How to Integrate AI in your Upskilling Approach

Artificial intelligence is here. If you’ve ever interacted with a chatbot, listened to a new song suggested by your music streaming service, or asked ChatGPT to write an email, you’re already using it.

One major study found that generative AI, such as image generator DALL-E, could impact 300 million jobs globally. Another analysis concluded the global economic impact of AI could reach $15.7 trillion by 2030. According to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, AI may be one of the most important technological advancements ever.

The imperative for upskilling and reskilling is increasingly pressing for both individuals and businesses, driven in part by the acceleration of AI technologies. Not only has AI prompted a reevaluation of the essential skill sets, but innovations such as generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are also reshaping the way people learn.

For instance, according to GetApp's 2023 Employee Exit Experience Survey, 20% of UK companies utilize AI technology within their HR departments, with this figure rising to 33% among companies in London. This underscores the growing relevance of acquiring skills to effectively utilize AI tools within certain sectors.

Moreover, employees themselves seem to endorse this approach, with over half (54%) expressing a desire for their companies to implement AI-based training courses.

HR leaders and learning and development professionals are racing to understand AI's impact and incorporate it into upskilling initiatives. This blog post highlights some key applications of AI in upskilling and explains how organizations can maximize its impact with digital credentials.

How AI can Support Learning and Development

AI will transform all aspects of workforce strategy and upskilling. There are several applications where AI-enabled technology, either now or soon, will help organizations increase their ROI from learning and development. Here are some common approaches to incorporating AI in training:

Workforce Analysis

Analytics can help organizations map the current skills of their workforce, identify skills gaps, and conduct a skill gap analysis to understand training requirements for a future-proof workforce. When combined with digital credentials, analysis can also help employers measure the impact of upskilling efforts. Accounting firm Grant Thornton, for example, is using data from digital credentials to measure the value of training programs.

Personalized Learning

Research suggests that personalized learning is more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches. Different individuals have different learning needs, depending on their existing skills, career aspirations and the needs of the business. AI can personalize learning at scale, using data to develop individual learning paths.

Experiential and Immersive Learning

Virtual reality (VR) is used to provide active learning, especially when learning in a physical environment is impractical, hazardous or expensive. VR learning is up to four times faster than traditional learning and VR users are almost three times as likely as their non-VR peers to feel confident applying their new skills.

For example, training soft skills for white-collar jobs can be challenging, but immersive learning offers a solution. In industries like finance and banking, immersive learning provides authentic experiences for practicing human skills. Bank of America implemented virtual reality (VR) training in 2021 for its 50,000 employees. This allowed them to develop skills such as building client relationships and handling difficult conversations effectively

Employing AI in workforce upskilling can bring many long-term benefits to the organization, including:

• Personalized Learning Experience: AI can analyze individual learning styles, preferences, and performance data to tailor course content and delivery methods. This personalized approach enhances engagement and satisfaction, making the learning experience more effective and enjoyable for employees.
• Data-driven Skill Assessments: AI can analyze vast amounts of data to conduct skill assessments, providing a more accurate and objective evaluation of employees’ proficiency levels. This data-driven approach helps identify specific areas for improvement and allows organizations to make informed decisions about their upskilling initiatives.
• Recruitment and Retention: Offering AI-based courses demonstrates the organization's commitment to employee growth and career advancement. A 2022 LinkedIn study found that 94% of employees said they would stay at a job longer if the company provided training. Continuous learning opportunities are a powerful retention strategy.
• Cost-efficiency and Scalability: AI-powered upskilling platforms can be more cost-effective and scalable than traditional training methods. Automated learning modules, virtual simulations, and other AI-driven tools reduce the need for extensive resources, making upskilling programs accessible to a larger workforce.

Identifying and Validating Skills Needed with Digital Credentials

The first crucial step in developing a successful upskilling program is to create an engaging learning experience that resonates with current demands. Following this, digital credentials can be utilized to validate and celebrate learners' achievements, providing verified skills information. This strategy serves as a powerful tool to inspire employees, foster collaboration, and boost overall engagement levels.

A digital credentials platform such as Credly provides employers and workers with several benefits. Digital credentials can:

• Enable data-driven decision-making: Information about the overall skills landscape in the workforce can help align upskilling initiatives with business strategies and goals.
• Tailor upskilling programs: With reliable data about what skills workers already have and how they already engage with training programs, upskilling initiatives can be customized and targeted to for the highest impact.
• Create a transparent skills ecosystem: Digital badges and credentials make it easy to share skills information between individuals, teams and departments, fostering workplace collaboration.
• Increase recognition and motivation: Digital credentials help employers recognize workers for their learning achievements. Opportunities to learn and be recognized for it are also powerful motivational tools.
• Encourage a culture of continuous learning: By creating a common, shared record of learning, digital credentials encourage individuals and the workforce as a whole to actively engage in upskilling and seek further training and development.

5 Steps to Integrate AI into Your Workforce Strategy

Here’s how to start applying AI to your upskilling efforts.

1. Start with solid data: Use digital credentials to understand what verified skills your workforce has.
2. Plan for the future: Use AI-driven analysis, which draws on a range of data sources for your company and your industry, to predict what skills your organization will need in the future. This will provide a clearer picture of the changing jobs landscape.
3. Identify opportunities for AI-enhanced training: Review the training programs your organization offers and look for opportunities to enhance them with AI.
4. Collect learning data: As your organization invests in upskilling, gather more data about training effectiveness. AI can help analyze this data, spot patterns and improve upskilling initiatives.
5. Celebrate the results: AI-accelerated upskilling increases productivity, higher job satisfaction and motivation, and career advancement opportunities for workers. The continuous learning opportunities a robust upskilling program provides are a powerful motivational tool.

AI is transforming business. It can and should be harnessed to transform upskilling efforts, too. L&D professionals have an opportunity to lead strategic workforce transformation by using AI. And with the help of digital credentials, it can provide a rich source of granular data on individuals' skills and qualifications. These credentials, being digitally verifiable and updatable, offer a dynamic and comprehensive overview of employees' competencies.

Speak to our Sales team to learn how we can help you shape a future-ready workforce that drives your organization's success.