The competitive advantage of online learning to the pharmaceutical industry is hard to ignore

Here’s why...

The Covid-19 outbreak has highlighted how integral the global pharmaceutical industry is to all aspects of life. The highly reactive nature of the pharmaceutical industry means that it is ever-changing, making it vital that professionals in this area are always armed with the most relevant and up to date training and professional development opportunities.
The competitive advantage of online learning to the pharmaceutical industry is hard to ignore, here’s why: Self-paced modules delivered in bite-sized chunks improve the efficiency of learning

Microlearning, according to the Journal of Applied Psychology makes the transfer of learning 17% more efficient than traditional classroom learning¹. Online learning is typically delivered in short bursts which can be consumed at the learner’s own pace. This is particularly beneficial to professionals within the pharmaceutical industry who must work to strict deadlines and be highly flexible and reactive with their workload.
Online learning can keep up with the pace of a changing industry
As one of the most regulated industries globally, the rate at which pharmaceutical professionals require training is much greater than those in other fields. According to Ray Jiminez, Ph.D., an expert learning architect, the speed of developing and delivering online training is up to 300% faster than face-to-face training². In the pharma industry, most patents have a shelf life of fewer than 5 years and regulation is repeatedly changing. Employees, therefore, require training which can be created and consumed at an equally rapid rate.
Online learning is a value for money investment
On average, the pharma industry spends more than a billion dollars on training each year (Merck Capital Ventures)³. E-learning courses, unlike classroom courses, often only require a one-time investment and can be repurposed as frequently as desired. For large companies with thousands of employees requiring training, online learning is a much more economically viable option than traditional learning as it eliminates additional associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Time and money efficient
Unlike classroom learning, e-learning can be moulded around employee’s work schedules and performed on a self-paced basis. A study by Brandon-Hall found that e-learning requires on average 40-60% less employee time than traditional training⁴. By spending less time in training, employees can dedicate more time to their day-to-day roles, translating to higher output and ROI for the company.

The Journal of Applied Psychology (2018)

Jimenez, Ray Ph.D (2006) 3-Minute e-Learning. Monogotari Press

https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-design/reasons-to-use-elearning-in-pharmaceutical-industry

Forry, D., 2017. Brandon Hall Group Research - Brandon Hall Group. [online] Brandon Hall Group. Available at: http://www.brandonhall.com/blogs/brandon-hall-group-research-published-june-5-june-11

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At Informa Connect Life Sciences, our expertise lies in our deep insight into the industries we work with. Our knowledge of the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and agricultural industries is unparalleled. It is also reinforced by the close working relationship we have with our faculty of over 100 trainers who develop the online content. We have extensive experience delivering professional training, often in highly technical and scientific areas, to a range of clients.

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