Is E-Learning Dead? Rethinking the ROI of Digital Learning in the Enterprise

For over a decade, digital learning platforms have dominated the corporate L&D landscape. Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learning modules, and compliance click-throughs have become the default for upskilling. But ask your employees what they remember from last quarter’s training… and the silence says it all.

So—is e-learning dead?

Not quite. But e-learning alone is obsolete.

The Myth of Scalable Learning

E-learning promised scale. And for compliance, onboarding, and bite-sized knowledge delivery, it does the job. But learning effectiveness—the kind that changes behavior, builds capability, and drives performance—requires more than a login and a quiz.

In many organisations, e-learning is treated as a one-size-fits-all solution. A self-paced module is launched and tracked… and little else happens. Learners complete it, tick the box, and move on—often without reflection, context, or application.

The result? High completion rates. Low retention. Zero impact.

What the Research Tells Us

Studies consistently show that passive e-learning has limited effect on behavior change or performance improvement. According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD), learners forget 90% of what they learn within a week without reinforcement.

The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning (Wick, Pollock, Jefferson & Flanagan, 2006) remind us that learning transfer happens through social interaction, accountability, and application—not solo screen time.

What Works Better: E-Learning as a Springboard

Instead of asking whether e-learning is dead, the better question is:
How can we make digital learning matter again?

The answer lies in blended learning:
🧠 Knowledge through digital content
🤝 Contextualization in small group learning pods
🎯 Application through coaching and real-time feedback

When e-learning becomes the primer—not the product—its value increases exponentially. Imagine a manager completes a module on giving feedback, then joins a facilitated peer pod to reflect on real conversations, and meets with a coach to plan how to deliver feedback differently next week. That’s learning that sticks.

The Power of Pods and Coaching

What we’re seeing in high-performing organisations is a shift:

• From content delivery to capability development
• From solo learning to social and supported learning
• From tick-the-box metrics to real behavioral ROI
  

Learning pods create safe, structured spaces for sense-making. Coaching supports reflection, commitment, and sustained behavior change. Together, they create accountability loops that LMSs can’t.

Rethink Your Learning Investments

If your LMS is full but your managers still struggle with leadership fundamentals, it's time to stop measuring learning by clicks.

Ask instead:

• Did this change how someone leads?
• Can they apply it in their team?
• Who’s helping them stay accountable?
  

E-learning isn’t dead. But it can’t stand alone.
Pair it with coaching and community, and you’ll unlock real growth—not just content completion.

At BOLDLY, we help organisations move beyond static learning. Our coach marketplace and learning pods turn digital knowledge into development that sticks. Curious how? Let’s talk.

If you're interested in learning more about how BOLDLY can help your organisation, we invite you to explore our or contact us here.