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Why is upskilling essential for your business?
Investing in upskilling allows you to:
✅ Close the talent gap by developing skills in-house.
✅ Improving competitiveness through better trained teams.
✅ Retain employees by offering them opportunities for development.
Instead of recruiting to fill gaps, training existing teams is becoming a winning strategy.
💡 Upskilling not only prepares employees on the ground for the challenges of tomorrow: it becomes a real driver of productivity, satisfaction and growth for the entire company.
What is upskilling?
THEupskilling, or skill development, refers to the process by which employees develop new skills to better meet the current and future requirements of their profession, often in response to technological changes.
Contrary to Reskilling, which prepares for a new profession, Upskilling reinforces existing skills to optimize efficiency in the current position.
This approach emerged in response to the acceleration of digital and sectoral transformations. For example:
🔧 A maintenance technician can be trained in the use of connected sensors to diagnose faults remotely.
💼 One Land seller can learn to master CRM tools for more effective customer follow-up.
→ This increase in skills does not only benefit employees: it also results in increased productivity and a tangible improvement in the quality of service.
💡 The origins of upskilling: the impact of digitalization on jobs in the field
The digital transformation of businesses is changing the way people work, including for field teams. The integration of mobile applications, automated management tools, IoT (Internet of Things) or even artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way in which tasks are completed on a daily basis.
Take the example of the logistics sector: 📦 An order picker equipped with a mobile terminal can access the status of stocks in real time, optimize its routes and reduce picking errors. Without adequate training, these new tools can become a brake rather than a performance driver.
Upskilling ensures a smooth transition to these technologies, making employees more efficient and confident in the face of innovation.
🌟 The benefits of upskilling for your employees
Upskilling is not only an asset for the company: it is also a powerful lever for personal development. By strengthening their skills, employees gain confidence and reduce the stress associated with new ways of working.
For field teams, this means:
- 🚀 More autonomy : thanks to strengthened skills, employees manage their missions more fluidly.
- 🎖️ A feeling of valorization : being offered training opportunities shows the recognition of the company.
- 📈 Better prospects for development : a trained employee becomes an ideal candidate for increased responsibilities or more varied missions.
Well-trained teams are also more motivated, which is directly reflected in their productivity: an employee who masters his tools works more effectively, with fewer errors and less customer dissatisfaction.
How do you succeed in your upskilling program?
An effective skills development program is based on four essential pillars to ensure a lasting impact on field teams:
1 - Identify the needs of your employees
It all starts with a precise assessment of the current know-how of employees. This analysis makes it possible to identify the gaps between existing and required skills to achieve business goals.
To do this, combine self-assessments, one-on-one interviews, and performance analyses. By involving the teams in this diagnostic phase, you encourage their adherence to the program.
2 - Offer flexible formats
For field teams, whose schedules may be irregular, it is essential to opt for a vocational training accessible and adapted to their daily lives. Give preference to short and modular formats, available on mobile.
💡 The microlearning, for example, allows you to learn in a few minutes a day, between two interventions or trips. Incorporating podcasts, infographics, or fact sheets can also make learning more engaging.
3 - Encourage continuous learning
The acquisition of new skills should be gradual and stimulating. To do this, rely on interactive formats: quizzes, immersive videos, immersive videos, simulations, practical cases... These approaches make learning more concrete and facilitate memorization.
💡 Les LMS (Learning Management System) platforms play a key role in personalizing access to content and offering courses adapted to the level of each individual. Also, encourage peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to enrich the experience.
4 - Track progress
Measuring the evolution of skills is essential to assess the effectiveness of the program and to adjust it if necessary. Use performance indicators clear, such as the module completion rate, assessment results, or the application of skills in the field.
💡 Regular feedback, in the form of interviews or surveys, makes it possible to verify that employees really feel more competent and confident in their missions.
Three concrete levers for an effective upskilling strategy in business
For upskilling to truly transform the performance of field teams, it is essential to go beyond theoretical training. By integrating skills development into daily practices and the company's overall strategy, the results become tangible.
1 - Integrating upskilling into corporate culture 🌱
Upskilling should not be limited to one-off sessions. For it to be successful, it must be part of the company's learning culture.
How do you get there?
- Encourage curiosity by promoting training initiatives.
- Offer slots dedicated to the acquisition of new skills.
- Establish weekly “learning hours” to allow everyone to train at their own pace.
2 - Promote on-the-job training (AFEST) 🛠️
THEWorkplace Training Action (AFEST) is a particularly powerful lever for field teams. This method consists of learning directly on the job, by carrying out missions supervised by a tutor or an expert.
💪 Concrete example: A technician can be trained in a new tool by being accompanied by a peer during its first uses. This approach Anchors achievements in professional reality, making learning more concrete and sustainable.
3 - Align upskilling with business goals 🎯
To maximize the impact of a program ofUpskilling, it is essential that it is in line with strategic challenges of the company. For example, if the goal is to improve customer satisfaction, training may include:
🤝 Returns management
📊 The use of CRM tools
💬 The improvement of interpersonal communication
💡 This consistency ensures that each skill developed benefits both the employee and the overall performance.
The importance of manager engagement in upskilling
The involvement of managers is crucial for the success of an upskilling program. The latter should not only support training initiatives, but also play an active role in identifying skills needs and monitoring the progress of their teams.
By being “upskilling champions”, managers can create an environment conducive to continuous learning and improved performance.
How can managers get involved?
- Encouraging participation : Managers must motivate their teams to participate actively in training programs and value everyone's efforts.
- Provide constructive feedback : Regular and kind feedback helps employees identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
- Act as a model : By taking part in training courses themselves, managers set an example and reinforce the learning culture within the company.
