I am not a trend. I am here to stay.

Why virtual training environments are here to stay

New tools, methods and technologies regularly appear in the world of continuing education. Many of them disappear as quickly as they arrived. But one thing is clear: virtual training environments are not a short-term hype, but a fundamental change in the way knowledge is imparted.

What used to be the exception is now the standard

Just a few years ago, virtual training computers, for example, were considered experimental or were only used as a temporary solution in times of crisis. Today, the picture has changed fundamentally.

A McKinsey study from as early as 2023 shows that over70% of companies worldwide have permanently switched their training programs to digital or hybrid formats. The Brandon Hall Group ‘s assessment is similarly clear: According to its “Learning Strategy Survey”, 81%of the companies surveyed plan to focus their training strategies primarily on virtual or hybrid formats in the coming years.
The “2024 Workplace Learning Report” by LinkedIn Learning also confirms this: Virtual and digital formats are no longer the exception, but the standard. Especially in technology-driven industries such as IT, engineering and software development.

And for good reason.

Virtual training environments solve real problems

Many training providers struggle with the time-consuming setup of local computers, changing external trainers, hybrid training formats and an overloaded IT team. Traditional on-premise infrastructure quickly reaches its limits. This is precisely where virtual training environments come in:

• Cloud-based training computers can be made available within minutes – automated, resettable and without local installation.
• Trainers and participants access worldwide via browser, regardless of location and in compliance with GDPR.
• IT teams are sustainably relieved, as no intervention, maintenance or support is required.

This means: Less effort. More focus on the essentials – the training itself.

Digitalization with substance, not buzzwords

The pressure to digitize is high. Many training organizations want to “become more digital”, but often don’t know how. Implementation often fails due to resources, complexity, fear of high costs or simply the suitability of new tools for everyday use.

Virtual training environments are not a dream of the future, they have long been a reality and they offer massive advantages over physical setups:

• Cost-efficient: Use according to the pay-per-use principle, payment is only made for actual training courses.
• Scalable: One click is enough to provide 10 or 100 virtual desktops.
• Lean: Implementation takes place within a very short time. Often within hours or a few days.
• Flexible: Whether spontaneous workshops, recurring training series or onboarding processes, everything can be realized within a few minutes.

The next few years? The new standard will be virtual

International developments show this: The trend is not going back to presence, but towards scalable, flexible learning environments. The future of software training is digital, decentralized and dynamic.

Virtual training environments are not just for large corporations. On the contrary: small and medium-sized training providers in particular benefit because they can offer professional, flexible training solutions with minimal effort and often even faster and more cost-effectively than the “big players”.

Conclusion: those who start today are already ahead tomorrow

Virtual training environments are here to stay. Anyone investing now is not investing in a trend, but in a future-proof infrastructure for digital training.