AI-driven innovative L&D strategies in the FMCG industry are improving employee satisfaction, by nearly 20%, and helping organizations address challenges such as high attrition, skill gaps, and low employee engagement that the industry faces.
Rethinking L&D to Meet FMCG’s Evolving Workforce Needs
Being fiercely competitive, the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, FMCG industry, is constantly evolving. Technology, especially Generative AI, has caused industry disruption, and will likely automate or augment nearly 60% of all activities. This break-neck digitization of the FMCG industry, changing consumer behavior, and the rise of hybrid work models, have necessitated rethinking L&D to efficiently upskill employees, foster agility, attract talent, address global market challenges, and stay competitive.
Here are strategies to develop a flexible, tech-driven, and continuous L&D approach that equips FMCG employees to thrive in future challenges:
- Adapting to Rapid Technological Change – In an increasingly tech-driven environment where FMCG companies are adopting AI and automation at scale and employees require specific digital skills, traditional training methods can’t keep pace. A more tech-focused, on-demand and continuous training on new digital tools, automation, and AI integration can help employees stay relevant and drive innovation in their roles.
- Responding to Market Volatility and Consumer Expectations – With greater market volatility and ever-evolving consumer expectations, employees require real-time learning and adaptive problem-solving skills. L&D must, therefore, focus on flexible and responsive L&D programs on consumer trends, data analysis, and agile methodologies, enabling employees to anticipate and respond to evolving customer demands while staying competitive in a dynamic environment.
- Breaking Down Organizational Silos – In the FMCG industry, lack of cross-functional communication across departments can hinder collaboration. L&D can reduce cross-departmental barriers through especially curated training programs that foster teamwork, problem-solving, and understanding the different areas of the business for greater cohesion and improved business strategies.
- Addressing Talent and Productivity Gaps – As the needs of the FMCG industry evolve and cost pressures escalate, L&D can bridge the skill gaps with targeted and tailored training in digital competencies, leadership, and operational efficiency to improve organizational agility and stay competitive.
- Upskilling a Multigenerational Workforce – With personalized and flexible learning approaches, L&D can address diverse learning preferences and technological familiarity of a multigenerational workforce, ensuring greater adaptability and collaboration across age groups.
Reimagining Training in FMCG Industry Through Innovative Learning Strategies
Transforming training in the FMCG sector with innovative learning strategies is essential for developing a skilled workforce ready for digital transformation and automation. This approach boosts competitiveness and supports generational learning, ultimately enhancing talent retention in a dynamic landscape.
Some learning strategies that can be useful for the FMCG industry include:
- Transforming Product Training: Use immersive simulations and interactive eLearning, such as in TalentLMS, to allow employees to engage with new products in a realistic, hands-on environment, solve problems, and apply the learnings immediately in practical settings.
- Revolutionizing Merchandising Training: Incorporate VR environments, such as virtual store simulations, in combination with AI-driven analytics and mobile learning platforms, where employees can practice merchandising strategies in dynamic, real-world scenarios to improve their ability to respond to consumer behaviors and adapt quickly to changing retail environments. Example VioletLMS.
- Modernizing Sales Training: On-the-go access to eLearning on mobile devices can enable sales teams to practice customer interactions through industry-specific interactive simulations, update their skills for diverse situations, and apply the learnings immediately in real-time, improving the overall sales effectiveness. Platforms to check out include Skill to Will.
- Innovating Compliance Training: The FMCG industry must adhere to regulations such as those by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in the USA, Packaging and Labeling Regulations in the European Union (EU), and so forth. Platforms such as ComplianceWave, Kallidus, and SafetySkills use gamified learning, scenario-based learning, role plays, and microlearning to help learners stay informed and compliant with the existing and evolving regulatory standards in day-to-day operations.
- Scaling L&D: FMCG organizations operating across geographical locations can ensure workforce readiness for new product launches, technologies, or regulatory changes by leveraging digital learning platforms such as Moodle and Docebo to scale up L&D and reach a large, geographically dispersed workforce. Scalable eLearning platforms with analytics allow FMCG companies to deliver consistent, high-quality training, support continuous learning and enable rapid upskilling or reskilling to efficiently meet evolving market needs.
- Enhancing Leadership Development: Strategic thinking and decision making in the FMCG industry, require specific skills such as emotional intelligence, change management, and leading cross-functional teams, among others. With personalized learning pathways, virtual workshops, and experiential learning, L&D can equip future leaders, in real-time, with the agility and resilience needed to navigate the fast-paced, dynamic nature of the FMCG sector. Some platforms include Degreed, Korn Ferry, and MindGym.
- Streamlining Onboarding Training: Interactive onboarding programs such as Workday, Sapling, and Talmundo, can be used to accelerate new hires’ integration into company culture and roles. In the fast-paced environment of the FMCG industry, new hires must quickly integrate with the company culture and familiarize themselves with the product knowledge and operational processes. Interactive tools, such as virtual tours and simulations, can accelerate the learning curve, enabling new hires to swiftly integrate into their roles and become productive faster.
Unlocking Business Value in FMCG Industry Through L&D
Through continuous upskilling and reskilling of employees, L&D plays a crucial role in augmenting employee productivity, improving adaptability to market changes, enhancing operational efficiency, boosting sales performance, and gaining a competitive edge.
Some ways L&D helps unlock business value in the FMCG industry include:
- Increased Flexibility: Through personalized, on-demand learning, allow employees in the fast-paced FMCG industry to quickly adapt to new technologies, remain agile, and respond effectively to changes in consumer trends and market conditions.
- Higher Engagement and Retention: Using interactive, training methods such as gamification and mobile learning to provide employees with meaningful development opportunities, personalized career growth paths, and upskilling programs that help improve employee engagement and retention in an industry otherwise known for high turnover rates.
- Cost-Effective Scalability: Rapid training of large numbers of employees simultaneously, deployed across geographical locations, such as to ensure consistent in-store customer interactions. Use of digital training solutions such as eLearning platforms and virtual classrooms for efficient, consistent, and simultaneous upskilling, but without the need for costly in-person sessions, travel, or logistical expenses.
- Real-Time Skill Development: On-demand training resources, mobile learning options, virtual environments, and role-specific simulations with instant feedback can facilitate employee upskilling and reskilling to address immediate business challenges, such as new product launches or market changes, while also enabling employees to apply skills immediately and refine their performance in real-time.
- Data-Driven Insights: As with any other industry, L&D in the FMCG industry can harness data-driven insights to analyze employee performance, identify skill gaps, optimize L&D strategies, and curate future training initiatives that are aligned with overall business goals.
- Faster Onboarding and Integration: Remote, role-specific, and interactive onboarding programs to streamline the onboarding process, enhance confidence and engagement, facilitate quick grasp of essential company/product/operational knowledge, thereby accelerating their integration and reducing the time-to-competence right from the outset.
Case Study –Â Leadership Training for Enhanced EHS Strategy Implementation
Objective: For one the largest global FMCG companies, the goal of designing a leadership program is to train organizational leaders on the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) strategy. The goal is to get EHS into the organization’s activities for an environmentally friendly, healthy, and safe business. At the same time, it should align with current legislation and benefit the employees.
Solution: For the leaders to fill existing gaps in their knowledge about EHS, we created targeted online modules on the EHS vision, its main risks, and behaviors that the leaders should adopt. Interactive elements and engaging content were used in each course to build an engaging learning experience.
Key Features:
- Self-Paced Learning: The program was designed to fit leaders’ schedules.
- Curated Content: Topics such as EHS hazards, compliance, and safety promotion practices that reflect the current industry standards.
- Interactive Elements: Engaging scenarios and knowledge checks reinforce learning and application of concepts.
- Leadership Insights: Videos and quotes from senior leadership demonstrate commitment and promote a culture of safety.
Implementation: The training program was developed and launched through the company’s Learning Management System (LMS) following a successful pilot test. Communication strategies included step-by-step instructions and reminders, ensuring that leaders focus on completing the training and the application of EHS principles on their respective teams.
Impact: More than 1,900 leaders have completed the EHS Leadership Program, which received an excellent average rating of 4.75 out of 5. After the training, leaders showed marked improvement in the comprehension of EHS obligations, which also included improved skills in risk management and compliance with set regulations.
