THE FUTURE OF LEARNING

Training in the Trades

Why LMS Fall Short—and What Comes Next
In this article

It Starts with Steve

Steve's been with your company for 11 years. He's the kind of guy you trust with your biggest jobs—and your newest hires. So when the latest tech, Carlos, shows up on Day One, fresh from 48 hours of LMS modules, you tell him: "Stick with Steve."

But by lunch, Steve's already behind on his tasks. Carlos is overwhelmed by the information overload. He asks the same questions. Again. And again.

By Day Five, Steve's frustrated from repeating himself. Carlos is embarrassed by his forgetfulness. By Day Twenty, Carlos is gone.

Before KnowHow we were doing lots if shadowing. Now that we have KnowHow employees can always get answers on the jobsite right on their phone.

— Heather Harbin, HR Manager at FP Property Restoration

This is how it goes—again and again—in restoration, HVAC, roofing, and every other skilled trade where the job can't be learned in a browser tab.

The Hidden Cost of Poor Training

That one lost tech? It cost you nearly $5,000.

Now multiply that by every new hire who quits, every veteran who burns out, and every callback that could have been avoided.

  • Mistakes on the job
  • Burnout from over-reliance on veterans
  • A revolving door that kills morale and momentum

Training isn't just a line item. It's the difference between retention and churn. Between 5-star reviews and 5-figure callbacks. Between growth and thinning margins, especially in a cash-crunched year.

Why LMS Fail in the Field

LMS was built for white-collar jobs. For "read this, click next." But field workers? They learn by doing. They need repetition, mentorship, muscle memory. They need answers right when the job goes sideways—not two weeks earlier on slide 74.

Reality in the Trades LMS Shortcomings
Hands-on, real-time learning
Workers learn through repetition, practice, and immediate feedback
Screen-based, passive content
Static modules with no interaction or practical application
High turnover, fast onboarding
Need to get people productive quickly in competitive market
One-size-fits-all course paths
Rigid curriculum that doesn't adapt to individual needs
Mobile job sites, limited time
Learning happens in trucks, basements, and on ladders
Clunky desktop-first experiences
Designed for office computers, not mobile devices
Questions mid-task
Workers need guidance exactly when problems arise
No real-time support or guidance
Information buried in completed modules from weeks ago

A Better Way

The SCALE Method by KnowHow

Instead of LMS overload, forward-thinking companies are turning to KnowHow—a just-in-time, AI-powered training platform purpose-built for ambitious trades teams.

KnowHow uses a range of AI-powered features to implement the SCALE Method, which transforms how techs learn:

It's field training that sticks. Because it's training that's lived, not just read.

Non-Negotiables for Busy Restorers Teams with a LMS Teams with KnowHow
Trusted expertise that's easy to access Use browser/desktop-based tools; difficult to search for specific answers on-the-job Leverage easy-to-use mobile and desktop apps, with fast, trustworthy search, so techs can get answers in the moment
A simple way to show new staff how things get done Limited when creating new content—slow, manual, and locked behind admin tools Turn point-and-shoot videos into step-by-step SOPs in minutes, capturing and sharing veteran expertise, fast
Confidence that everyone’s doing things the same way No easy way to update SOPs or confirm they’re being followed Easily maintain their master playbook, sharing it across their network, so everyone does the job the same way
Cost-effective tools that grow with them Seasonal crews still cost full-time fees, and building a curriculum takes time and resources Get started faster, and only pay for active users, not empty seats

The Results: Carlos 2.0

Carlos 2.0 isn't guessing. He's leading. He's walking new hires through process steps with confidence. He's reducing mistakes. And he's still here—three months later.

Companies using KnowHow are:

  • Onboarding techs 40% faster
  • Reducing first-week errors
  • Realizing a 20x ROI on their training investment
  • Keeping veterans like Steve from burning out

What's Next?

If you're building a tech stack for your portfolio companies, don't settle for a checkbox LMS.

Use a tool like KnowHow to improve your bottom line and keep your Steves—and your Carloses—happy. To learn how, watch a short demo here or book a personalized walkthrough with the KnowHow team.

Want to see what KnowHow can do for your workforce? Book a demo.
Get a Demo