As organizations continue to expand their global footprint, they face diverse regulations and cultural norms. What may be highly effective as a training solution in one region may not be effective in another. It’s not just a simple translation of what you have in place as your compliance training program grows. It is essential to have the right training partner with expertise in multilingual support and global compliance to help you navigate this complexity and leverage your compliance training program as a strategic tool for global expansion.
Key Takeaways
- Localization is a Must: “True localization, which means adapting content to local laws and culture, is much more effective than translation. 75% of consumers want to access content in their native language.”
- Centralized LMS is a Must: “A centralized, cloud-based LMS with global functionality is a must for consistency and regional assignment management.”
- Content Library is a Must: “A provider with a rich global content library makes it easier and less expensive to source and validate training content for each market.
- Scalable Technology is a Must: “The training solution must be built on strong, scalable technology that can support a growing, geographically dispersed workforce across multiple time zones.”
- Dual-Level Analytics are a Must: “The solution must offer visibility into compliance data at both a global and local level.”
The Five Pillars of a Global-Ready Training Provider
This section outlines the five essential capabilities you must look for in a compliance training provider to ensure your program can be scaled effectively across a global workforce.
1. True Localization, Not Just Translation
What It Is: Localization is more than just translating text. Localization is the adaptation of content to comply with local laws, culture, and business practices. This involves using local examples and images and citing local laws.
Why It Matters: As research from Common Sense Advisory found, 75% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product when information is provided in their native language. The same applies to training. Localized information is more engaging and effective, and it also demonstrates a commitment to compliance.
2. A Centralized LMS with Global Capabilities
Description: A comprehensive cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) that allows training for your entire global workforce, with features such as multi-language user interfaces, assignment of training based on geographic location, and consolidated reporting of all training activities for countries or regions.
Significance: This is where you will find the actual status of your global compliance program. It allows you to maintain consistent standards and oversight despite differences across locations. Gartner research on corporate learning platforms has highlighted the need for a single solution that can scale to support global workforce training.
3. A Comprehensive, Global Content Library
Description: An international e-learning platform that provides training on international compliance, regulatory requirements, and country-specific training. The vendor has experience in their training and updates accordingly to meet the global regulations.
Significance: You need a partner who can provide a complete global solution, and not just a global system. By using a robust library of pre-developed global content, you can reduce costs associated with researching and validating regulations and dedicate more time to validating location-specific training programs, if applicable.
4. Scalable Technology and Support
Description of the System: The system should enable teleworking for a large number of employees and has already proven effective and reliable. The supplier should be able to provide worldwide support with service level agreements that meet your requirements.
Importance: To keep up with your organization’s growth, learning management systems must scale to ensure all employees worldwide receive the same level of service across all time zones. The ISO 31000 risk management standard emphasizes the importance of scaling systems and processes.
5. Analytics for Global Oversight and Local Management
What it does in summary: The reporting and analysis of compliance activity, which is shown as an aggregate (or total) for the entity (as a whole) over all countries and as a specific (or detailed) compliance activity for each country. Both will enable individuals to review their respective levels of compliance (or the total number of compliance activities they have completed and the average score of compliance activities among all employees) at both an aggregate and specific (or individual) level.
Importance: Understanding the status of compliance activities, both at the aggregate and specific levels, is imperative to the success of a global business and to the management of compliance in individual countries. This will enable global leaders to identify and monitor compliance “hotspots” and trends. Furthermore, local/global leaders must utilize data to inform decisions on how to manage talent and risks within their respective teams. (Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends Report – Data-driven decision making is critical to the management of talent and risks).
Conclusion: Your Partner in Global Expansion
Managing a global compliance training program can be complex, but it is essential for businesses worldwide. To continue developing and expanding beyond compliance, businesses need a partner who understands the nuances of global compliance and provides the right content and technology. To ensure their compliance programs help them grow globally rather than work against them, businesses need to focus on five key areas: True Localization; Global LMS; Global Content Library; Scalable Technology; and Dual-Level Analytics.
FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Translation And Localization?
Translation is the act of transferring text from one language to another. Localization goes beyond text by adapting the entire training experience for the audience. This includes images, examples, tone, legal references, and cultural context to ensure the content aligns with local expectations, regulations, and norms.
What Is The Significance Of Having A Centralized LMS For Global Training?
A centralized LMS serves as a single system of record for all global training activities. It streamlines administration, enables consistent application of policies across regions, and supports reporting and analytics needed to demonstrate compliance during audits.
How Can We Ensure Our Training Content Aligns With The Latest Global Regulations?
Partnering with a training provider that employs legal and subject-matter experts is essential. These experts continuously monitor changes in global regulatory standards to keep content up to date. A strong provider will also proactively notify you of significant regulatory changes that may require action.
References
[1] Harvard Business Review. (2019, July). What You Need to Know About Global Compliance.
[2] International Organization for Standardization. ISO 31000 – Risk Management.
[3] Common Sense Advisory. The ROI of Localization.
[4] Gartner. Magic Quadrant for Corporate Learning.
[5] Deloitte. Global Human Capital Trends.
[6] World Trade Organization. International Trade Statistics.
