The Evolution of Employee Training: From Manuals to Gamified Learning
For decades, employee training followed a predictable path. Classroom-based learning, printed manuals, and structured sessions dominated the early 20th century. By the late 20th century, on-the-job training became the standard with the introduction of apprenticeships and mentorships. The 21st century brought e-learning, with digital courses offering scalable, remote-friendly solutions.
Despite this evolution, there are persistent challenges widely experienced with employee training, such as:
- Only 12% of employees completing self-paced online courses (Deloitte Insights)
- Only 10-20% of information being retained with traditional training methods (Deloitte Insights)
- Employees feeling like training is just a box-ticking exercise
However, this is where the power of gamified learning and Augmented Reality can really make a difference to organisations. By making training interactive, immersive, and rewarding, these innovations are transforming the way organizations engage employees. Research shows AR-based training improves information retention significantly more than traditional methods (Aburayya et al., 2024). But what do the experts say?
Data Doesn’t Lie
- Harvard Business Review reported that gamified learning can accelerate skills acquisition 40%!
- Deloitte Insights specifically highlighted AR as an effective way to boost information retention from 20% to 80%!
- SAPPI’s gamified AR training campaign saw 2.5x higher engagement than their goal KPI.
- Insights from our campaign with SAPPI showed us that employees actually wanted to engage, rather than feeling forced to.
So how exactly did we help SAPPI overcome the usual challenges of employee training, and more importantly, how are we equipped to do the same for your company?
The Challenge: Reinventing Training in a Traditional Industry
SAPPI, a global leader in paper and packaging solutions, embarked on a bold rebranding initiative for its Verve product lineup. But an external brand shift wasn’t enough for them. SAPPI needed its employees to embrace and understand the new identity from within.
The problem? Traditional corporate training wouldn’t cut it.
- Long, formal training sessions often felt like a chore.
- Employees were unlikely to retain information from passive learning.
- The company needed an approach that was engaging, organic, and rewarding rather than obligatory.
The Breakthrough: SAPPI Gamified Rebranding Experience
To tackle this challenge, SAPPI launched an interactive, mobile-first training program using AR and gamified learning principles. Employees didn’t just learn about SAPPI’s new brand – they experienced it.
Each week, participants:
- Watched a short video introducing key product insights.
- Completed a multiple-choice quiz to reinforce learning.
- Earned Virtual Tokens in AR, transforming learning into a game.
- Unlocked real-world rewards, such as SAPPI-branded gear and grand prize entries.
Instead of a one-time training module, SAPPI’s approach ensured ongoing engagement. Employees could play daily, track their progress in a digital wallet, and stay motivated through new weekly questions and incentives.
The Results: Training That Employees Actually Wanted to Do
The impact was undeniable:
- 2.5x the original employee engagement KPI was achieved, surpassing expectations.
- Large portions of SAPPI’s workforce participated from all across the globe, demonstrating real engagement.
- Thousands of Virtual Tokens were claimed, indicating that a large portion of employees were motivated by the gamified learning approach.
- Employees collected multiple tokens each, proving strong repeat engagement.
SAPPI successfully turned training from an obligation into a reward-driven experience that employees actively wanted to be part of.
Final Thought: Are You Ready to Revolutionize Training?
SAPPI’s success demonstrates that corporate training can be fun, engaging, and effective.
The question is: Is your company ready to embrace the future of learning?
With Inner Reality’s expertise in gamified learning and AR solutions, your team can experience the next evolution of training. Let’s make learning something employees actually look forward to.