The demand for effective workforce development has surged in today’s dynamic business environment, necessitating a shift from traditional methods to more interactive solutions that borrow from popular consumer platforms. Private media streaming applications, such as those offered by uStudio, have emerged as essential tools for enterprises to keep employees engaged and skills razor-sharp. These applications enjoy greater accessibility, flexibility, and a range of benefits that significantly improve the learning experience and overall organizational performance.
Remote workforces need more accessible and convenient options. Private media streaming and podcasts enable employees to access important training materials anytime and anywhere, accommodating geographically dispersed teams and varied schedules. This on-demand access gives employees an option to learn at their own pace, leading to higher engagement rates. Mobile and off-line streaming also supports multitasking, allowing employees to consume content during commutes or other activities, making effective use of their time. This is in strong contrast with traditional workforce training which often involves travel, venue rentals and printed materials, and is often logistically challenging for learners, especially in remote environments.
Employee preferences have shifted. Studies indicate a strong preference among employees for multimedia formats for learning. According to a 2020 Wyzowl study, 69% of employees prefer video-based learning over written documents. Similarly, a 2019 LinkedIn Learning report highlighted that 58% of employees favor self-paced learning accessible via mobile devices. Podcasts are also increasingly popular, with a 2021 Edison Research study revealing that 41% of Americans listen to podcasts monthly. These trends underscore the shift towards audio and video content, which often lead to higher retention rates compared to text.
Retention rates are increasing. Moreover, audio and voice content delivers far more meaning than print or text, resulting in higher retention rates. According to the Journal of Experimental Psychology, people remember 65% of information conveyed through multimedia, including audio, compared to just 10% through text alone. This increased retention can lead to better application of knowledge and skills in the workplace.
One company that’s adeptly responding to the challenges of keeping a distributed workforce competitive is Austin-based uStudio. The company has established itself as a leader in corporate streaming and podcasting, aiming to make learning more accessible and engaging through consumer-like mobile and desktop applications. These applications can seamlessly integrate with enterprise systems such as HR, identity management, analytics, content management, and security. Such integration ensures that streaming content is readily available where employees spend most of their time, making learning more natural and less taxing for corporate users.
The uStudio product suite supports various content formats, including short and long-form audio and video, and offers features like just-in-time embeds and browsable libraries and personal playlists. For corporate leaders, uStudio provides deep analytics, content engagement benchmarking, and a proprietary 6 P’s framework that covers all phases of launching and operating successful media streaming and podcasting programs.
The company’s alignment of corporate training methods with consumer habits from platforms like Apple Podcasts, Netflix, and Spotify positions uStudio as a key player in the future of enterprise communications. They plan to integrate AI to enhance learner experiences with features like auto-generated multilingual transcripts and personalized content recommendations, providing valuable insights into the relationship between content consumption and employee performance.
“We’ll provide learners with smart recommendations and leaders with data that shows the relationship between specific content topics, learner consumption, and individual productivity and organizational performance scores,” says uStudio CEO Jen Grogono.
uStudio has earned the trust of high-profile clients, including Alcon, Novo Nordisk, Boston Consulting Group, Bank of Montreal, and Chick-fil-A. The company has been recognized by Aragon Research as a leader in enterprise media for six consecutive years. Under the leadership of Jen Grogono and CTO Josh Marshall, uStudio continues to push the boundaries of digital experiences in corporate talent development, ensuring that continuous learning is both effective and enjoyable for enterprise teams around the world.