Training in the Trades
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.
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.
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.
More on the Future of Learning
Process Creator: Create and Update Detailed SOPs in Seconds with KnowHow
Top 5 Training Gaps in the Restoration Industry—And How to Fix Them
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