Your 4-minute guide to localized compliance training

Let’s face it — most global compliance training programs can feel like it were designed for robots, not people. And here’s the kicker: what works in one region might be completely irrelevant (or even offensive) in another. Localization isn’t a luxury — it’s the key to building trust, meeting regulations, and keeping your global workforce engaged.

So how do you actually localize compliance training? It’s simpler than you might think. Here’s your no-nonsense guide.

Start with regional regulations

Legal requirements differ widely across regions. Ignoring this can result in ineffective training — or worse, fines. Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon without checking the route first, the same logic applies to compliance training. Every country (and sometimes every state) has its own rules, and if you're not familiar with them, there's consequences.

• Why it matters: Training employees on irrelevant regulations wastes time, negatively affects engagement, and leaves your organization at risk of fines.
• What to do: Map out region-specific laws. Prioritize high-risk regions — like GDPR in Europe or workplace safety in Australia.

If you need somewhere to start, try Go1’s compliance content offering, which includes region-specific trainings in multiple languages and dialects from providers like EasyLlama, Emtrain, LRN, and more.

Translate beyond words

A direct translation might technically be correct, but it often misses the mark. Translation alone isn’t enough. Context, tone, and cultural nuances matter, especially for compliance topics that often involve risk and employee safety.

For example, if you're in Japan, subtlety may be a bigger priority for addressing concerns, whereas in the US, a more direct approach can work best. Having the forethought to consider these cultural differences will localize your trainings and show your commitment to employee understanding.

• What to do: You don't need to understand every detail yourself, but the content providers you use should understand compliance and the local culture.
• Alternatives on a budget: If that’s not an option due to existing contracts with more general providers or budget restrictions, ask regional managers or other in-house experts to review content until you can move to a more comprehensive solution.

Not to scare you, but a misstep in tone or context could turn your training into a punchline — or worse, a liability. It's an investment for now and the future to execute compliance training with context in mind.

Add real-life scenarios

No one will remember generic examples like “Employee A does X,” and while checking the box gets the job done, making sure employees are safe and informed is part of that completion. Compliance training scenarios should feel like something employees could actually face at work. Relatable, actionable training will go the furthest.

For example, in Germany, focusing on data privacy scenarios in a Professional Services firm. Or in Vietnam at a distribution center, workplace safety scenarios might take center stage.

• What to do: Survey regional teams to uncover common challenges or situations that have come up and build your compliance around their input. If an employee can see themselves in the situation, you've met the goal.

To help make personalized training easier for Go1 customers, we offer customizable modules and playlists to add localized examples without starting from scratch.

Offer training in multiple formats

It's not all that shocking that people learn differently. Some prefer videos, while others prefer interactive modules or quick quizzes to learn and retain information. One-size-fits-all formats miss the mark, especially with compliance. It's best to offer a variety of formats if you can, or zoom in on the formats you've seen work best for your teams in the past.

For example, mobile-friendly microlearning works well for field employees in industries like construction or pharma, while desk workers in service industries might need something that's longer, online, and interactive to keep them interested.

• What to do: Use a mix of formats in your compliance training whenever possible. Blending video, quizzes, and infographics when possible. And make sure trainings are convenient and accessible for your teams or they won’t complete it.
• One step further: To go the extra step, tailor formats to the cultural preferences of employees. Our research shows that sandbox environments, which allow for play, failure, and success, are almost twice as popular in Australia (41%) than anywhere else. And in the UK, 60% of employees want content that's longer than one hour.

Monitor, measure, repeat

Localization isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it process, it's ongoing. It's important that you monitor results and adjust as needed, tracking what works and what doesn’t.

If completion rates in one region are lower, dig into why. Maybe the training format isn’t a good fit, or the topic isn't resonating in the right way. Some detective work may be needed to get your compliance training programs right for each location, but the data doesn't lie, so rely on it.

Localized compliance training builds trust, retention, and drives completions. By tailoring your approach by region, you’ll meet local regulations while fostering a global culture of accountability. And with the right tools, supportive solutions, and some intentional effort, you can build a compliance training program that works everywhere — and for everyone.

Need help making your compliance training a better fit for your global team? We've got your back. Schedule time with our team to see our compliance and upskilling training offering in practice. You can have employee development and compliance in one easily accessible subscription with Go1.