As product life cycles shrink, companies need to train their sales force and educate users in less time. Rapid e-learning is the term used to describe a variety of live and on-demand training that helps companies disseminate important messages or train an entire group more quickly than could ever have been accomplished with traditional methods.

Companies like Brainshark can turn simple PowerPoint slides into full training programs that can be broadcast quickly to any audience. One of their clients used the technology to train 3,000 managers on an executive compensation plan. In the past, one manager would have to fly to regional groups to deliver the message. Obviously, the cost and time savings is a tremendous asset.

BlueCross/Blue Shield of Florida used to send out e-mails to its several thousand independent agents and brokers with PowerPoint presentations attached. When the company learned that many of those e-mails were being deleted without ever being read, they knew they needed a new communication and training solution. In 2002, the company completely revamped their product line and needed to distribute a lot of information about the changes. They used the PowerPoint slide approach but added audio commentary to help explain what was being presented on screen. Reps liked this approach because they weren’t losing time traveling and sitting in classrooms all day to absorb the needed information. In fact, the method was so successful that the company is now using the same technology to educate its customers.

HR analysts expect innovations to continue in virtual classrooms and other technologies, allowing companies to create training content in a matter of days or weeks.