% of organizations believe that building employees’ skills can help them navigate the future of work. Therefore, Corporate training is smart to retain employees, keep employee satisfaction high, and contribute to a stronger overall workforce. 

These outcomes are particularly important in growing sectors like IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Considering that tech job postings in tech increased by 25% in 2022, and 92% of Forbes G2000 companies use IT outsourcing, corporate training ensures that teams can handle new demands and businesses can stay agile as they scale.

Unsurprisingly, the corporate sphere is ahead of the curve with training programs that cater to modern workers’ needs. Often curated with the support of experts in learning, these programs showcase specific trends that can inspire other companies looking to invest in employee training. 

These are the current rising trends in corporate training and how they can be most impactful in the IT and BPO industries.

1. Personalized learning

Corporate businesses have large teams of individuals with diverse learning styles and preferences. A blanket approach to training could mean that a substantial portion of the workforce can’t access the benefits of upskilling and reskilling programs. 

That’s why corporations are embracing personalized learning, which allows them to customize training around people’s strengths, interests, and capabilities.

For example, Cisco has a unique platform, Cisco Learning, where employees can tap into personalized training content that aligns with their roles and career goals. 

Microsoft also has Microsoft Learn, Google has Digital Garage, and Deloitte has Deloitte University – all personalized learning dashboards for workers to utilize training recommendations and strategies best for them. 

A number of these platforms also incorporate AI and data analytics to generate precise education pathways for employees.

2. Digital skills training

Digital tools are essential to business – they power remote communication, data-driven decisions, HR, and other vital operations. As a result, corporations are doubling down on digital skills training for optimized processes. Additionally, employees want to improve their digital literacy to keep up with the latest trends and maintain their employability in an increasingly all-digital world.

AI is a notable focus for corporations and employees. IBM reports that 77% of all companies are using or exploring AI integration. Meanwhile, 49% of employees say they need training on how to use AI tools before they can use them effectively. 

To bridge the gap, corporations like Intel and Salesforce have introduced training models with workshops, tutorials, and in-house technologies to boost AI proficiency across teams. Salesforce even has its own Einstein Academy, where employees are encouraged to apply AI in their roles.

It’s important to note that AI awareness also involves employees leveraging AI-powered tools to facilitate other areas of learning. For instance, ELSA for Business is an English speaking app that uses AI to generate personalized feedback about a person’s word stress, grammar, and intonation. These real-time analytics mean that employees can gain fluency faster and more accurately.

3. Wellness and mental health awareness training

The pandemic naturally spurred heightened concern for people’s physical and mental health. Companies took on a fresh responsibility to promote healthier employee practices and inform individuals about signs of harmful behaviors. For example, burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress are some of the most prevalent conditions that companies are addressing in their training.

In the IT and BPO sectors, businesses have been pairing with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to offer employees confidential counseling and support services. These programs can additionally include trauma management and mental health training for employees who want to become certified in the field. 

Many organizations have also launched mental health awareness campaigns to help reduce stigma around non-visible issues and foster open conversations about mental health in the workplace.

Elsewhere, some companies are experimenting with flexible work policies, where employees can choose their work hours, have unlimited time off, or can compress their work weeks. Gym membership, meditation subscriptions, creative classes, and helplines are also being integrated into work life to further wellness efforts.

4. Leadership pathways

The IT and BPO landscapes are filled with curious workers who generally seek to progress and seize opportunities to move up in the company. Businesses that offer clear, structured leadership pathways show employees they are invested in them and the ongoing pursuit to innovate. As leadership ranks fourth in the list of skills that companies need the most, it’s in a company’s best interest to open doors to new leaders.

Leadership training also aids in better employee retention and a more positive work environment because people trust that they have options to grow. Companies are designing more than just comprehensive leadership programs for skills like communication, problem-solving, team management, and strategic thinking. They’ve equally honed in on emotional intelligence among budding leaders. 

Emotional intelligence training enables employees to understand their emotions, empathize with peers, and create more meaningful relationships in the workplace. Coaching and mentorship programs are a popular way for companies to nurture such emotional intelligence.

For the fast-paced realm of IT and BPO, cross-functional training is common for aspiring leaders who learn to work with teams with diverse skills and backgrounds. Similarly, change management training prepares leaders to deal with sudden significant technological shifts and how to express those pivots to fellow team members. 

Not to mention, some IT and BPO players have welcomed AI virtual simulations for leadership training, allowing employees to role-play scenarios in realistic, risk-free environments.

The future of corporate training trends

As with many areas of business, corporations are leading the way regarding trends in corporate training programs. As digital transformation continues to unfold, the IT and BPO industries are setting great examples of what effective training programs can look like. These companies will make technology like AI the foundation for training no matter the size of a business and shape tomorrow’s workforce.

Ready to make AI part of your company’s training and upskilling program?