Better Remote Collaboration Through Training

For remote work to be effective, employees need to adopt the right practices. These do not develop naturally; they must be learned through training. To support users of new digital tools in today’s environment, the Proximus NXT Training Institute has also adapted its approach.

Today, everyone is familiar with both the advantages and challenges of remote work. The pandemic forced organizations and employees to adapt quickly in order to continue working effectively and fulfill their responsibilities. Some people embraced the change and rapidly became comfortable with the new tools available to them. For others, the transition proved more challenging.

“There is always a gap between what new technologies make possible and what users actually know how to do with them,” explains Philippe Zimol, Head of the Proximus NXT Training Institute. “Training is usually the best way to bridge that gap. In the current situation, however, the change was sudden and, in many ways, dramatic. Overnight, many employees were asked to use new tools without necessarily being prepared for them.”

A Disrupted Working Environment

From one day to the next, employees saw their entire working environment transformed. Traditional meeting rooms were replaced by video conferencing platforms and their numerous features. New habits had to be developed for remote connectivity, document creation, sharing, and archiving. Business processes may even have been adjusted. At the same time, ensuring security became essential, requiring the implementation of strong authentication procedures for remote access.

“Understanding these tools and their functionalities is not straightforward for everyone. Even in the area of video conferencing alone, users have been confronted with a wide range of solutions such as Teams, Zoom, Webex, and TeamViewer. While they all serve a similar purpose, their features differ significantly, which can create difficulties for users who are not accustomed to working with them,” continues Philippe Zimol.

Adopting Best Practices for Remote Work

Effective remote work requires the adoption of best practices.

“How do you manage speaking turns in a discussion involving three people or fifteen? How do you share documents efficiently? Which tools should be prioritized? How can they be used effectively?” asks the Head of Training at Proximus NXT. “Training provides answers to these questions, helping employees work more efficiently and make optimal, secure use of the technological solutions deployed. It is a key driver for technology adoption within organizations.”

In this context, the Proximus NXT Training Institute, which typically trains between 2,500 and 3,000 people each year, also had to adapt.

“For more than thirty years, we have supported our clients by offering IT-related training courses aimed at both specialists and end users,” explains Philippe Zimol. “From one week to the next, all training activities came to a halt. Then demand quickly returned, particularly to help users adapt to newly deployed tools and to address more advanced topics.”

“Training helps organizations improve efficiency and make optimal, secure use of the technologies they deploy. It is an essential driver of technology adoption.”

Philippe Zimol, Head of the Proximus NXT Training Institute

New Training Formats

Although Proximus NXT has been experimenting with remote training since the early 2000s, it never gained significant traction across the market. Users consistently preferred face-to-face training sessions. In the current environment, however, circumstances have changed.

“Initially, many organizations chose to postpone training sessions planned for the second half of the year, hoping to maintain an in-person format,” explains Philippe Zimol. “However, there is no guarantee that such sessions will be possible.”

“We decided to redesign our offering to better support clients remotely and respond to urgent needs,” he continues. “Training programs have been broken down into multiple sessions. Whereas we previously delivered eight-hour classroom sessions, we now favor formats such as two three-hour online modules spread over several days, with practical exercises to complete in between.”

Hands-on experience remains essential for learning and developing the right skills. In many cases, learners appreciate being able to follow along with the trainer in real time.

“This is naturally more challenging in a remote environment. User support becomes even more important, which is why we prefer small groups of no more than three or four participants,” adds Philippe Zimol.

“We chose to redesign our training offering to better support our clients remotely and respond to urgent demands.”

Philippe Zimol, Head of the Proximus NXT Training Institute

Training Today to Prepare for Tomorrow

The current situation provides an opportunity to look ahead and develop the skills that organizations and individuals will need in the future.

“When faced with new challenges or new tools, people need to overcome their concerns and strengthen their ability to adapt. In this context, training is a major driver of professional development,” concludes Philippe Zimol.

Secure Your Future Through Training

https://training.proximusnxt.lu/