Companies typically invest far less in on-the-job training for frontline workers than for employees with desk jobs. This lack of training and career development makes it harder for deskless workers to see a path forward, contributing to costly turnover rates for many employers.
Large, distributed workforces in the service industry can be difficult to reach with training. Opus Training, which has focused on restaurant chains, has had success with a mobile-first approach conducted in the flow of work.
“Opus delivers training not as a separate activity, but as something that’s truly embedded directly into operational tools and workflows that frontline workers and their managers use each day,” says Rachael Nemeth, the company’s CEO and co-founder, who has deep experience in the restaurant industry.
The training platform allows employers to create task lists that link directly back to training. The tool’s customizable resource library can be translated into whatever language a workforce needs. And Opus features an AI-native component that gives frontline workers and managers instant answers to their questions.
“We know that attention spans are shrinking,” Nemeth says. “Classroom training or long bouts in front of a computer just aren’t realistic for people standing on their feet all day.”
As a result, Opus centers its training around 3-5 minute lessons, which are building blocks for longer objectives. Hands-on training is still central to the process, says Nemeth, but digital learning with AI-driven features accelerates the on-the-job training.
Bahama Buck’s, a dessert chain headquartered in Texas, saw a 25% reduction in the time it takes frontline workers to get fully up-to-speed after working with Opus. Likewise, the employee retention rate improved 9% for the Oklahoma-based Bricktown Brewery chain.
Other mobile training providers are well-established in the general market Opus serves, including Axonify, Pathstream, and eduMe. But the company, which pivoted during the pandemic, has attracted roughly $20M in investment.
This week Opus announced that it has expanded beyond restaurants, adding customers in retail, fitness, healthcare, and customer services. More than 15% of its users are now outside of the restaurant industry, including Sparkle, a growing dog grooming franchise. So far, more than 300K workers have used the platform.
Nemeth says focusing on training and supports for frontline, deskless workers can unlock untapped potential in the U.S. economy.
The Kicker: “Dedicating the same resources and attention that have been given to knowledge workers for decades will create new opportunities and help people advance,” she says.