At 6 a.m., Aftab pulls on his steel-toe boots in a small town outside Pune. He has been a warehouse loader for eight years. His work is exciting and varied, but each month he sees at least one major mistake occur. Sometimes it’s a broken item, other times it’s a member of staff getting injured. He has always chalked this up to poor training, but this year, something changed. For the first time, he’s training on a smartphone.

Aftab is part of a quiet revolution taking place across India’s blue-collar workforce. More and more businesses are opting for gamified training methodologies to try and overcome the sector-wide skills and talent shortage. In this blog, we take a closer look at how gamified learning is helping businesses see increased growth and profitability, and what this means for the future of blue-collar training.

Blue-collar work: More than just a job

Blue-collar work has often been referred to by another term: unskilled labour. But this phrase could not be further from the truth. Workers like Aftab require specialist skills and knowledge to conduct their work safely, effectively, and efficiently. Importantly, Aftab’s ability to do his job well is also essential for his employer to see continued growth and profitability.

Having the right skills and training is important for Aftab, too. He isn’t just clocking in and out of a shift. He’s earning money to support his family, and hopes to rise through the ranks and become a site supervisor or even a regional manager. He has aspirations for his future, and is looking to build a career that can support himself and his family for years to come.

Read more about the future of skilling in our ebook, Skilling for a modern blue-collar workforce.

Workplace training gets a digital makeover

In countries such as India, a sizable portion of applicants to take on blue-collar roles won’t have finished school. Some won’t be literate at all. Old-school ways of training (think dull videos, long presentations, and manual notetaking and testing) just don’t work for training blue-collar staff at scale.

Aftab didn’t finish school, and isn’t confident sitting in a classroom with 50 other workers. He also works long hours and has a family to support, and finds he struggles to focus when watching a long presentation or sitting a test.

But Aftab knows his stuff. He’s great at what he does, and understands new skills or structures when he’s shown them in a visual or interactive way. That’s where gamified e-learning comes in. It’s app-based, so he can learn in his own time without sacrificing time with his family. The gamified, interactive structure makes it easier to follow along and retain information, and the quizzes and leaderboards give him a sense of accomplishment.
Not all workers learn in the same way, and some of Aftab’s colleagues might prefer having the support of a trainer who can answer questions and keep them on track. That’s why more modern solutions offer a hybrid approach, where users can have in-person sessions where they follow the modules and get support from a qualified trainer.

Skilling for the future

At 6 a.m., Aftab is getting ready for work once again. The date on his phone shows November 14th, 2030. He is pulling on his uniform and lanyard that reads ‘Regional Manager’. He’s received two promotions in the past five years thanks to his continued good performance.

The warehouse has nearly doubled in workforce in the last five years as gamified training made it easier to onboard and skill staff. Workers have positive feelings about the company because they know it has invested in their success, and the company has been able to retain staff by ensuring they understand the business inside and out.

There have been fewer mistakes at a warehouse level, with less damages, faster processing times, and a boost in reputation. This has led to the company growing and opening three more factories in Maharashtra alone. Profits are soaring, which means happier shareholders and the opportunity to increase salaries for warehouse staff.

Workers like Aftab aren’t just doing a good job and boosting profitability. They’re loyal to a company they feel has prioritised their futures. Aftab knows he can send his children to a good school and university, and feels proud every day that he works for his employer. He hopes his children will join the same company at a managerial level.

The next generation

For over six years, 21CC Education has been building curriculums that support blue-collar workers to learn in an effective, scalable way. By working closely with businesses, we tailor our content to your specific needs. You deserve a workforce that cares about your business’ success, full of hardworking individuals like Aftab. Our gamified modules are centralised on the 21CC Skilled platform, so your workers can learn any time, anywhere.

The next generation of workers in India are looking for opportunities to earn an income but also to build a lasting career. Businesses that prioritise this will see not just a boost in profits, but a workforce that’s committed to them and their growth for the long run.

This new generation deserves smarter employers and better training. Let’s build that future together. Explore how 21CC Education can help by booking a demo today.