Real-time training: The hidden driver of software ROI | Learning Pool

Enterprise software is supposed to transform how businesses operate. Yet too many leaders find themselves asking the same question a year after go-live: Why aren’t we seeing the return we expected?

The answer rarely lies in the software itself. More often, it’s about how employees use (or don’t use) the new system. Low adoption, slow ramp-up times, and constant user errors chip away at productivity. The investment looks impressive on paper but delivers little in practice.

This gap is the direct result of traditional approaches to employee software training. Slideshows, classroom sessions, and lengthy manuals simply don’t keep pace with today’s evolving business systems. Employees need help in the moment, not a month later when they’ve forgotten half of what they learned.

That’s where real-time training comes in. And it’s the hidden driver of software ROI that most organizations overlook.

Why traditional employee software training doesn’t work for ROI

Every rollout begins with the same promise: “We’ll train employees before go-live, and they’ll be ready.” But business leaders know how this usually plays out:

• Information overload: Employees sit through multi-hour sessions that attempt to cover every workflow. By the time they need to apply that knowledge, most of it is gone.
• Low retention: People retain only a fraction of what’s presented during formal training. Without reinforcement, they revert to old habits or guess their way through new systems.
• Support overload: Help desks and managers become the fallback when users get stuck, driving up costs and slowing down work.
• Static materials: Documentation and eLearning modules rarely keep up with system updates, leaving users with outdated instructions.

The power of in-app training and OnScreen Guidance

This is where the paradigm of real-time training and in-app training becomes not just beneficial, but essential. Instead of pulling employees away from their work, guidance appears directly in the software, at the exact moment of need.

Imagine an employee logging into SAP or Salesforce. Instead of remembering what was taught weeks ago, they see a clear step-by-step walkthrough guiding them through the workflow. No guesswork and no mistakes. Just the task completed correctly, in real time.

That’s the difference between traditional employee software training and in-app training: one hopes employees remember, the other ensures they succeed.

And this is exactly what OnScreen Guidance delivers.

With OnScreen Guidance, organizations can:

• Embed guided tours or process guides directly into any application, from ERP to CRM.
• Add tooltips that provide clarity on tricky fields or new features.
• Push announcements to keep users aligned on process changes.
• Provide instant access to resources and policies without leaving the app.
• Leverage AI help text and multi-language support to meet users wherever they are.

Because it’s no-code, business teams can create and update training content quickly, without relying on IT or L&D teams.

How to increase return on software investment with real-time guidance

The financial case for real-time, in-app training is straightforward.

• Faster time to value: Employees become productive from day one, reducing the costly “hypercare” phase after go-live.
• Lower training costs: Instead of endless classroom sessions, content lives directly in the software and updates instantly.
• Fewer errors: Step-by-step walkthroughs reduce costly mistakes and rework.
• Scalability: Guidance scales across regions, roles, and languages without additional overhead.
• Higher adoption rates: When employees feel confident, they’re more likely to fully embrace new systems.

Why business leaders should care now

Technology investments are under more scrutiny than ever. CIOs and transformation leaders are expected to prove impact, not just deliver systems. Finance teams want to see results on the bottom line. HR and operations managers need to show that employees can adapt quickly without burning out.

Real-time training directly addresses all of these priorities:

• It drives faster adoption, showing ROI sooner.
• It reduces the burden on support and IT, lowering hidden costs.
• It improves employee engagement, which makes change initiatives stick.
• It creates consistency across processes, reducing compliance risks.

In short, it connects the dots between software investment and business outcomes.

OnScreen Guidance: the definitive platform for software ROI

OnScreen Guidance isn’t another add-on or nice-to-have tool. It’s the definitive digital adoption platform for driving ROI from enterprise software. By embedding real-time training and in-app support into the daily flow of work, it ensures employees succeed and businesses see the return they’ve been promised.

What sets OnScreen Guidance apart:

• Simplicity. Any subject matter expert or key user can create and publish guidance in minutes.
• Speed. Speed. Launch in-app guidance fast with minimal technical setup or onboarding effort, so you see value sooner.
• Scalability. Works across any application, from SAP GUI to modern web apps.
• Customer success. Every customer is paired with a dedicated success manager to ensure outcomes, not just support tickets.
• Predictable pricing. One clear price per user covers everything, without hidden fees.

This isn’t training as usual. It’s real-time enablement that turns software from a cost center into a true business asset.

Final thoughts: From adoption to ROI

The most effective way to increase return on software investment isn’t through bigger training programs or longer onboarding sessions. It’s through empowering employees with real-time training that supports them directly in the flow of work.

By reframing user adoption as the direct driver of ROI, business leaders can finally close the gap between what their software costs and the value it delivers.

With OnScreen Guidance, organizations unlock the power of in-app training to achieve higher adoption, fewer errors, and faster results.

Ready to see how much ROI you’re missing? 

Try our ROI Calculator and see what real-time training could mean for your bottom line.