How to Create Real Value with Workflow Learning
Featured
Blog Post
23/06/2025
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7 Min. Read
Conversation with Anton Skrobanek from the nextbike Group
Companies invest in Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learnings, and standardized training programs, but the expected impact often fails to materialize. Low course completion rates, limited employee acceptance, and a lack of real-world applicability are well-known challenges in implementing effective corporate learning.
We had an inspiring conversation with Anton Skrobanek—Organizational Development Specialist at the nextbike Group (hereinafter referred to as "nextbike")—to explore how Workflow Learning and Performance Support can create real value for companies. With a background in education and teacher training, Anton brings a unique perspective to corporate learning and development. In his role at nextbike, the European market leader in bike-sharing, he is working toward fundamentally transforming the company’s internal learning and knowledge culture.
Why Formal Learning Isn’t Enough
Traditional e-learning serves a purpose, particularly in areas such as onboarding or compliance, where the goal is basic knowledge acquisition and the content remains relevant over time. Here, digital formats can save time and resources.
But the reality of day-to-day business is more complex. The main criticism: separating learning from work may not reflect the dynamic nature of the workplace. As a result, employees perceive learning offerings as disconnected from practice and develop a critical stance toward LMS and e-learnings. Acceptance suffers—along with the potential business impact.
“Especially for operational employees, most learning moments don’t happen in a training room, but during daily work,” says Skrobanek. “A bicycle mechanic faced with a new component can’t rely on a 45-minute product training in which only 1% is relevant to his question. He needs immediate, practical support.”
Workflow Learning: Learning at the Moment of Need
Corporate learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms or e-learning modules. It happens on the job. Employees encounter a wide variety of situations that require knowledge acquisition or adaptation—so-called learning moments:
learning something new
learning more about something
applying knowledge
solving specific problems
responding to changes
The first two learning moments—building and deepening knowledge—can be effectively supported through formal formats like e-learnings or LMS-based courses. These are especially common in onboarding programs or compliance training, where content is well-structured and long-term relevant. Digital formats also allow training resources to be used more efficiently.
But what happens after the formal learning ends and the real work begins?
When knowledge needs to be applied or adapted to new situations, traditional training formats reach their limits. Accessing the right information is often cumbersome, delayed, or entirely absent—especially for frontline teams without computer workstations.
This is where Workflow Learning comes in. This approach aims to provide employees with exactly the information they need, in their specific work context, at their moment of need—ideally without disrupting their workflow. Whether it’s assembling a new component, troubleshooting, or handling updated processes: instead of lengthy research or generic training, targeted performance support using effective communication tools is the answer.
Workflow Learning is not just about delivering knowledge—it’s about enabling people to work autonomously, efficiently, and confidently. This is the real added value for modern, learning-oriented organizations.
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Performance Support in Practice
Performance support is especially relevant for nextbike, as the company designs and continuously develops its own hardware. This constantly creates new challenges, such as introducing new bike components or models into existing systems, or launching new rental systems with new staff.
Skrobanek sees great potential in digital solutions—especially AI-powered assistants like those offered by Elephant—for building performance support: “At some of our locations, only a handful of people work, who aren’t optimally connected to experienced colleagues in other systems. With artificial intelligence like Elephant, workshop and field staff could, for the first time, access our entire technical documentation across locations,” explains Skrobanek. “The AI responds to specific questions, delivers immediate answers with source links, and makes information available exactly where it’s needed.”
Another advantage: the collected user queries provide valuable insight into recurring challenges and help admins and editors systematically identify and close gaps in training materials and documentation. The result is a learning system that continuously adapts to real-world practice.
Vision: Learning That Creates Value
The goal is a cultural shift toward a genuine learning organization—where knowledge is readily accessible, contextually relevant, and, most importantly, practically useful. Skrobanek's vision is clear:
“I’m convinced that the very people who benefit least from formal learning via conventional LMSs will instantly recognize the value of AI assistance. I’d be thrilled if our mechanics and drivers at nextbike become fans of the software. The aim is not to replace L&D, but to add a powerful tool to the toolbox—one that’s not only motivating but ultimately makes a difference to business results.”
It’s not about learning for learning’s sake, but about solutions that address real problems and make daily work easier. This approach offers the opportunity for a new quality of learning—and a real cultural shift toward supportive, just-in-time learning.
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