Blog

From Gaps to Growth: Blended Learning for Frontline Teams

Written by Laura Fornaroli | Jan 9, 2025 1:36:13 PM

Have you ever heard of blended learning before? Let’s take a step back. Frontline teams are your company’s unsung heroes. They interact with your customers, solve problems on the fly, and keep your business ticking. Yet, these critical team members frequently face a coaching gap. You expect them to deliver excellence, but the support they receive often misses the mark.

Sounds familiar?

Let’s explore why this happens, what it costs your organisation, and how a blended learning approach can bridge the gap—keeping your team skilled, engaged, and thriving.

What’s the Problem with Coaching Today?

Inconsistent coaching and training are some of the biggest challenges for organisations. A 2022 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report revealed that 74% of employees want more personalised training, yet most feel their learning needs aren’t being met.

Here are some of the most common issues:

  1. One-Size-Fits-All Training: Imagine trying to teach everyone to cook using the same recipe, whether they’re baking cakes or grilling steaks. It just doesn’t work! Generic training fails to address unique roles and individual skill gaps.

  2. No Real-Time Feedback: Think of a football coach shouting instructions after the match has ended. Without immediate feedback, employees can’t correct mistakes or refine their skills in the moment.

  3. Scalability Struggles: Coaching one person is easy. Coaching 500 across multiple locations? That’s where most organisations falter.

The result? Frustrated employees, disengaged teams, and lost opportunities for growth.

The Secret Weapon: A Blended Learning Approach

Blended learning isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer. You get the best of both worlds by combining digital microlearning (short, interactive lessons) with in-person coaching.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Digital Microlearning for Knowledge
    Imagine your team learning in bite-sized chunks while sipping their morning coffee or during a quick break. Platforms like MobieTrain allow employees to access short, engaging modules on their mobile devices directly.

    Example: A hospitality team learns how to handle customer complaints through a 5-minute interactive video.
  1. In-Person Coaching for Practice
    Once the basics are covered digitally, in-person sessions focus on applying those skills. Think of it like practising a dance routine after watching a tutorial. The theory comes to life, and the feedback is immediate.

    Example: A retail manager role-plays handling tricky customer scenarios with their team.

This combo reinforces learning, making it more memorable and actionable.

Why Blended Learning Works

Let’s break it down:

  1. It’s Personal: Employees get training tailored to their specific challenges, whether mastering upselling techniques or improving safety protocols.

  2. It’s Scalable: Digital learning ensures everyone gets the same foundational training while in-person coaching fine-tunes skills at scale.

  3. It Sticks: Studies show that learning retention increases by up to 70% when employees apply skills in real-world scenarios.

Think about it: Would you remember a manual about cycling or a day spent riding a bike with a coach? Exactly.

Pop Culture Break: Why Blended Learning is Like The Great British Bake Off

On The Great British Bake Off, contestants start by following recipe instructions (theory). However, the hands-on practice and feedback from Paul and Prue (coaching) helps them improve.

Training your team should work the same way:

  • Start with clear, accessible knowledge (the recipe).
  • Layer on practice and feedback (the coaching).
  • Celebrate their progress with encouragement (Star Baker, anyone?).

How Blended Learning Tackles Real Business Challenges

Challenge 1: High Turnover Rates
High turnover is the norm in industries like retail and hospitality. Employees often leave because they feel unsupported or lack growth opportunities.

Solution: Employees feel valued and supported by consistent digital training and personalised coaching, reducing churn.

Challenge 2: Keeping Up with Change
Frontline teams often struggle to adapt quickly, whether it’s new tech or updated processes.

Solution: Digital learning offers just-in-time training, while coaching ensures employees apply their new knowledge effectively.

Challenge 3: Boosting Customer Satisfaction
Your frontline team’s performance directly impacts customer experiences. When training is inconsistent, so is the service.

Solution: Blended learning creates confident, knowledgeable teams who deliver consistently excellent service.

Real-Life Example: How One Retailer Transformed Their Training

Take Proximus, one of Belgium’s largest retailers. With over 500 frontline employees across dozens of locations, their coaching programme was all over the place—some managers were doing a great job, but others lacked the tools to coach effectively.

By adopting a blended learning approach with MobieTrain’s coaching tool, Proximus…

  • Standardised training across all locations.
  • Provided real-time feedback through digital learning.
  • Improved customer satisfaction scores by 15% in six months.

The Role of Technology

Here’s where MobieTrain’s Coaching Tool will make you shine. It combines all the benefits of blended learning into one smooth experience:

  • Personalised coaching plans tailored to individual needs.
  • Real-time insights for managers to track progress.
  • Seamless integration with digital microlearning modules.

Wrapping Up: A Recipe for Success

Blended learning is more than just a training strategy—it’s a way to empower your frontline teams to succeed in their roles. You can create a culture of continuous improvement and engagement by addressing their challenges with the right mix of digital tools and human connection.

Ready to bake up success for your team? Let our coaching tool be your secret ingredient.
View full post