How do you develop the technical skills of your field teams?

What are technical skills?

Technical skills include the know-how essential to each field profession: maintenance, logistics, retail... Practical and directly applicable, they evolve with tools, standards and technologies. But mastering them is not enough: you still need to know how to transmit them and make them evolve continuously.

💡 How do you develop them effectively?

Microlearning & mobile learning: Short courses, accessible everywhere, even offline.
Practical workshops & scenarios: Learn by doing for rapid assimilation.
Mentoring & internal transmission: Capitalize on the expertise of experienced employees.
Gamification & recognition: Encourage progress with challenges and rewards
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation: Adapt training courses according to needs and field results.

🔎 What do we mean by “technical skills” for field teams?

Technical skills include all the specific know-how necessary to effectively carry out missions in the field. They differ between sectors (maintenance, logistics, construction, retail, etc.), but share common characteristics:

• Adapted to the profession : They are directly linked to daily tasks, such as repairing equipment, managing inventory or installing equipment.
• Practical and operational : These skills are mainly developed in the field, through experience and applied training.
• In constant evolution: Technologies, tools, and standards are changing rapidly, requiring regular updates.
• Problem solving-oriented: Quickly diagnosing and resolving an incident is an integral part of field interventions.
  

Technical skills vs. behavioral skills

Technical skills are complemented by behavioral skills (soft skills), such as communication, adaptability or stress management.

A technician can master a tool perfectly, but without the ability to collaborate or explain his intervention, overall efficiency suffers.

→ To effectively structure the development of technical skills, it is essential to map needs, identify gaps and offer targeted training.

💡 Why invest in the technical skills of field teams?

Field teams are much more than implementers : they embody the image of your company in the eyes of customers. Whether it is a technician working on site, a delivery person ensuring the last stage of the logistics chain or a salesperson in the field, their expertise determines the quality of the service provided.

→ However, faced with the digitalization of tools, the automation of processes and the constant evolution of standards, yesterday's skills are no longer enough to meet today's challenges.

→ Investing in continuing education not only maintains operational performance, but also improves customer satisfaction, reduces costly mistakes and strengthens employee engagement.

The benefits are concrete:

✅ Increased productivity: Trained teams better master digital tools, optimize their interventions and reduce downtime.
✅ Fewer mistakes and repeated interventions: An accurate diagnosis from the first intervention avoids additional trips.
✅ Increased customer satisfaction: Competent employees ensure effective interventions, while communicating clearly and professionally.
✅ Employee engagement: Training gives a feeling of value and evolution, thus reducing the risk of demotivation.

Figures support these findings:

• 87% of companies consider skills development to be a strategic driver for competitiveness (LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report).
• Businesses that invest in training see a reduction of 24% of their turnover (deloitte).
• 76% of employees prefer to work for a company that offers targeted training courses adapted to their needs (PwC).

In the end, investing in the technical skills of field teams is not only a question of performance; it is also a lever for retaining talent, valuing know-how and guaranteeing an irreproachable customer experience. 🚀

What are the challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome?

Training mobile employees is not without difficulties. Here are the main obstacles encountered:

• Lack of time : Field interventions leave little room for long training courses.
• Limited access to digital tools : Without a fixed desk or computer, learning must be mobile.
• Content that is too theoretical : Training courses that are disconnected from the reality on the ground are quickly abandoned.
• Resistance to change : Adopting new methods or technologies can take time.

Fortunately, solutions exist to get around these obstacles.

🔧 What technical skills should be preferred?

Needs vary by profession, but certain skills are becoming essential for all field teams :

• 🔧 Mastery of digital tools: Mobile applications, business software (CRM, ERP), real-time data management.
• 🛠 Diagnosis and problem solving : Quickly identify anomalies and apply the right procedures.
• 📈 Data Management and Reporting : Collect, analyze and transmit field information.
• ⚖️ Knowledge of standards and regulations : Compliance with safety regulations and quality standards.
• 🔊 Communication and customer relationships : Explain interventions, manage complaints.
• ⏳ Time and priority management : Plan interventions, manage unforeseen events.

How to effectively train your field teams?

Here are concrete approaches to adapt training to their reality:

1. Promote digestible content and mobility training : Short modules (5 to 10 minutes) accessible on a smartphone allow you to learn without disrupting work.
   ✨ Example: a delivery person optimizes his trips thanks to an explanatory video between two deliveries.
2. Organize practical workshops and video tutorial formats : Real-life situations facilitate the assimilation of skills.
   ✨ Example: a sales simulation in a store to test different customer approaches.
3. Set up a mentoring system : Experienced employees guide new hires.
   ✨ Example: a senior technician accompanies a junior to introduce him to a new tool.
4. Ensure regular follow-up and feedback : Using quizzes, progress reports and field evaluations allows you to adjust training courses.
5. Integrating training into corporate culture: Valuing trained employees motivates all teams.
   ✨ Example: awarding internal badges or certifications for each skill acquired.
6. Leveraging gamification to increase engagement : Adding challenges, rankings, or rewards boosts participation.
   ✨ Example: an interactive game to learn good customer service practices or an inter-team challenge.
   

Measuring the impact of training

Investing in training is not enough: its effectiveness must be evaluated. Several indicators can be used to measure results:

• Operational performance: Improvement of intervention times, reduction of errors.
• Customer satisfaction : More positive reviews, fewer complaints.
• Employee engagement : Active participation in training courses.
• Increase in skills : Certificates obtained, progression of mastery levels.
• Return on investment (ROI) : Productivity gains compared to the cost of training.

As you will have understood, strengthen the technical skills of field teams, is investing in the long-term performance of the company. Appropriate training improves productivity, reduces errors, and enhances the customer experience.