How to Create SOP Training Videos (with AI)
How to Create SOP Training Videos
By Amy Vidor
Learning and Development Evangelist at Synthesia
Create engaging video SOPs in 160+ languages.
Nothing kills trust in L&D like out-of-date training.
I get it. I would also be frustrated if I sought out a training that demonstrates how to do something, only to find out the steps were just wrong. Not only would I feel like I've wasted my time, but I certainly wouldn't finish the training.
That's the challenge we face when it comes to SOP training. Any time the SOP changes, whether insignificantly or substantively, the training needs to be revised. Quickly.
Fortunately, our ability to turn around updates to training depends on factors like our tech stack and SME availability. While I can't help you with the latter (believe me, I wish I could), I can help you with the former.
If you're looking for ways to design engaging training for your SOPs using video, you're in the right place.
Video SOPs vs. SOP training videos
Before I dive in, I want to clarify something: a video SOP and a training video about SOPs are two different things.
I've seen a lot of discussion conflating the two, so if you're also confused, you're not alone.
To be clear, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a document that instructs someone how to complete a task. Typically, it includes things like step-by-step processes and any quality checks or risks, to ensure safety and consistency.
In many regulated industries, like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, or government agencies, SOPs serve an important role. They're a paper trail or a system of record. Therefore, they need to be clearly labeled and versioned, and regularly maintained.
A video SOP is exactly what it sounds like: a video version of that document. Yet somehow, it has become shorthand for training videos about SOPs.
Video SOP vs. SOP Training Video
While you could use video SOPs if you're in a non-regulated industry, like hospitality or retail, if you're in an industry that submits SOPs to a regulatory body for compliance auditing, I would not recommend it.
Why the SOP can't be the training
Think about your first day at your current job. Imagine someone handed you a 50-page document and told you to read it cover to cover because it's all the training you need as a new employee.
How engaged would you be in that training?
SOPs are great repositories of information. Thanks to AI integrations, employees can often surface them in the flow of work. But an SOP is not a substitute for structured training.
Decades of learning science show that we can only retain so much information before we overwhelm our working memory. A 30-page document will do that to you.
When to use video for SOP training
If the training objective is for someone to follow a process and perform it, video is often the right choice.
Video-based learning is effective because it combines visuals with narration. People can pause and replay at their own pace until they feel confident enough to perform the process.
But video isn't always the right choice for training on SOPs. Here are several scenarios to help you decide when video training is the right format.
| Scenario | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A new technician needs to observe a cleanroom gowning procedure before they're permitted on the floor. | Use video | Video lets employees see correct execution in a controlled environment before they're granted access. |
| A franchise group rolls out a new food safety SOP across 400 locations in eight countries. | Use video | One localized video, tracked in the LMS, reaches every site simultaneously. |
| A pharmaceutical company updates drug formulation specifications for an FDA submission. | Don't use video | When procedural language has legal standing, employees need to read and sign off on the source document. |
| A manufacturing team updates their quality control SOP every time equipment or regulations change. | Use video | Provided you use an AI video platform, updating and redistributing a scene takes minutes. |
| A software team updates a single field label in an internal tool and needs to reflect it in the onboarding SOP. | Don't use video | A Slack message or Confluence annotation gets a one-line update to the team faster. |
How to create an SOP training video
Once you've identified that video is the right medium for your SOP training, five steps will follow every time to create effective training.
If you want to follow along, download this fictional SOP I've created to demo for you.
Step 1: Define your learning objective
I recommend using a structured approach every time to determine who the video is for, what they need to be able to do after watching, and how you'll know if the training was effective. Here's an example:
This video is for [role] who need to [perform specific process]. After watching, they should be able to [complete the task or follow the procedure] without [common error, point of failure, or escalation].
Step 2: Write your script
Transforming a 30-page SOP into a 3-minute video can start with an LLM or scripting tool to get kicked off. Upload the SOP, along with a prompt like the one below.
Sample prompt and script (click to expand)
Hook
When a new employee shows up on day one without system access, it creates a security exception, a compliance gap, and a bad first impression. This video walks you through how to process a software access request correctly, every time.
Step 3: Plan your scenes
With your script, plan your video's layout. Each scene should have one idea. If combining steps, limit it to two so viewers can replay easily if they get stuck.
Step 4: Create your video
Follow the guidance for your tool to build your video, allowing time for revisions. Be strict about cutting tangents.
Step 5: Publish your video
Before wide release, publish it to a small group and capture feedback. Adapt and revise based on this feedback before launching.
Measuring SOP training videos
To know if your SOP training video worked, revisit your learning objective. Your publishing plan shapes what you can measure. If you need completion data for regulatory reasons, use an LMS, which may impose limits, so factor that in before publishing.
About the Author
Amy Vidor
Amy Vidor, PhD is a Learning & Development Evangelist at Synthesia, where she researches learning trends and helps organizations apply AI at scale.