Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is close to Thrive’s heart. Despite being a topic of discussion in the news recently, to us, there’s no debate to be had. DEI is not only essential for creating a safe and inclusive culture, it’s also essential to becoming a future-ready organisation.

But despite well-intentioned strategies, sometimes DEI initiatives simply fall short of their goals. Today we’re focussing on one specific factor: accessibility to learning. We touched on this in our recent blog How adaptive learning supports equity in the workplace, and now we’re uncovering another element of an accessible learning strategy in the form of mobile learning. 

While traditional learning approaches cater mostly to desk-based employees, mobile learning acts as a tool for those employees whose work takes them all over – from the shop floor, to the tills, to the warehouse. 

In this blog, we'll explore how mobile learning can bridge gaps, foster inclusivity, and ensure that every employee has equal opportunities to develop their career. 

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Why traditional learning leaves too many behind

Consider the huge range of roles within your organisation. From office-based staff to frontline workers, remote teams and field operatives, these unique job functions simply can’t all have their specific development needs met by traditional learning methods. And when traditional methods are applied, you leave room for an accessibility gap to widen. 

Certain employees have endless training opportunities, while others are left behind. Simply put, it’s undermining your DEI efforts if not everyone can access the same support.

So, what’s the answer?

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Why mobile learning is a catalyst for workplace inclusivity

While mobile learning isn’t the “be-all and end-all”, it’s one essential part of an inclusive learning strategy. Mobile learning is fluid. It moves with your people, and takes place wherever their devices are, delivering learning right in the palm of their hand.

When we think of “inclusivity” we tend to think of how it pertains to identifiers like race, sexuality or gender -- but it's more than that. Inclusivity encompasses every aspect of the employee experience, including where they work, how they work, and how they access learning. In our many conversations with customers in industries like Food and Drink Manufacturing, Hospitality, and Retail, one pain point keeps coming up: The lack of access that deskless employees often have to digital learning opportunities.

But mobile learning ensures that they can engage with training materials at any point – or location – in their day. (Whether that’s on a break, during their commute, or while serving a customer on the shop floor.)

For an example of this in action, look no further than Thrive customer and luxury retailer Reiss. They’re championing the effectiveness of mobile learning with their campaign “Deskless doesn’t mean voiceless”, leveraging Thrive’s intuitive mobile app to deliver learning to their retail teams. The proof is in the results: By including everyone in their learning strategy, they gained 26,000 content views in the first month of launching Thrive. (Read Reiss' case study here to find out exactly how they did it.)

But location isn’t the only factor at play here. Another repeated pain point for customers spanning multiple industries is the need to cater to varied, diverse learning needs within their workforce. Mobile learning is a piece of this puzzle, bringing flexibility, personalisation, and accessibility together to form a strategy that supports every end user.

What does that look like in action? It looks like content that works around the learner, not the other way around. People can access learning at their own pace, ideal for those who may need extra time or learn better in bite-sized formats. And with accessible features like closed captions, adjustable text sizes, and voice commands, learners with visual or auditory impairments are also getting their needs met.

Not to mention, if your learning platform’s mobile app is equipped with an AI assistant, Neurodivergent learners can navigate content at their own pace and access information in the context that works best for them. 

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Four steps to embed mobile learning into your DEI strategy

Now that we’ve sold you on mobile learning, let’s explore four steps you can take to implement it.

1. Assess current gaps. The first port of call for any learning strategy is assessing what you already have, and any gaps that you might need to fill. Identify which employee groups have limited access to learning opportunities, and understand their specific needs before moving forward.
   
   
2. Choose the right platform. Fairly obviously, you can’t deliver mobile learning if your platform doesn’t offer it. Do your research, and ensure that your potential learning solutions offer mobile learning – along with flexibility, personalisation, and diverse content formats. This is an essential step in building a robust DEI strategy.
   
   
3. Develop inclusive content. Mobile learning is crucial for an inclusive learning strategy, but you’ll need to ensure the training materials themselves are also inclusive. You can use an off-the-shelf content provider like Thrive Content to ensure training is as accurate and culturally sensitive as possible.
   
   
4. Promote engagement. The golden ticket! Employee engagement is a goal that L&D teams are always chasing, and this strategy is no different. There are so many different ideas to encourage participation – take it from our customers. Inspired Entertainment launched a competition amongst their workforce to name their new platform, while Westmorland Family took the approach of launching with VIC’s (Very Important Colleagues) to build a buzz before launch. 

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Make learning inclusive: Why mobile must be part of your DEI toolkit

Mobile learning is more than a technological advancement; it's a strategic imperative for organisations committed to DEI. By breaking down barriers to access, mobile learning ensures that every employee has the same opportunity to grow. 

Ready to make your learning more inclusive?
At Thrive, we’ve recently refreshed our mobile app with brand new features – including our AI chatbot, Kiki. And next, we’re launching our own white labelled mobile app. Put learning, comms and performance support straight into your people’s pockets – all in your branding, your name, your tone.

Whether it’s retail, hospitality or front line – if your teams are on the move, they’ll have everything they need, wherever they are. And because it syncs with your existing Thrive ecosystem, your people get the full power of Thrive, with a mobile-first experience that looks and feels like you built it.

Explore how Thrive's mobile learning solutions can support your DEI goals and empower every member of your team. Book a demo today!

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