2.2 Demand (what buyers will ask for)

1) Onboarding & upskilling in the project context — not generic theory

What execs will request: tracks that mirror real work: short scenarios tied to an actual project, one micro-action, instant feedback, then the next decision. No “binge courses”; learning must fit the workday and move people to useful output fast.
Why: L&D priorities continue shifting toward aligning learning to business goals and in-flow experiences; onboarding quality strongly correlates with productivity and retention. learning.linkedin.com+1 Harvard Business Review shrm.org

Visual to add: “Project-Context Ladder” — 4 rungs from “generic module” → “role scenario” → “project-bound micro-route” → “measurable output in sprint.”

2) KPI-based contracts for learning: retention, time-to-productivity, post-training accuracy

What execs will request: pilot-then-scale deals with explicit KPI gates:

Completion/Retention (finish rates on micro-routes),
Time-to-Productivity (weeks to first independent tasks),
Accuracy after training on control mini-cases (decision quality, error rate).

Why: Finance is prioritizing cash flow and cost optimization, pushing L&D to prove value with metrics; evidence shows simulation-based practice improves performance/accuracy versus theory-only exposure. Gartner+1 PMC Lippincott

Visual to add: “Pilot KPI Contract” — a one-page funnel: Pilot → hit KPIs (Retention ↑, Accuracy ↑, TtP ↓) → Rollout.

3) Scalable products across domains (EPC, HSE, Sales Ops, etc.) without rewriting the core

What execs will request: one route-first, data-first engine that can host many domains/roles via content packs—same telemetry and certification logic everywhere.
Why: Buyers see today’s market as corporate learning technologies (LMS/LXP, libraries, assessments); they now want a layer that orchestrates routes and data consistently across domains, aligned with the broader move to skills-based, boundaryless organizations. Standards like xAPI make cross-module, event-level data feasible. Gartner Deloitte xAPI.com

Visual to add: “Domain Grid” — common engine (routes + xAPI telemetry) with swappable domain packs (EPC / HSE / Ops / PM / Sales), all feeding one competency profile.

Executive takeaway

Expect requests for project-anchored micro-routes that shorten onboarding—measured, not narrated. learning.linkedin.com shrm.org
Deals will include KPI clauses (Retention, TtP, Post-training Accuracy) and a pilot → rollout motion. Gartner
Buyers will favor route/data platforms that scale across domains and keep a unified skills record (via xAPI). Gartner xAPI.com

Sources (board-friendly)

LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report 2024 — aligning learning to business goals; in-flow, micro/nano trends. learning.linkedin.com+1
HBR (Bersin): Learning in the Flow of Work — rationale for project-embedded learning. Гарвардское деловое обозрение
SHRM Onboarding (2024) — onboarding quality → productivity/retention. shrm.org+1
Gartner Finance Priorities (2024/2025) — cash flow, cost optimization; KPI mindset for spend. Gartner+1
Simulation-based training evidence — performance/accuracy gains vs. theory-first. PMC Lippincott
Gartner: Corporate Learning Technologies (category context) — why buyers now want route/data layers above content hubs. Gartner
ADL/xAPI overview — event-level telemetry across experiences. xAPI.com