Legacy training tools are on the chopping block — and frontline teams are leading the charge.
New research from eduMe, an AI-first training platform built for frontline workers, reveals what could be a major turning point in how businesses approach learning and development (L&D). In a survey of over 1,100 frontline employees, L&D leaders, and training creators, the results were clear: the days of slow, repetitive, one-size-fits-all training are numbered.
And if the frontline gets its way, AI is going to be doing a lot more than generating content — it’s going to run the show.
Four Trends That Point to an L&D Reboot
1. AI Is No Longer a Nice-to-Have — It’s the Strategy
Senior L&D decision-makers aren’t just curious about AI — they’re ready to spend. Nearly half of respondents plan to increase investment in AI-first platforms, while 89% expect their overall L&D budgets to shift or grow in response to tech advancements. At the same time, spending is drifting away from traditional learning management systems (LMS) and external content vendors — a signal that companies want solutions tailored to their people, not just packaged content libraries.
2. Admin Overload Is Breaking the System
Only 10% of organizations have automated the basics — like assigning the right training to the right people at the right time. That means the other 90% are still mired in scheduling chaos, data entry, and chasing completions. Around two-thirds of respondents want AI to take over tasks like targeting and reporting, freeing up their time for higher-impact work. In other words: less spreadsheet jockeying, more strategy.
3. Managers Are Being Left Out — and It’s Hurting Performance
Despite being closest to the action, 75% of frontline managers say they want more say in what their teams are learning. Nearly half say they rarely receive feedback on how training is being received or whether it’s working. That lack of visibility is a major gap — and one that AI can help close by automatically surfacing insights, tracking behavioral data, and building real-time feedback loops.
4. Frontline Workers Want Smarter, Personalized Learning
Repetitive training isn’t just boring — it’s wasting time. A staggering 93% of frontline workers want adaptive learning experiences, while 84% say they’d rather ask AI a question than search a manual or LMS. This signals a growing appetite for on-demand, in-the-flow-of-work learning — training that meets them where they are, on their devices, and in their language.
This is exactly where eduMe is staking its claim.
“We didn’t start with AI and work backwards,” said Jacob Waern, CEO and founder of eduMe. “We started with real problems — the kind that slow down teams — and built from there.”
The Platform: AI That Speeds Up, Not Slows Down
eduMe’s tools are designed with frontline reality in mind — short shifts, high turnover, low patience for clunky UX. Its learner chatbot provides instant answers via text or voice, meaning no need to click through layers of content just to find a basic how-to. Meanwhile, AI-powered content creation and translation compress what used to take days into minutes.
That combination — speed, relevance, and accessibility — is central to eduMe’s pitch. No new apps, no login headaches. Just instant training inside the tools teams already use, like Microsoft Teams or Workday. (eduMe is both a Workday Certified Partner and part of the Workday Ventures portfolio.)
Market Implications: Goodbye LMS, Hello Learning Infrastructure
This shift echoes broader trends in HR tech and enterprise software. Just as CRM moved beyond sales tracking and ERP evolved from accounting platforms, L&D is moving beyond the LMS. What companies need now is not just content storage, but a learning infrastructure that’s dynamic, embedded, and intelligent.
And platforms like eduMe are positioning themselves as the future core — particularly for industries that live or die on frontline performance, like hospitality, retail, logistics, and healthcare.
Big names already using eduMe include Hilton, 7-Eleven, and Home Depot, all leveraging the platform to rapidly deliver microlearning in fast-moving, high-volume environments.
The data from eduMe’s new report confirms what many frontline leaders already know: legacy L&D tools weren’t built for the realities of frontline work. What’s rising in their place are AI-powered, mobile-native platforms that streamline operations and boost performance in real time.
The takeaway? If your LMS feels more like a filing cabinet than a performance engine, your frontline probably feels the same — and they’re ready for something smarter.
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