Collaborative technology that automates the distribution of the latest job training materials solves an ongoing problem: access to information in order to ensure your team is on the same page at the same time. Some of these new platforms even allow trainees to make notes or comment on the materials, making the training process even more responsive and interactive. And it sure beats sitting in a conference room all day, listening to your manager drone on about the best way to fold a burrito.

What are some specific ways that technology is improving the job training process?

Pick your pace: Electronic training programs often rely on self-paced learning. The click-as-you-go format allows employees to select the courses or training exercises they need when they need them — whether it’s a 10-minute video or a 10-day course.

On-demand skill upgrades: Free, online courses like the kind offered at Khan Academy and Udemy are changing the future of education, and now their influence is spreading to job training.

For example, ALISON, a company based in Ireland, offers free, interactive education online to help people get basic workplace skills. ALISON’s most popular class is ABC IT, a 15- to 20-hour training course that teaches students the skills offered in the widely recognized International Computer Driving License² course. Employers can check the skills of those who have completed the course through flash tests with randomized questions. With no fee and attractive assessment capabilities, expect employers who are benefiting from improved worker skills to formally integrate these courses into the company’s official training policy in the future.