How Helm makes online learning easier

1. Design for use, not just for completion

A learning platform shouldn't just register if someone is done. It needs to feel logical to the user. Employees must quickly understand why they are doing something and what it delivers. Frits sums this up in two questions: “Why do you need to follow this? And why is this useful to him?” If that is clear, training feels less like an obligation and more like something that helps in their work.

2. Make starting as easy as possible

According to Frits, the biggest barrier is often before the training even begins. Someone has to actually start. That's where the platform can make a big difference with a clear email, a direct link to the correct training, and as few extra clicks as possible. The shorter the e-learning, the smaller the chance that someone drops out.

3. Remove unnecessary steps

A digital platform should make work easier, not more complicated. Frits says that “the platform should remove as many hurdles as possible.” This requires clear buttons, a logical order, and few distractions. Users shouldn't have to search, but should be naturally guided to the right step.

4. Keep it short and clear

The length of a training also affects its usage. Especially for employees who don't spend their entire day behind a laptop, training must fit within the workday. Frits is clear about this: “you should definitely not make the training longer than 10 minutes or at most fifteen minutes.” Short mainly means: making sharp choices about what someone really needs to know or do.

5. Show only what is necessary

A learning platform becomes stronger when it is calm and clear. Frits says “not showing everything all the time” is an important design principle. Show only what someone needs at that moment and leave out the rest. That makes the platform clearer, more pleasant, and more accessible to different users.

About the collaboration

Frits: “During the collaboration with Freshheads, we constantly looked at the choices we had to make: what do our users need? How do we ensure it remains logical, and how do we ensure we add maximum value for our customers? 

What was incredibly pleasant about that is the way we worked together. The team consists of fun, engaged people who all have their own expertise. They know when to advise, when to ask further questions, and when to just roll up their sleeves and get to work with us. Because of that, it really felt like a partnership between Freshheads and Helm, and not like a client and supplier.”

Frits is looking forward to further developing Helm together with Freshheads.