For title and escrow companies, where every transaction involves nuanced legal intricacies and detailed research, the need for a well-educated workforce is crucial. Continuing to educate your employees offers many benefits to your company. An IBM study found that businesses that utilize continuing education saw a:
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However, improved business metrics are just one driving force behind prioritizing continuing education. Employees themselves are pushing companies to provide more training opportunities so they feel more engaged in their current roles and better prepared for the future. According to the Harvard Business Review, the name for this quest for knowledge is upskilling: “a longer-term investment in augmenting the knowledge, skills, and competencies that help employees advance their careers.” According to the same IBM study, new employees are 42% more likely to stay when they receive continued, consistent training they need to do their job properly.
The evidence shows that continuing education is great for both business owners and employees. So where should your team members go for these all-important resources?
Accredited Continuing Education Courses
Continuing education (CE) courses are probably the first resource you think of for upskilling your employees, and for good reason. CE courses are critical and often legally required for every title professional. These classes focus on industry-specific subjects and best practices that are helpful for both those new to the industry and title veterans. For new title professionals, there are courses covering the principles of land title and the basic terminology they’ll need to know to get started. For those who have been in the industry for years, there are courses to stay up to date on the latest best practices, especially those involving new technological processes like remote online notarization (RON).
The three most common places to find industry-related continuing education courses are:
While the broad industry knowledge you receive from accredited CE classes is vital, you’ll also need to know the day-to-day tools and tactics that you can use to put that knowledge to work. That’s where SoftPro comes in.
How SoftPro Can Help
Separate from the CE courses just discussed, SoftPro has training options specific to our different editions of SoftPro software so your employees can become better trained in the software they use every day. We offer four types of training services to adapt to any learning style that your employees need. With these services, SoftPro allows you to keep your employees engaged and satisfied, knowing they’re improving their skills and potential for the future. Follow along for more details on each of our training options.
1. Free Webinars
SoftPro’s free webinars are the best way to get the information you need as fast as possible. Webinars last no longer than one hour, so you can learn something new with minimal interruption to your day. Updated with new subjects every month, the classes are led by our team of expert trainers and cover specific features and processes to learn within the SoftPro system. Each subject has three different date and time opportunities, so you can choose the best option for your schedule.
For example, do you struggle with balancing those pesky construction loans? In one of our June webinars, title pros can walk with us through the basic process of setting up a construction loan and keeping their orders balanced at all times. If you miss this month’s lessons, there’s no need to fear. We post a new slate of webinars each month. Visit our list of webinars to see the upcoming, exciting subjects to learn for free.
2. Web-Based Training
Our web-based training is the perfect combination of efficiency and effectiveness. If you and your team don’t have a full day to devote to training or only need training on a specific aspect of your SoftPro software, this is your solution.
The first thing to understand about our web-based training is that it’s not pre-recorded instructions on using our software. These trainings are live, private, customizable sessions fully focused on your company’s needs. You interact in real-time with one of our expert trainers over the phone throughout your training. Via your computer, you participate in an interactive session that allows you to follow the lessons from the comfort of your own home or office. You can also participate in a training session with multiple colleagues to educate an entire team for one small price.
The sessions are a la carte based on the subject you want to learn about and the type of SoftPro product you use. Sessions last one to two hours and cover any step of the title production process you need assistance with or would like to improve. Each session has a description covering the key points you need to know before you dive in, such as:
3. Onsite Training
Onsite sessions are the most robust and effective training methods we offer. While web-based solutions are great for relatively quick training sessions, studies show that in-person training is the most effective strategy for learning. Instead of one to two-hour sessions, one of our onsite trainers can be in your office for one to five business days. We’ll even come in on Saturdays if you don’t want to interrupt your regular work week with a training session.
The increased, dedicated time allows our trainers to focus on every aspect of your business. When we’re working side-by-side, we can observe your typical methods and suggest more effective ways to take advantage of everything your SoftPro system offers. Our trainers have gained considerable knowledge from working with dozens of similar organizations nationwide. They use this experience to identify areas where you can use hidden shortcuts, automation or new techniques to work more efficiently. If you know exactly what your team needs to learn, we can fully customize your training program to make it as effective as possible.
We offer onsite training in six primary Training Tracks. These are the subjects that our clients request most often for onsite training sessions:
4. Consulting
Our consulting services are the most personalized form of training we provide to make sure your office is utilizing SoftPro to its full potential. Like our other forms of training, our consultants can reach you online to work on specific subjects or in person to work on broader goals. What sets consulting apart is the extensive process and the documented results. Here’s how we break it down:
The Process:
The Results:
The Bottom Line
Upskilling through continuing education is crucial to the success of every modern title insurance company. It improves your business metrics and fosters the satisfaction and retention of your most important resource: your team members. Accredited continuing education courses serve as valuable avenues for upskilling employees. However, the skills and overall workflow improvement that SoftPro training provides can take your business to the next level.
If you’re ready to ensure the overall success of your business and employees, head over to SoftPro’s website to see which training solutions are best for you. If you’re ready for a new software partner or want to bring your SoftPro system up a notch, contact us or give us a call at 800-848-0143 today!