Retailer Mothercare has used e-learning technology to train 75 per cent of its staff to use a new electronic gift card scheme in just two weeks.

The company is replacing its paper-based gift vouchers with electronic gift cards this week.

Mothercare IT training manager Jon Williams says the company could simply not have trained more than 3,600 of its 4,800 staff in such a short period of time had they used traditional in-store training.

‘We had a six-week timetable for the launch of our gift card scheme, and we wanted to provide consistent training that was simple to use, and provided real-time visibility to the management team,’ he said.

‘Our existing e-learning system was easy to upgrade to deploy new training modules.’

Mothercare has used BT Expedite’s e-learning system Virtual View and Learn (VVL) for several years, and has introduced the Personal Learning Room (PLR), which delivers specific modules to train staff to use new systems.

Williams says PLR will also be used to train staff to use its intranet and scheduling and payroll system, which are both due to be introduced soon.

‘E-learning allows us to make training more interactive,’ said Williams. ‘Staff can drive their own training without the need to take up management time.’

Butler Group analyst Mark Blowers says retail is an ideal environment for e-learning, as retailers often have a number of sites around the country and a high turnover of staff.

‘It can be difficult to provide effective training to all shops, but e-learning allows staff to learn on-site and at their own pace,’ he said. ‘The trend in retail is to e-learning, and electronic tills now have the capability to offer it quickly and easily.’

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