Technology is redefining many industries in more ways than we can even begin to imagine. New concepts and their potential applications are getting discovered every passing day. As technology becomes more and more advanced, the e-commerce industry is moving with it.

E-commerce stores are continuously growing and providing more advanced ways to relate to their customers. With the evolving technologies and their multiple benefits, many businesses have been adapting them into offering promotional offers with the sole purpose of enticing new customers and keeping the old ones loyal. If you want to create, sell or distribute your online services, you will need a platform with strong eCommerce features. Therefore, there are several things you need to consider to stay relevant in this new digital era.

So which technologies exactly are leading the peak in shaping the e-commerce landscape today? This article will highlight a few of the leading trendsetters and find out what ripples they are causing.

With thousands of currencies all over the world, the introduction of a decentralized currency was one of the greatest news the e-commerce industry could ever receive. Blockchain has streamlined the online payment process by ensuring that there's a single digital space where transactions take place and that the issue of currency exchanges is a thing of the past. People can carry out online transactions freely without interference from governments, the hustle of exchange rates and the fear of lack of transparency. It is very easy to keep track of a transaction information since everything is carried out in the digital space. So many people have begun carrying out transactions using cryptocurrencies like the Bitcoin due to the increased level of transparency. Business owners enjoy this technology since it has broadened their market coverage and increased profitability.

This is the ability to allow customers to make purchases with just a single click. With this, there is easier check out of goods since customers get to skip the cart and go directly to checkout. The good news is, this is no longer available to Amazon customers only since their patent expired last year. Shopify, Stripe and other companies have also jumped on the bandwagon enabling their customers to enjoy this amazing technology. This new technology has not only brought about higher conversion rates but also repeat customer purchases. The one click check out is good for business since the efficient check out process enhances profitability since more goods will be purchased by the clients.

Voice shopping can best be described as making purchases using smart speakers. This practice is becoming common every day but most people are not aware that it has been available for quite some time now. Today, a number of homes already have these speakers and the number is expected to grow rapidly over the years. Amazon’s Echo has especially dominated the voice shopping market competition but other players are slowly catching up. In a few years, voice shopping is expected to dominate the e-commerce industry and this can be attributed to technology.

AR technology allows consumers to interact with products virtually. It allows the consumers to visualize and imagine what owning a particular product might actually feel like. It gives customers the chance to experiment with technology. A great example is IKEA Place that allows the customer to virtually put furniture in their home and imagine the end result through their phones. With this kind of technology in place, search capability is enhanced enabling customers to search and purchase products that perfectly suits their needs.

So many sites have chatbots to enable them to interact with their customers efficiently. In the past, these chatbots were not as effective as they are now. In recent times, chatbots have become more human-like and super-fast in their responses. This means that customer service in these platforms is top notch. Recently, chatbots have been enhanced to have the quickest responses and to analyze and store a lot of vital information. Lately, many of these bots are becoming even more efficient and smart, by adapting to different languages and offering instant translated communication. Companies can quickly obtain information from the customers, analyze the information and come up with the best strategies to perfectly align the best support, services, and products with customer needs.

These tools enhance the relationships between businesses and their customers. A more efficient and fluid user experience translates to profit, and profit is the primary business of an e-commerce store. Technology has therefore played a huge role in reshaping the e-commerce space, and will only continue to do so. Advancement in technology enables businesses to come up with the best methods to suit their customers' needs. No one knows what the future holds but it does seem pretty bright.

Rilind Elezaj is an experienced a Digital Marketing Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Rilind possesses a strong entrepreneurial mindset and has devoted his career to enhancing the sphere of digital marketing. In his methodological approach, Rilind integrates web development and other digital marketing solutions to create hybrid strategies that bring the best results.

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How technology is redefining user experiences

Throughout October, the Go1 Team have been working on a range of new features and improvements that will help to improve the learning experience of all of our customers and their learners.

Our Go1 Product webinars take place every month and cover everything you need to know about the latest feature available on the platform, including a Q&A session where you can ask any questions you might have around anything to do with Go1.

We understand that not everyone is always able to make it to our webinars, so we have recording available below so that you can catchup on all of the details, and share with your team.


Webinar Catchup: GO1Platform October Updates

In our October webinar, we walk you through the following updates:

New Recommendations for Learners feature: Available when you enable “Suggested Courses for You” within your portal settings.

Use the improved booking flow to enrol in a course with events

Our use of in-app messages alerting you to new features released

The New Early Access Program; running for 12 months. In the program, we will give you information on what features are coming in the next few months with the option to trial them. If you are interested in being part of the Early Access Program; Join here. 

Webinar catchup: Go1 Platform October updates

Great customer service is important in all industries. Remember, 80% of customers believe the experience a company provides is as important as their product or service, while 67% of customers are willing to pay more to receive a great customer service experience. 

The banking industry is no exception. According to The Financial Brand, one of the primary emphases within the banking industry is “removing friction from the customer journey.” 61% of surveyed organizations rank this task in their top 3 industry trends, up from 54% last year. What's more, 72% want to enhance the digital experience for customers. As such, improving the customer experience appears to be more important than ever before in the banking industry.

On top of this, the banking industry faces a variety of challenges, from regulatory pressure, technological updates, and legacy systems, to competitor growth and restive customer base challenges. Plus, the industry will also continue to implement new strategies to enhance growth.

Experts predict customer expectations will increase, making it more critical to provide excellent service and support. In fact, 71% of banking executives believe that positive experiences in other sectors mean customers now expect more from their banking provider. In other words, if your business is part of the banking industry, enhancing your customer service should be your top priority.

With this in mind, we'll analyze how to improve customer service in the banking industry. We'll start by setting the scene with the current state of customer service in the banking industry, before moving on to look at proven methods for improvement. 

The state of customer service in the banking industry

When you think of visiting a bank, an A+ customer service experience might not always be front-of-mind. For banks, reversing this perception is a major challenge. 

To put this in context, as of 2020, just 29% of consumers trust their bank to look after their long-term financial wellbeing. This is down from 43% in 2018. Similarly, Lightico finds that customer satisfaction rates in the banking industry have fallen by more than 30% since 2012.

In addition, 69% of customers who plan to leave their bank say it was due to poor service rather than poor products, while 64% feel their bank’s mobile app does not allow them to solve a customer service question quickly — if at all.

Perhaps most alarmingly, McKinsey estimates that 10-40% of bank revenues could be lost by 2025 if customer experience gaps are not addressed.  

Accordingly, Forrester finds that improving the customer experience (33%) is the top driver of organizational change in the banking industry, beating growing revenue (32%) and reducing costs (32%). 

So, how can banks reverse these trends and improve the customer experience? We'll examine seven proven methods for improving customer service in the banking industry. 

Implementing the right methods will make a dramatic difference when it comes to improving customer service in banks. In turn, this will help to attract and retain valued customers in a fiercely competitive market.

With your employees on the front line of supporting customers, providing your staff with the necessary resources to effectively and efficiently meet customers’ needs is critical to your organization’s success. 

While chatbots and AI solutions are becoming increasingly important in the banking sector, nothing quite beats the personal touch of an excellent staff member. According to J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, a majority of survey respondents (63%) still prefer one-on-one personal conversations with bank representatives, with only 37% favoring chatbots or text message (SMS) communications. 

For example, if a customer approaches a bank employee with a question, but that individual doesn’t have the correct answer or a way of finding it, customer satisfaction diminishes along with the employee’s self-confidence. Instead of leaving your staff scrambling, empower them. Make sure your employees know where to turn for quick and accurate answers, and give them the technology required to search for up-to-date information.

It's also worth investing in learning and development for your staff so they can become familiar with your specific bank's policies and procedures while also increasing their general financial knowledge. 

When you equip your employees with the right tools for success, you’ll notice a stark change in your workers’ level of self-confidence and morale. Empower your staff to handle customer interactions in any scenario, whether over the phone, via email, or face-to-face.

Staying compliant with current laws and regulations while meeting ever-changing customer demand is perhaps one of the toughest challenges for the banking industry. By implementing the latest, most advanced financial technology, you can accomplish both goals. 

Not only does innovative technology boost your support team's efficiency, but it also offers customers streamlined ways to perform various tasks. Combined, you’ll see an improved level of customer satisfaction and higher generated revenue.

Increasing security with eye scanning, voice or fingerprint identification, and other forms of biometrics.

Selecting a more advanced option for mobile payments.

Installing video technology to personalize the customer’s drive-through experience.

Enhancing marketing using social media platforms to target customers in different geographic locations.

Other than writing cheques, using an ATM card, and making deposits and withdrawals, a lot of people are not literate about banking, especially the younger generation and lower-income customers. However, this also applies to many middle-class bankers too.

Although it's a relatively new concept, some of the most successful banks and credit unions discovered the advantages of educating customers. Several incredible programs already exist for this purpose. For example, to teach young people what they need to know, the Junior Achievement program is fantastic.

Many banks and other financial institutions have also taken advantage of social media like YouTube and Instagram. In doing this, they're making access to financial education tools more accessible and in turn, helping their customers and potential customers become more knowledgeable.

As customers become more knowledgeable about the banking industry and its various services, their satisfaction improves. Why? Because they feel more empowered to make good, informed decisions about their finances.

For more insights on improving your financial literacy, check out this course on Financial Literacy for Managers. 

Following the recent recession, small businesses want a bank or credit union that offers more than just loans. Instead, they want to build a long-term partnership with the bank or credit union they use. While lending money plays a large part in what your company does, you also need to become an advisor.

Along with providing your customers with a trusted source for information and advice, this fee-based service gives you a second revenue stream.

Another way to improve customer service is to develop customized solutions. Banks and credit unions are not the only ones noticing an increasingly competitive banking industry. Customers see this as well, making them realize the financial institution they choose should offer something unique. 

For example, 76% of customers now expect an omnichannel experience while 59% of customers expect on-demand, anywhere anytime customer service.  

Customers know that the best financial institutions will take measures to improve their services, technology, and programs in response to stiff competition. This means that their expectations are even higher than before.

Creating customized financial solutions demonstrates that your business cares about every customer and will do everything possible to ensure each individual's satisfaction.

Beyond customizing solutions, excellent training can teach your staff how to make the customer experience more personal.

In a recent survey by Business Wire, 72% of respondents rated personalization as “highly important” in the banking industry. Despite this, there is a major disconnect: 78% of respondents would continue using their bank if they received personalized support, but just 44% of banks are actually delivering it. 

These findings should come as a major wake-up call to banks — offer more personalized customer experiences, or get left behind. 

Personalization often comes down to paying close attention to detail, such as learning customers’ names and businesses.

Imagine if “Mr. Smith” visits his bank every Friday to deposit money for his “ABC” company. Walking in the door and having a receptionist or teller greet him by name or perhaps ask, “Is ‘ABC’ staying busy this holiday season?” will go a long way to improving customer service and satisfaction.

No matter what strategies you implement to improve customer service in banks, you’ll need the right employee training to enable your new solutions. With Go1, you can access courses from the world’s top training providers on nearly any training topic, to help your employees provide customers with the best service. 

For more insights, be sure to subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. Or, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help with your team’s learning needs.

we'll analyze how to improve customer service in the banking industry. We'll start by setting the scene with the current state of customer service in the banking industry, before moving on to look at proven methods for improvement.

How to improve customer service in the banking industry

We'll analyze how to improve customer service in the banking industry. We'll start by setting the scene with the current state of customer service in the banking industry, before moving on to look at proven methods for improvement. 

Multiple safety risks exist for people working in the construction industry regardless of their exact job description.

Whether excavating a site, performing demolition, or painting the exterior of a business, construction workers perform various tasks. Many of these put them in potential danger. Along with standing on scaffolding and using power tools, some workers deal with hazardous materials.

If you work in construction, training is essential. In addition to the OSHA Outreach Training program, you should take advantage of online training to avoid injury or worse while on the job.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), founded back in 1971, helps reduce injuries and deaths in the workplace through proper training and set standards.

Ongoing OSHA training proves beneficial for many different industries. However, it’s vital for the construction industry considering it accounts for more than 20 percent of all annual worker fatalities. Proper training enhances your health and safety, as well as the people you work with on different job sites.

As for the type of OSHA training needed, there are two options for the Outreach program, one is 10 hours and the other is 30 hours. Whether for fall protection, personal protective equipment, general health and safety provisions, both of the OSHA Outreach Training programs are exceptional.

What makes this program unique is all trainers are OSHA-Authorized. What that means is you learn from someone with in-depth knowledge and expertise about work-related injuries and deaths within the construction industry.

For optimal training, you should take the OSHA program in conjunction with available online courses and on-site employer instruction. Together, they cover and support everything you need to know to remain safe and healthy while working construction.

There are multiple types of construction jobs such as engineering, carpentry, roofing, landscape gardening, electrical, plumbing, masonry, paving, glass work, machinery installation, and more. In fact, some maintenance also classifies as “construction” work.

According to OSHA’s regulations under 29 CFR 1910, section 1910.12(b), construction work includes any “work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating.”

Since the founding of OSHA, the number of workplace deaths has dropped by a staggering 66 percent. That alone shows how valuable this organization is and why its outreach program is so vital. Realizing the fatality rate in construction is three times more than any other industry, training is even more critical.

Although OSHA doesn’t mandate its outreach training program, sometimes, the Department of Labor, jurisdictions, states, and individual employers require construction workers to complete it.

While this program covers a vast range of topics, it doesn’t include every requirement associated with OSHA’s standards. As mentioned, you can supplement this program by taking several online training courses from a reputable source.

Whether completing the 10- or 30-hour program, this is an excellent way to create a foundation on which to build your training. If you own a construction classified business, OSHA Outreach Training is vital.

This unique program will help you create, monitor, and control your company’s internal program. While not required, this program should be an essential part of your overall training.

Following are the current states that require OSHA Outreach Training for construction workers on specific jobs.

Connecticut – Partially or fully state-funded public building projects valued at $100,000 or more.

Florida – Projects under a private or Miami-Dade County public contract valued at $1 million or higher.

Massachusetts – Public sector projects, regardless of value.

Missouri – Municipal or state public works projects.

Nevada – 10-hour Outreach Training for employees and 30=hour training for supervisors.

New Hampshire – Public works projects valued more than $100,000.

New York – Public works projects over $250,000.

Pennsylvania – 10-hour training for construction employees and 30-hour training for supervisors of demolition work within the Philadelphia city limits or licensed contractors working on permitted projects.

Rhode Island – Municipal and state construction projects valued at $100,000 or higher.

West Virginia – Public improvement projects costing over $500,000.

Falls – Statistics show falls accounted for 34 percent of all construction-related deaths. In those two years alone, more than 800 people lost their lives due to falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, and other working surfaces.

Caught In Between – These hazards, which include compression, crushing, squeezing, or pinching someone between objects, accounted for 10 percent of construction site fatalities.

Struck-By – Construction workers hit by flying debris, unsecured loads, and other airborne items was another significant construction-related safety issue. This hazard accounted for 24 percent of fatalities. This risk can impact all construction workers.

 Electrocution – This risk accounted for 11 percent of deaths. Licensed electricians and other workers dealing with electricity need proper training. The OSHA Outreach program and online courses help tremendously.

At the same time, Go1, a leading Learning Management System platform, has incredible resources to further enhance your safety and health on the job.

We invite you to visit our site to identify courses you can complete and implement as part of your company’s training program. Keep production high and costs down by providing your employees what they need to stay safe and healthy on the job.

Do I need OSHA training for construction work?

For devotees of Microsoft Office, it is almost time for our triennial event: the unveiling of new versions of Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and the rest of our “can’t work without ‘em” office apps.

Except…this year is different.  In 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 we watched as the folks in Redmond released the new version of Microsoft Office, and, depending on your level of enthusiasm for the new features, we either rushed out to upgrade or decided to wait another three years.  What makes Office 2019 different is two things:

There aren’t very many new features, and

You probably already have them (if you use Office 365)

You see, back in 2015 Microsoft decided to be more like popular cloud-based apps such as Salesforce or Google Apps by updating their apps on a more regular basis.  For Windows 10 this meant monthly security updates and semi-annual feature updates.  For Microsoft Office, this meant that they would push hard to encourage people to use their subscription-based Office 365 product, and that they would reward their Office 365 customers with monthly updates.

So when Excel 2016 for example was officially released in September 2015, it was just the first version that Office 365 subscribers would see.  Since then there have been 30 updates (almost but not quite monthly), which have added new features.  Some of the updates were small and unnoticed by most people.  Some were only useful to power users or people with touch screens.  A few were more broadly valuable, including improved abilities to share and co-edit spreadsheets, or the ability to add 3D models and SVG graphics.

If, however, you do not get your Office through Office 365, then your version of Excel 2016 is that same version that was released three years ago, without any of the intervening feature updates.

In October Microsoft is expected to officially take the latest versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access, along with all the feature updates that Office 365 users have already received, and call it Office 2019.  So if you are an Office 365 user, you’ll see very little difference.

If you are NOT an Office 365 user, and your organization does plan to move from the “traditional” version of Excel 2016 to 2019, here are some of the new features you can look out for:

Improved graphics:  Excel (and other Office apps) now support SVG image files, which can be scaled to any size without looking fuzzy, as well as 3D models.  The 3D models option sounds like something engineers might use, but really it’s great for clipart – you can grab a 3D model from Microsoft’s library at Remix3D.com and then tilt or rotate it to just the right angle to fit your need.

Ink & Stylus support:  On computers with a touchscreen or stylus you can draw freehand directly on your spreadsheet (or document in Word) using a variety of virtual pens and pencils.  You can convert your sketches to shapes if needed, and your customized pens will show up in any Office app.

Improved sharing and co-authoring:  It’s now very easy to share a spreadsheet from inside Microsoft Excel, which can include the ability to allow someone else to co-edit the spreadsheet with you at the same time.  This requires a cloud storage solution such as Microsoft’s OneDrive, SharePoint, Groups, or Teams, but can also work with some third-party solutions such as Dropbox.

New Charts, Functions, and Features: There are a handful of new charts and functions, the most useful of which might be the Stock Quote function.  A few new features can be handy, including the autosave feature for cloud-hosted files, and the Microsoft Translator tool to work with different languages.

Overall there is no big “wow” feature added to Excel this time, just lots of smaller but solid new tools and features that help to improve the world’s most popular number-crunching app.

For an overview of how to use all the new features found in Excel 2019, check out the “What’s New in Excel 2019” training course from Bigger Brains, available now in Go1 Premium. Contact Go1 today to get started!

Chip Reaves is the founder of Bigger Brains, an award-winning eLearning company, and has been an IT consultant for 30+ years. Formerly the founder of the worldwide Computer Troubleshooters franchise, Chip has been named one of the top 150 most influential people in small business IT and is a frequent speaker and contributor on Office 365 and Microsoft topics.

One of the most significant benefits of earning a first aid certificate is you can use it virtually anywhere. Whether at home, at work, or out in public, there’s always a need for first aid skills when someone sustains an injury or becomes ill.

In high-risk work environments, such as chemical processing, manufacturing, and construction, injuries are common, thereby making first aid training indispensable. However, a first aid certification is equally valuable for other professionals, such as daycare providers, nursing home employees, school bus drivers, babysitters, coaches, teachers, and even office workers. 

With a first aid certification, you have the chance to make a difference, dramatically reducing the risk of permanent injury and perhaps even saving someone’s life. In fact, a recent report released by St John’s Ambulance found that around 140,000 people die each year from incidents where first aid could have potentially saved their lives.

So, we’ve decided to dig deeper into the topic, examining how long first aid certificates last. We'll also explain the different kinds of first aid certificates and what they entail.

Before we go into further detail, here’s a quick summary. 

For starters, earning a first aid certificate means you can help other people —  and even animals — who are in need. Unfortunately, more than 140,000 people die each year from incidents where basic first aid knowledge could have been life-saving, underscoring how critical first aid training is. 

Although the exact topics covered depend on the type of course you take, for the most part, a first aid certification will teach you how to respond appropriately to cuts, burns, allergic reactions, and heart attacks while waiting for first responders to show up on the scene. You should also learn how to administer CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

That’s not all, as the American Red Cross suggests that a high-quality first aid course should teach you how to respond to the following situations: 

They add to this, explaining that “when you understand first aid, you'll gain the ability to help those in need…you'll learn how to respond to specific situations, which will help you care for people in crisis as they wait for medical professionals to arrive. This gives them the best opportunity for a positive outcome – and gives you the opportunity to change someone's life for the better.”

Although multiple organisations provide first aid training via in-person classes, these days, you can also learn everything you need to know to earn your first aid certification online. You can also gain first aid certifications through a mixture of online learning and in-person instruction, thanks to blended learning. 

To summarise, having your first aid certificate allows you to take the correct course of action to yield a positive outcome in an emergency. Even seemingly simple injuries can quickly turn deadly. Without someone around who knows how to respond, an incident can swiftly escalate into a fatality. Therefore, basic first aid knowledge is an essential and potentially life-saving skill. 

In general, there are four types of first aid certification. These are: 

As the name suggests, this is the everyday variety of first aid that most non-medical professionals would require. 

Healthline Australia explains that this certification typically teaches the 'DRSABCD' first aid method. To remember this method, think Doctors ABCD. 

DRSABCD stands for: danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR, and defibrillation. This acronym is a checklist of the steps you should take if someone requires first aid 

According to Healthline Australia, you should take the following steps when following the DRSABCD first aid method: 

Danger: Check the area for any immediate danger. Do not put yourself or others at risk. 

Response: Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze their shoulder, etc.

Send for help: If there is no response, call emergency services or get someone else to. Never leave the patient unattended. 

Airway: Check if the patient’s mouth and throat are obstructed. If something is obstructing their airway, roll the patient onto their side and clear the airway.

Breathing: Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds.

CPR: Start CPR - 30 chest compressions followed by two breaths. Continue CPR until the patient starts breathing or until help arrives.

Defibrillation: As soon as possible, attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient and follow the voice prompts.

For a more detailed insight into this method, see St John’s Ambulance’s DRSABCD Action Plan Fact Sheet. 

This knowledge is vital, as one survey found that in the event of a child choking, 53% of parents would try to get the object out using their fingers. However, placing fingers into a child’s throat can cause further damage. Additionally, a 2009 survey found that 82% of UK parents with young children would not know how to respond if their child started choking, was burned, or even stopped breathing.

An Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) first aid certification teaches the most up-to-date CPR technique. ACLS certification targets people in the medical field, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists.

According to the American Heart Association, an ACLS certification is most suitable for “healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies and for personnel in emergency response.” 

Healthcare professionals who help deliver babies require a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification. There are two options to gain this certification: self-paced online training and in-person classes taught by an expert instructor.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that an NPR certification “conveys an evidence-based approach to care of the newborn at birth and facilitates effective team-based care for healthcare professionals who care for newborns at the time of delivery. NRP utilises a blended learning approach, which includes online testing and hands-on case-based simulation/debriefing that focus on critical leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.​​”

PALS stands for Pediatric Advanced Life Support. This first aid certification is for medical personnel and healthcare professionals who work with pediatric emergencies.

The American Heart Association notes that: “PALS is geared towards healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years.”

How long does a first aid certificate last?

Depending on the type of qualification, your first aid certificate will be valid for different lengths of time. Most of the time, a first aid certificate is valid for two to three years. However, it pays to be aware and double-check how long your specific certification lasts.

ACLS: An Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification usually takes one day to complete and requires renewal after two years.

Basic First Aid and CPR: A basic online first aid training certification takes roughly an hour to finish. This certificate lasts for three years.

NRP: As a self-paced program, there’s no completion time. An NRP certification lasts for two years.

PALS: Most PALs certification courses take approximately two days to complete. In two years, you’ll need to renew your PALS status.

The benefits of first aid certification are manifold, ranging from saving lives to increasing patient comfort and encouraging healthy living. 

Despite this, the Red Cross found in 2017 that fewer than 5% of Australians have first aid training —  one of the lowest first aid training rates in the world. As a result, when faced with an emergency 44% of Australians said they panicked, while 46% didn’t know what to do. 

Accordingly, a recent study found that 88% of Australians believe first aid training should be compulsory in high school. Similarly, 70% support teaching first aid as part of the driver’s license application process.

When completing online first aid training, a board-certified doctor, medical professional, or certified instructor will help develop every course. Depending on which certification you complete, the developer may also present the training.

Something else to consider is when you complete a first aid certification online from a reputable platform, you can retake your test as often as needed. Many courses also include animations or models that make learning more engaging and enjoyable.

To understand how valuable a first aid certification is, it's worth reading a few of the millions of stories involving real-life first aid heroes who put their knowledge and skills to work.

As the Seton Blog puts it: “many fatalities resulting from accidents and emergency situations result from lack of immediate medical treatment. First aid doesn’t just facilitate recovery. It helps save lives.”

Online first aid certification with Go1 

Hopefully, you will never have to use your first aid skills. However, knowing you have these skills should an emergency occur can offer tremendous peace of mind. 

As such, Go1 offers a massive library of courses to help you earn your first aid certification, ranging from this course on basic first aid to this one on first aid for medical emergencies and many, many more.

To access these courses and more, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help your team’s learning needs. Or, subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. 

You might be wondering, 'how long is a first aid certificate valid for?'. We've created this guide to explain the different types of first aid certificates and how long they last.

How long do first aid certificates last?

We know that strong employee training and development is key to a company’s success and growth.

However, when a business expands its operations across multiple countries, maintaining consistent training standards can be challenging.

With global teams, you need to have an effective global training strategy, to make sure the learning needs of your employees are consistent and in line with the company’s specific needs. This is why it’s a good idea to standardise employee learning and development through consistent global training.

How can this be achieved? By investing in one training provider, instead of various learning tools and courses across the market.

These days, technology has made this a whole lot easier for employers, allowing training to be effectively coordinated and deployed for global teams. Let’s look at this now.

When we refer to ‘global training’ it’s likely that your company’s training content and strategies have been created for a diverse audience, rather than a small and specific demographic of workers.

After all, your learners probably speak different languages, come from different cultures, and live in different time zones.

eLearning professional Nikos Andriotis, says that when designing training materials for a global workforce, it’s important to make sure the content and development strategies are “attuned to address the learning needs of all learners.”

“This is the point where issues arise – designing effective training and development approaches for a diverse workforce,” he says.

Andriotis believes that the first thing you need to do is implement one learning approach for all topics that will apply to all regions. This means your course delivery and design will follow one standard method – online learning, for example. Moreover, all courses will use one language and will all have the same content.

“This approach makes content creation easier and less costly because a team from global headquarters can take care of the entire training process,” Andriotis explains.

The benefits of consistent global training

Companies that employ a multinational workforce need global training and development strategies to be an integral part of the business.

One of the key benefits of consistent global training is that it helps employers to build up and engage with a solid talent pool that stretches right across the world. Implementing a global training strategy also allows organisations to address the key development needs of the business while still remaining sensitive to the specific learning needs and challenges of the local markets.

And with the same training program in place worldwide, you can be sure that your company is achieving consistent standards in management, service, customer experience, and employee development.

Susan Bowles, Director of Client Strategies for Local Concept, has helped hundreds of clients launch global initiatives smoothly.

“Developing training for global audiences should not be painful. It should be a smooth process,” she says.

“A global training initiative can be developed smoothly and successfully with the right information, good planning, smart resourcing, and making informed decisions.”

Using online learning for global training

As said above, using one learning approach will greatly help to simplify course delivery and design for a global workforce. And online training is a great example of this.

“When it comes to global training and development strategies, an LMS solves issues on location, time, and even language,” Andriotis says.

Using an LMS such as the Go1 platform will help you save huge amounts on employee training costs, moving all your learning content online instead of spending a fortune on different trainers, venue hires, catering and transport worldwide.

If you’ve recently expanded your company’s operations across multiple countries, and are looking for consistent training for your global workforce, take a look at Go1’s online training courses today.

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Staff training is one of the most important aspects of running a business. Learn how to effectively train your global workforce using e-learning!

How to achieve consistent global training

When it comes to online versus classroom training, it is important to recognize each has a unique environment. There are many additional differences you should know before you select the right option for your organization and employees. As far as which learning opportunity is better, they both have advantages and disadvantages although the consensus among businesses is that e-learning has a competitive edge.

Most people know what to expect from in-person training, whereas that is not always the case with individuals who participate in e-learning. After all, the experience of a classroom setting starts in preschool. Especially if your company has never offered online training, you can anticipate your employees having a significant number of questions. The best way to prepare them for e-learning and to help them feel excited about the online opportunity is to put together information and instructions that address their questions and concerns.

If you have a large organization, consider holding an orientation for new hires and existing employees to go over the benefits of taking online training courses. At that time, you can also discuss the required technology, provide examples of the topics available, give them information on resources they can turn to for support, and so on.

Another difference between classroom and online training has to do with support. People who train in a classroom setting have someone they can turn to immediately when they need help. With online courses, your employees may have to wait a few days for support. As an example, if you have workers using e-learning at home, and they complete a course on Friday, they would need to wait until Monday to get answers or assistance with a problem.

You can address this issue in two ways. First, make sure someone on your leadership team staffs an on-call support line. Second, choose a method of e-learning on a platform that includes support as part of the overall pricing structure. The same goes for receiving feedback. You need a well-designed online training source that includes instructor feedback or provides reporting to the participant’s manager.

Compared to a classroom environment, online learning is more student-driven. In other words, people who take courses online as a way of developing or honing skills and knowledge want to learn. Before taking the e-learning route, it would help to conduct an analysis of each department within your organization to identify the level of interest and needs. Make sure you choose workers who are willing to better themselves and their careers for online training.

Between the two options, online training requires more self-discipline from participants. Although most courses take an hour or less to complete, your employees must still manage their time correctly. If you have a staff eager to learn and willing to dedicate a portion of their day to learning, online training is an outstanding option.

On the other hand, if the people within your organization you want to put through training tend to procrastinate or show zero interest, a classroom setting might be the better choice. Of course, if your organization consists of both types of employees, you could develop a program that includes classroom and online training.

When providing employees with in-person training, most companies cram as much information as possible into a single session. Although some participants will sail through with no problem, others may feel overloaded with details, making it difficult if not impossible to digest the training material.