“When you think about something and don't really know much about it, you will automatically get information.” Larry Page, Co-founder, Google.
In the world of corporate training, many trends have come and gone over the years. Continuous sales training helped, but trainers and managers still struggled to counteract the forgetting curve, the rapid rate at which employees forget information directly after learning it.
Today, just-in-time (JIT) learning is helping employees avoid information overload, access knowledge when they need it, and put what they’re learning into practice immediately. JIT learning is the key to overcoming the forgetting curve and empowering employees to control how and when they access knowledge.
Read on to learn what just-in-time learning is, why it matters, and some best practices for implementing it.
What is just-in-time learning?
Just-in-time learning is a training approach that gives employees access to the right knowledge at the right time. Instead of relying on classroom sessions or bulky LMS modules, JIT learning delivers information at the point of friction, where employees are likely to make mistakes or need clarity.
It embeds knowledge directly into workflows so employees can find answers without disrupting their work.
Why is just-in-time learning important?
JIT learning is important for any business that wants to improve:
Technology adoption
Platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot can be complex, and constant updates require teams to refresh their skills. JIT learning uses walkthroughs, Speks, and embedded guidance to help employees learn new information without becoming overwhelmed.
Worker autonomy
JIT learning promotes active learning by enabling employees to self-serve answers through a searchable knowledge base, Speks, videos, or AI-powered guidance, whether in the office or in the field.
Employee satisfaction & retention
By reinforcing knowledge in the flow of work, JIT learning supports a “learn by doing” approach. Bite-sized reinforcement increases retention and makes training more effective.
Change management
In today’s change economy, the pace of updates is relentless. JIT learning enables companies to instantly communicate new processes, product updates, or competitive insights, ensuring employees adapt quickly.
Knowledge retention
Research shows employees forget 50% of what they learn within one hour. JIT learning prevents this by reinforcing information in small, manageable chunks, embedded in daily tasks.
Best practices for implementing just-in-time learning at scale
1. Identify the “moments of need”
One of the greatest advantages of just-in-time learning over traditional training is its ability to target pain points that have immediate impact. Instead of overwhelming employees with a flood of content, JIT learning ensures training appears in the exact context where it is most useful.
This often starts with onboarding. New hires benefit from guidance in their flow of work rather than days of classroom training. It also applies to ongoing role development, where employees need quick reinforcement on objection handling, new product messaging, or process updates.
With Spekit, enablement teams can embed Speks directly into Salesforce fields, HubSpot processes, or any workflow to deliver guidance step by step. AI Sidekick, the just-in-time sales assistant™, takes this further by using CRM and call intelligence signals to anticipate what a rep needs and surface personalized coaching or content right when it matters.
If you’re unsure what those “moments of need” are, start by asking for feedback from managers and frontline reps. The areas where employees feel most stuck are where JIT learning can have the fastest impact.
2. Make content easy to digest and find
The way learning content is created and shared has changed. Long-form training modules often overwhelm employees. Today, short and actionable resources are most effective. Research shows that attention spans are shorter than ever, which means content must be designed for quick consumption.
Each training resource—whether a Spek, short video, or interactive walkthrough—should be no longer than a few minutes. This helps employees absorb the information without losing focus. Ideally, learning fits into the natural workflow so there is no need for employees to leave the tool they are working in.
This is why companies use platforms like Spekit. Speks appear directly in the flow of work to answer specific questions in context. AI Sidekick goes further by proactively surfacing relevant recommendations in tools like Salesforce, Outlook, Slack, or Gong, based on what the employee is doing. By reducing time spent searching, employees stay productive and confident.
Case study: Learn how Southwest Airlines uses Spekit to provide just-in-time training to its sales reps .
3. Use rich formats to support different learners
Every employee learns differently. Some are visual learners, some auditory, some kinesthetic, and others prefer reading and writing. Effective just-in-time learning accounts for these preferences by offering content in multiple formats.
Visual learners benefit from screenshots, infographics, or short videos embedded in Speks. Auditory learners might engage better with coaching tips or call recordings surfaced by AI Sidekick. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing, which Spekit supports by delivering step-by-step guidance in the exact workflow where the skill is applied. Reading and writing learners can benefit from text-based Speks or knowledge articles that summarize key processes.
By centralizing these formats in Spekit, enablement teams can deliver training that reaches every type of learner. Features like Knowledge Checks provide quick quizzes that reinforce knowledge for all learning styles and give managers insight into adoption and retention.
One study showed that three days after learning information, people typically remember only 10 percent of it. In contrast, they remember up to 65 percent when the information is both visual and verbal. In the context of corporate training, where knowledge retention is very important, this is a huge difference! Combine visuals with written content to increase knowledge retention.
4. Reinforce training with real-world examples, not just information
Training should not stop at abstract information. Employees need real-world examples that tie directly to their day-to-day challenges. For instance, if reps are being trained to demonstrate value rather than offering discounts, they need to practice handling pricing objections in realistic scenarios.
With Spekit, reinforcement happens in the flow of work. AI Sidekick surfaces contextual coaching, such as talk tracks or objection-handling guides, during calls or email follow-ups. Managers can also launch Deal Rooms to package tailored buyer-facing resources that help reps apply training directly in live opportunities.
By tying training to immediate, practical use cases, you transform learning from passive knowledge consumption into active skill application. This not only builds confidence but also drives measurable performance improvements.
5. Allow employees to participate in the process
Traditional training often takes a top-down approach, but employees retain more when they participate in shaping their own learning. Allowing employees to ask questions, flag outdated content, or suggest new resources turns learning into a collaborative process.
Spekit makes this easy. Employees can give feedback on content, request updates, or highlight gaps. Enablement teams and subject-matter experts can then use AI-powered content creation to convert long SOPs, product updates, or process documentation into concise, consumable knowledge in minutes.
This bottom-up approach ensures that content stays relevant and aligned to employee needs. It also builds trust, because reps know the resources in Spekit reflect real-world challenges they are facing in the field.
6. Use software that supports just-in-time learning
The scale and effectiveness of JIT learning depend on the platform that powers it. Traditional LMS systems or static knowledge bases are not built for the pace of modern revenue teams. They often require employees to leave their workflow, remember what they learned later, and then attempt to apply it in the field.
Spekit is the modern AI-powered enablement platform that unifies content management, enablement, and personalized guidance to help revenue teams automate workflows and close deals quicker. It combines an intelligent content management system with AI Sidekick to deliver personalized guidance, content, and recommendations directly in the flow of work.
Sidekick embeds contextual AI agents into daily tasks, anticipating rep needs and automating workflows such as curating and creating content or launching Deal Rooms. By surfacing guidance in real time, it enables reps to prepare for calls, follow up, and engage buyers more effectively.
Granular analytics on content consumption and buyer engagement give leaders visibility into what content drives pipeline, what training sticks, and where execution breaks down. By combining insights with AI-driven guidance, Spekit strengthens change management, increases adoption, and accelerates performance at scale.
7. Collect feedback from employees
Even the best content will lose effectiveness if it is not continuously refined. Employees will not always volunteer feedback, so enablement teams should proactively create ways for reps to share input on what’s working and what isn’t.
Spekit helps close this loop. Employees can leave feedback directly in the platform, while admins can see what Speks or Deal Rooms are being used most often. This feedback ensures content stays fresh, relevant, and aligned to rep needs.
8. Collect feedback from employees
No training program is complete without measurement. ROI must be clear to both leaders and enablement teams. Without measurement, it is impossible to know whether training is being adopted or whether it is improving performance.
Spekit makes results measurable with granular analytics. Admins can track which content is being accessed, how often Knowledge Checks are completed, and what buyer-facing content is resonating. Over time, this shows leaders what is moving deals forward and where gaps remain.
By combining employee feedback with analytics, companies can prove the impact of just-in-time learning and continuously optimize their enablement strategy.
Make time for just-in-time learning
In summary, just-in-time learning provides knowledge both where and when it’s needed. When employees can access answers directly in their workflow, they complete tasks more efficiently and retain what they’ve learned. To create an effective program, follow best practices like using multiple content formats, encouraging employee participation, and measuring results with analytics.
Spekit is purpose-built for this approach. As the modern AI-powered enablement platform, Spekit unifies content management, enablement, and personalized guidance in one place. With Speks, AI Sidekick, Deal Rooms, Knowledge Checks, and analytics, Spekit ensures that training is delivered in the flow of work and reinforced until it becomes second nature.
Ready to put just-in-time learning into practice? Book a demo to learn more!
