Digitalizing training management and delivery

GRANT CROW, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 3T DIGITAL 

With the digital revolution powering on across the offshore oil and gas industry, operators are experiencing different results, realizations and breakthroughs at various stages of their journeys. 

The digital revolution offers unprecedented opportunities and challenges in equal measure. And, before long, in some capacity or another, digitalization will soon be a necessity in many roles offshore. 

Amidst the changing landscape within the offshore and maritime industry, with new demands for renewable energy and the slow move beyond traditional oil and gas exploration methods, a new batch of technology is being introduced and integrated to bridge the gap between energy eras. With methods and approaches changing, there is increased pressure to ensure that operations run as smoothly as possible, opening the door for digitalization opportunities. 

Digitalized solutions present countless opportunities for businesses to enhance their processes and operational efficiencies, Fig. 1. These solutions are already making an impact by improving the performance of assets, reducing costs, enhancing safety, and instilling collaborative working environments to highlight the transformative potential of embracing innovation. The variety of these technologies and their capabilities are helping operators unlock new pathways for improved processes, while allowing them to stay up-to-date in their evolving industry and supporting the overarching sustainable trajectory of the sector. 

Fig. 1. Digital learning solutions can enhance business processes and operational efficiency.

However, these technologies must be utilized appropriately. Operators must reconsider the training in place to support the integration of modern technologies and processes within operations.  

A new technology-driven approach to training and the running of operations will allow businesses to push the boundaries of what's possible for their assets, thanks to software and knowledge that leads to an increase in processing capabilities, data collection, evaluation capabilities, and the inclusion of new tools and software that cut operating costs while improving performance, safety and reliability. 

To properly utilize this technology and ensure that these advancements don’t go to waste, the workforce responsible for projects and operations needs to be comfortable, confident and competent to deliver on the resurged promise of the industry. 

DIGITALIZATION AND SAFETY  

Despite the industry's determination to advance standards and improve safety protocols and performance, hurdles remain. Revolutionizing processes, management styles, systems and the competence levels of those onsite have taken safety only so far. Further advancement is necessary to continue extinguishing potential harm and preventing operational failures. 

Training that is modern, technology-driven, accessible and adaptable is a necessity for both newcomers and experienced personnel. With the rapid advancement and integration of modern technologies, operators and individuals must embrace changes in the workplace, and position themselves to adapt to the technological boom. 

Digitalization will play a crucial role in improving safety standards within the sector. By introducing new training management methods and practices, digitalization will help to mitigate potentially disastrous incidents by targeting and pinpointing the potential for human error during training and creating scenarios that address these lapses in judgment.  

Research has shown that in the finite moments before an incident emerges, rather than a failure of training or safety protocols, it is the human element that affects the outcome of the proposed incident. In the split-second before the event, learned information, training and decision-making all come to the fore of an individual's mind. However, the ability to assess, judge and act in the blink of an eye is nearly impossible.  

It is how an individual assesses, judges and then acts that minimizes the impact of an incident. Digitalized learning management can help close this gap and advance safety standards even further. By delivering bespoke training experiences via virtual environments and platforms, individuals have countless opportunities to process situations and understand the outcomes—good and bad—of the decisions they make under pressure in these critical seconds. 

Through repeated virtual training sessions, individuals learn from their mistakes and reactions until they can apply best practices to minimize impact, or in a best-case scenario, prevent the incident altogether. Having experienced and learned about potential catastrophic scenarios via risk-free digital platforms, and if these scenarios were ever to come to fruition in real life, the individual's processing and reaction time hopefully will have improved.  

Digitalized training scenarios provide several benefits for the workforce and business alike, Fig. 2. For the individual, employees gain renewed confidence in their abilities and understanding of safety best practices. For the business, improved employee ability and safety standards will support the optimization of operations by mitigating the risk of downtime caused by incidents and the fiscal impact of potential damage to assets.  

Fig. 2. Digital training solutions provide flexible elearning opportunities.

The correct protocols and programs need to be implemented to allow personnel to adapt and overcome technological teething challenges, i.e., understanding how to use the technology and where it fits into a business' existing system. When introducing technology and digital processes, organizations should be supported by a structured learning and development plan.  

Through a concise and well-thought-out plan, the digitalization process can be implemented smoothly, significantly reducing the potential difficulties of personnel struggling to grasp the new digital resources at their disposal. Without a plan, the learning curve to access and take full advantage of the technology may be too steep for many workers to overcome.  

Within safety-critical industries where the stakes are exceedingly high, robust training courses that integrate the latest enhanced digital solutions to improve workforce performance are critical. Ensuring compliance in line with regulations is not a box-ticking exercise, it’s a vital component to measure for safeguarding lives, assets and reputations.  

But how do organizations keep pace with changing demands while maintaining operational efficiency?  

TRAINING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE 

The importance of efficient training management software (TMS) in evaluating the effectiveness of training cannot be overlooked. As a digital solution, TMS can help businesses manage and enhance their employee training and safety programs effectively. The integration of a TMS helps to navigate the world of health and safety regulations while keeping track of individual personnel performance and progress.  

A holistic approach to safety training, a TMS integrates safety protocols and health and safety standards into one digital solution to address every safety requirement with precision. By combining advanced tools and analytics, the digital ecosystem that a TMS provides can help to plug a gap in health and safety training before it appears. Through detailed, AI-enhanced analytics of each user's needs, the TMS pinpoints potential skills gaps before they mature and create repercussions down the line.  

However, identifying these gaps is only the first step. A well-designed TMS can push further, so that when discrepancies are detected, the system can book the relevant and tailored courses to ensure these gaps are proactively addressed and resolved. Rather than being a gimmick, this level of integration is vital for training management solutions, as it facilitates continuous improvement and compliance, bespoke to organizational needs, job roles and even assets. 

The ability to identify individual gaps in learning is also true at a business-wide level. For companies that lack a clear strategy on how to meet learning needs, the TMS can provide the much-needed blueprint. A reliable TMS can make it significantly easier to train employees for safety-critical roles by highlighting the required training. By using a TMS that provides a holistic view of training requirements across an organization, the company can maintain the highest level of training and competency. 

LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE 

For an industry as global and diverse as the upstream sector, collaborating workforces and crews are often spread across multiple sites. This further testifies to the need for digitalized solutions. Solving logistical and financial challenges, the move to digital learning online is essential—which is why companies are integrating Learning Management Software (LMS) alongside TMS.  

Operators are responsible for ensuring that every crew member has had the appropriate training, regardless of location. The challenge, therefore, is to deliver consistent, high-quality training across multiple locations.  

LMS and online learning have emerged as an important solution to this challenge by allowing businesses to deliver the same training to everyone despite geographical differences. A cloud-based LMS enables users to access and engage with an extensive range of up-to-date learning materials to suit different job roles—all in one easily accessible and readily available digital hub. Through this software, the workforce can obtain course completion certification anytime, from any location, via desktop or mobile device.  

The unified approach that an LMS provides means that team leaders and trainers also have access, allowing them to share notes and feedback to create a collaborative learning environment. Critical to the success of the LMS, collaboration and feedback have regularly been highlighted as fundamental elements that enhance an individual's education experience.  

Also essential to the learning experience, and a key feature of LMS, is the ability to tailor training programs that are specific to various job roles and learning styles. By recognizing that people learn differently, LMS platforms can adapt the training presented by analyzing progress to provide additional support when needed. 

COMPETENCY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE 

Alongside TMS and LMS, Competency Management Software (CMS) provides a digital solution to maximize safety and efficiency while streamlining training processes. Within safety-critical environments, competence directly links to safe operations.  

Like safety training, inadequate competency training can lead to operational inefficiencies, breaches and disasters. It’s essential that competency training has the same importance as safety training. 

Demonstrating technical competence goes beyond showcasing skills. Instead, it involves applying knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios to ensure that tasks are executed with precision. Through a CMS, businesses can monitor workforce strengths and pinpoint competency gaps that could restrict progress.  

By carrying out consistent competence checks to ensure individuals are meeting the necessary standards, skills gaps can also be identified via CMS. Through real-time insights into technical competence levels, CMS can plan risk-mitigation activities to improve employee performance. Offering a centralized hub for competency evaluation, CMS provides a clear overview of each employee's skill set and potential gaps. This allows training leaders to make informed decisions that guarantee critical competencies within the workforce are monitored and developed.  

Integrating CMS alongside TMS and LMS is part of a comprehensive, long-term training roadmap to prepare employees for industry development. However, it’s vital that operators have a partner to provide these digital solutions while also supporting their collective integration. 

3T DIGITAL 

As a provider of high-impact learning solutions for safety-critical industries, 3t helps create cultures and environments that promote and support consistent workforce growth and development in over 60 countries.  

A leader in workforce training and competency, 3t works with major operators on diverse projects to help futureproof the energy, renewables, marine, construction, and utilities (gas, electric, and water) industries.  

A cornerstone of 3t, technology is a crucial element of the solutions it provides. To support businesses and deliver immersive and engaging hands-on learning experiences while developing and integrating the latest technology, 3t Digital spearheads the firm’s digital learning platforms and solutions, Fig. 3. 

Fig. 3. 3t Digital's Training Management Software helps streamline workforce learning.

3t Digital’s solutions are designed to enhance safety, efficiency and productivity. These solutions include immersive simulation technology, the development of digital twins for high-risk assets, and innovative platforms and software—each tailored to suit unique business needs.  

In its portfolio of support, 3t Digital has developed an in-house software platform, 3tx. The 3tx platform includes all TMS, LMS and CMS needs to offer a robust and efficient tool to ensure that workforces remain competent, compliant and continuously learning. Through the platform, users manage training, competence and associated learning content delivery to simplify and digitalize the administrative tasks that come with employee training.  

Through its cloud-based approach to training support, 3t Digital offers real-time analytics, insights and trends, and detailed reporting. This ability is crucial to identifying emerging trends and workforce patterns, optimizing training sessions, aligning training with company needs and monitoring the effectiveness of the training delivered. This gives businesses a trusted source to proactively assess performance and maintain the highest quality, safety and competence levels. 

CASE STUDY 

3t’s expertise, combined with its TMS, was utilized by leading international offshore production and support services provider, Bumi Armada Berhad (Bumi Armada), Fig. 4.  

Fig. 4. Bumi Armada's team benefitted from 3t Digital's solutions.

Committed to reaching the highest safety, operational efficiency and sustainability standards, Bumi Armada sought a digital solutions provider that could meet its training requirements. The decision was made to transition to 3t Digital as part of a strategic move towards achieving unparalleled safety compliance and operational excellence through a revamped approach to internal training. 

Before 2018, Bumi Armada utilized an in-house-developed Microsoft Access tool for offshore training management. As the fleet expanded, this tool became unfeasible, leading to the adoption of third-party software in 2018. However, this software was plagued with issues, including slow remote desktop performance, poor vendor support and frequent functionality errors. These challenges severely impacted operational efficiency and safety compliance. 3t Digital was chosen to provide innovative digital solutions to rectify these pre-existing issues.  

By implementing TMS, Bumi Armada was provided with a comprehensive approach to training management and safety compliance, supporting its workforce to achieve new heights in their training. This initial introduction of the TMS marked the beginning of a transformative partnership. 

3t Digital’s cloud-based system offered Bumi Armada a seamless approach to managing its workforce while the TMS was developed specifically to suit Bumi Armada’s needs and address critical issues.  

After 3t Digital’s solutions were implemented, Bumi Armada experienced a new era of operational excellence. Results included:  

• Resolved discontent: The shift to 3t Digital addressed Bumi Armada’s previous dissatisfaction by providing responsive, effective support, and advanced digital solutions.  
• Operational improvements: The TMS has delivered on its promise of improved safety compliance and operational efficiency. 
• Future-ready: Bumi Armada is now better equipped to handle the complexities of the offshore industry, with robust training and competence management systems that ensure ongoing compliance and efficiency. 

By implementing the TMS, Bumi Armada experienced a 90% increase in training compliance. The collaboration addressed the immediate needs of Bumi Armada while also positioning the company for sustained success and safety in its operations. 3t Digital’s commitment to excellence and tailored solutions has proven to be a meaningful change, ushering in a new era of safety and operational efficiency for Bumi Armada. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

GRANT CROW is managing director of 3T Digital. With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneurial software (SaaS) CEO, he has a track record of leading rapid sales growth in UK-based enterprise SaaS businesses, ranging in size from start-up to £15m ARR. After joining 3t in 2021, Mr. Crow has been responsible for spearheading technology-led learning to help companies in safety-critical industries manage risk, improve skills, and increase competence.