If you currently have an LMS in place, but your employees aren’t engaging with it to the extent that you would like, here are eight ways that you can increase employee engagement with your LMS.

8 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement With Your LMS

Remove Barriers to Participation

The first step to getting employees engaged with an LMS is making sure they understand how to navigate the system. Not all employees will have worked with an LMS before, and even if they have, this LMS will probably be different, and not everything they know will translate to the new system.

Be sure to offer them whatever resources they need, whether that is a video tutorial, an instructive webinar, or even an in-person demonstration. Basically, you want to make using the LMS itself as painless as possible.

Read more on CIO Insight: Employee Training Technology Is the Future of Remote Work

Employ Gamification Strategies

Playing games increases participation and information retention, making gamification an essential strategy for increasing employee engagement. Take advantage of whatever gamification options are offered by your LMS, which will probably include leaderboards, achievement badges, group games, and similar functions.

For the best engagement, offer rewards that translate into something tangible, such as digital points that users can trade in for company swag.

Read more: Predictions for the Future of LMS

Make It Easy to Track Progress

People love to feel like they are accomplishing something, and tracking their progress is a huge part of this feeling of accomplishment. Show them how many modules they have completed, how many they have left to go, and what their estimated date of completion is.

You should also see if the LMS offers the options to present these analytics visually, either in the dashboard or in a separately generated report. You might also want to send each user a “report card” of their progress either weekly or monthly to further nudge them to engage with the LMS.

Incorporate Varied Media Content

Doing the same type of lesson over and over will get old fast. When designing LMS courses, make sure you break things up by incorporating a bunch of different media, including text, images, audio, video, and games. This will help hold users’ attention and keep them from getting burned out on a single type of content.

Read more: Best Employee Onboarding Software

Break It Down Into Smaller Lessons

Not only is an hour-long lesson daunting, it’s also unrealistic to expect employees to carve out so much uninterrupted time to devote to an LMS. Instead, break your modules down into smaller lessons that will only take five to 15 minutes to complete.

Employees are far more likely to have shorter breaks than longer ones, and keeping the lessons short will incentivize them to hop into the LMS and use that down time to complete a lesson instead of putting it off until they have a longer break.

Offer Options for Personalization

Not everyone learns the same way or wants to process content in the same order. Instead of forcing every employee to go through the exact same LMS modules in the exact same order, offer a level of choice in terms of which lessons they complete and when.

This will make them feel more in control and encourage them to actively engage right from the beginning rather than just passively accepting whatever the next lesson is. The more choice you give, the more invested and engaged they will be.

Read More: LMS and Blended Learning: How Should Your Company Use Them?

Harness the Power of Social Learning

Social learning can take many forms, including asking questions, participating in a forum discussion, and playing an educational game with coworkers. Social learning adds variety to the LMS and also contributes to employee engagement and accountability.

If your LMS courses don’t currently include a social learning component, check the software’s capabilities to see if you can add that in to boost employee engagement.

Go Mobile First

Employees are constantly on the go, and they may not spend all day sitting in front of a desktop computer. Thus, it is crucial that your LMS offers options for both smartphones and tablets, so employees can access it from anywhere with a cell signal or internet connection.

If your employees use devices with different operating systems, make sure the app is available for iOS, Android, and whatever other systems they use, so no one is left out.

Read more on Small Business Computing: Employee Development Plans

Find the Right LMS

Not sure if you have chosen the right LMS, or are you still looking for the right system for your company? Learn more about what LMS features to look for, or contact us today to schedule a free personal consultation with one of tech experts. We can help you find the perfect LMS to fit your business’s needs and increase employee engagement.

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Before comparing any specific LMS solutions, you should list specific learning goals for your organization. These might include:

• Safety certification updates
• Regulatory compliance
• Internal extended learning opportunities
• Public education for brand awareness or e-commerce

Defining your goals will help you choose the LMS features that work best for your company. Not every company will need government compliance trainings (HIPAA, OSHA, etc.), and others may want to make their training available for subscription access.

ALSO READ:  LMS and Blended Learning: How Should Your Company Use Them?

Whatever your needs, these eight are the most important LMS features to look for. We’ve also included a few software choices in each section that include the corresponding features. If you want to speed up your research, use our LMS Product Selection Tool. You’ll receive five software recommendations that are tailored to your needs.

Key LMS Features

1. Course creation

It seems like this would be included in all LMS software out there, but the most basic definition of an LMS does not include a course creation module. Some options require you to bring your own content, which means you’ll need to build videos and content in a separate system and import them into the program. Finding an LMS that includes course creation features will help streamline your processes.

Suggested Platforms: Canvas, Bridge

2. Skills/Certification tracking

Skills and certification tracking is one of the most important LMS features for nearly every kind of user. It’s nice to train your employees, but you’ll have no baseline for measuring performance and improvement if you aren’t tracking skills development and certifications — or at the very least, course completion. These features can increase government compliance by making your completed and pending certifications available via a single exportable spreadsheet. Tracking skills learned and certifications completed also gives you the power to report on employee progress, showing the immediate return on your efforts.

Suggested Platforms: MATRIX LMS, BirdDogHR

3. Mobile learning

It’s surprising to learn that some folks don’t have a computer at home, but a helpful way around this pitfall is mobile-ready learning. When your LMS features mobile capabilities, including responsive design or native mobile apps, learners can participate in training from any location using whatever device they do own. This is especially helpful for certifications that require learning outside of the work day, or for distributed teams where learning can occur between calls or visits.

Suggested Platforms: Cornerstone LMS, Litmos LMS

4. Asynchronous learning

One of the best features for improving engagement and knowledge retention is asynchronous learning — the ability for learners to complete course work at their own pace. This means they don’t have to be present at a set time for a lecture or to talk with an instructor. Combining videos, online readings, messaging, and question/answer forums where students can engage with the material at their own pace and on their own timelines helps promote buy-in and improve return.

Suggested Platforms: LearnUpon, Grovo

5. Gamification

Learning for learning’s sake is a great idea in theory, but in the real world (where your employees live), you’ll probably want to incentivize the process. Gamification features can turn learning into a friendly competition. While it may not make your subject matter any more interesting, adding game features to your courses and training programs will engage learners, speed them through the modules, and increase compliance.

Suggested Platforms: Thought Industries, Docebo

ALSO READ: 5 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement with Your LMS

6. Video conferencing

Students who need one-on-one attention or have complicated questions will appreciate an LMS that includes video conferencing features. While messaging boards and email may cover most of your communication needs, video conferencing lets you have difficult conversations. Your company will appreciate that you don’t have to pay for an outside subscription to communicate face-to-face with your students.

Suggested Platforms: eFront, eloomi

7. Social learning/message boards

Like so much of what we do everyday, learning is social, and your LMS should include features that help your students learn from one another. This not only enhances the learning process, but is a great way to reduce strain on your trainers. By adding messaging boards and social learning features, your students can ask and answer questions in a forum setting. The best way to show your understanding of a topic is by teaching it, so let your students teach each other.

Suggested Platforms: TalentLMS, LearnUpon LMS

8. E-commerce and subscriptions

Many LMS programs provide a channel for publishing your content to a wider audience, so you can monetize what you’ve already built. In this case, look for an LMS that lets you gate learning content. To complete a course or learning module, users provide their email address, make a one-time payment, or agree to a monthly subscription. Adding a subscription course to your site is a great way to bring in recurring income using your collective intelligence.

Suggested Platforms: Docebo, LatitudeLearning

* * *

Building your education and training programs takes planning and care, but there are plenty of systems out there to help you along the way. Make sure the software you choose has all the LMS features you need to build and maintain your program and maybe even let your employees self-serve.

Still not sure which LMS features your company will need? Browse and compare options using our Learning Management Product Selection Tool.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

The post 8 Important LMS Features for Your E-Learning Program appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

To find the right learning management software for your business, check out our LMS Product Selection Tool. After answering a few questions, you’ll get an unbiased list of software tailored to your company’s needs.

Table of contents

1. Connecting employees through an LMS
2. Making training effective with microlearning
3. Using gamification to create a clear path
4. Adapting with skills assessments
5. Empowering aging workers with flexibility
6. eLearning opens new doors for everyone

1. Connecting employees through an LMS

The buddy system can be very effective when it comes to training and reaching professional goals. This is particularly true when you pair up a newbie with a more experienced worker.

That’s the theory Peter Trebek, CEO of GoTranscript, had when he started matching new sales reps with more experienced ones during onboarding.

“Chances are, the veteran has already asked the same questions that the new employee has and can answer them quickly with real-life experience,” said Trebek.

This system carries over into the digital world with learning management systems (LMS) that feature mentoring, coaching, and communication features. Many companies group employees together by training class, team, or department, creating an unhindered flow of communication. New hires feel confident that they can get the help they need while tapping into the knowledge and experience of established coworkers.

ALSO READ: 8 Important LMS Features for Your E-Learning Program

3 Cooperative Learning Management Systems

360Learning

360Learning is a collaborative LMS where users can share feedback, ask questions, and collaborate on their assignments. You can create custom content on the system or import modules from other sources. With built-in feedback and analytics, you can identify which courses are providing the most value and which need improvement.

Orblogic

Orblogic is an enterprise LMS that lets you build courses in the platform using a variety of content, including videos, PDFs, and PowerPoint presentations. It also includes a compliance option to train your employees on all of your regulatory requirements. The system also tracks course completion, so you’ll know which employees have completed which modules.

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Docebo

Docebo is a cloud LMS that gives you full customization of your eLearning experience. The platform is also available on mobile, so your employees can learn wherever they are. There are gamification techniques you can integrate into the system for better employee engagement and retention.

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2. Making training effective with microlearning

In his book Brain Science: The Forgetting Curve, writer, professor, and consultant Art Kohn outlined a scenario experienced by many employees. After going through all the required training and doing exceptionally well, a worker will return to their office or worksite and notice that they begin to forget most of what they learned.

Kohn reported that within one hour of a training, participants forget around 50 percent of the information. That increases to 70 percent after 24 hours and 90 percent after a week.

Effective methods and regular reinforcement through microlearning, smaller modules completed over several minutes, is the cure to keeping these neural networks firing. Jim Duckett of DHx Software, an eFrontPro reseller, may have said it best: “The information is easier to digest and increases overall knowledge retention.”

3. Using gamification to create a clear path

If someone gave you the choice of playing a game or going to work, you would probably choose the game. Games are fun, and gamification has added a new level of engagement to LMS platforms that has proven to be beneficial in a professional environment.

In 2014, Cisco invested in a social media training program for contractors and employees. The program included more than 46 courses, which was overwhelming for participants. Most were not sure where to begin, so the company chose to gamify by adding levels of certification. They created three main levels, Specialist, Strategist, and Master, and four sub-levels.

Team challenges encouraged friendly competition. This provided motivation and gave participants a clear set of steps to take to finish the program. Since implementing gamification, more than 650 Cisco employees have completed over 13,000 courses and received certification.

Gamification programs that improve retention

Bunchball

Bunchball is a gamification program that can be integrated into almost any third-party LMS to improve learners’ retention and understanding. Using rewards systems, teamwork, and positive feedback, the software motivates employees and keeps them engaged.

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WorkStride

WorkStride also integrates with LMS platforms to provide gamification and keep employees motivated. Along with training, the program also promotes recognition, incentives, wellness, and safety with different gamification programs.

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4. Adapting with skills assessments

LMS platforms have made it possible to record, store, and sort skills to ensure that employees are utilized to their fullest potential. Adobe discussed the benefits of using an LMS to improve its workforce at the 2017 Pluralsight Live End User Conference. Their eLearning system allowed them to retrain 25 percent of their technical staff to provide support for a new project.

Companies need to be able to adapt when new opportunities appear, especially those in fast-paced industries like technology. An LMS allows businesses to remain adaptable and dynamic. They can quickly review a list of employees who have the skills they need or find areas that are lacking and provide training to fill the gap. These processes would take far longer and be much more expensive without the help of eLearning.

5. Empowering aging workers with flexibility

A 2018 AARP study found that of the 170 million people expected to be in the workforce by 2026, 42 million will be 55 and older. eLearning has created a unique situation for these older workers, as it enables them to work remotely when necessary. It allows older people to remain comfortably employed without the demands of a full-time job.

Many organizations are putting older workers in training roles that they can manage online from home. This also allows experienced workers to share their expertise and help maintain a skilled workforce.

eLearning has other benefits for older people as well. Education is proven to fight off depression thanks to social interactions they may not otherwise get. This can have profound socio-economic benefits for older generations. It’s one of the many ways companies are using eLearning to improve their business and the lives of their employees.

eLearning opens new doors for everyone

The advent of eLearning has opened new doors in education and business training. The tools available today can be tailored to all ages. They improve the way we teach and learn and can create job opportunities for people who otherwise may not have any. It’s a powerful testament to how our lives can improve through technology. As more organizations get on board, new innovations will push eLearning further into the spotlight. It will be exciting to see where we take it.

Interested in seeing which eLearning tools would work for your company? Check out our Learning Management Product Selection Tool to find the right eLearning software solution for your business.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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1. The Drivers of Business Performance Board Game

Gamification is an excellent way to get employees engaged with learning. Advantexe Learning Solutions has created an online board game designed to show how business decisions affect a company’s financial standing. Players participate in realistic scenarios and outcomes based on their moves. Artificial intelligence adjusts tactics as learners play. Online learning modules can be embedded to introduce players to key ideas and business terms.

ALSO READ: 4 Chemicals That Activate Happiness, and How to Gamify Them

2. Microlearning Delivers Bite-Sized Content

Microlearning is a big deal in the eLearning world right now. It comes as no surprise as we discover that the human brain performs better with smaller pieces of information that are spaced out.

A study that appeared in Applied Cognitive Psychology in 2009 found that spacing was essential to knowledge retention. Students studied 20 vocabulary flashcards. Some were told to review the cards in smaller stacks while others were told to review all 20. Those who went through the big stack had a longer period between each time they saw the same word. This lead to better results on a test the following day.

Microlearning allows learners to review information in smaller snippets that are spaced out from one lesson to the next. This can lead to better results in the long term, which is important when training an employee to perform a job. Microlearning applies short videos, visuals, exercises, and presentations in 90 to 120 second sessions that are followed by quizzes and instant feedback.

3. Informal Learning Goes Digital

Informal learning is not a new idea. In fact, around 70 percent of professionals obtain knowledge through social and informal settings. Innovative people in the learning and development industry have harnessed the power of this previously untapped training resource by incorporating it into eLearning. By offering native content and collaborative tools, organizations can provide a well-rounded approach that works better for learners. All interactions and ideas can be tracked and recorded for quick access later, making them even more valuable as a reference tool.

4. Real World Training through the Online Platform

If you need a surgeon, then chances are you want to know that your surgeon has experience performing on real, live human beings. Reading books and memorizing facts and instructions isn’t enough. The eLearning industry addresses this problem through real world training. Activities are integrated into systems through task-based simulations. This allows learners to face problems that they will encounter on the job and find solutions so that they enter the workforce prepared. Not only does this produce more competent employees, but it also reduces on-the-job stress.

5. Rediscovering the Webinar

Webinars are another good idea that’s been around for a while. What’s new is how organizations are utilizing them. Rather than building a lengthy semester-long course or one-off refresher, some companies create training boot camps that span multiple days and cover specific topics in-depth.

For example, a webinar boot camp may be used for compliance training or to increase proficiency. They usually go beyond a single-instructor lecture to include guest speakers, online discussions, and games. Live events are still scripted to ensure that the content stays on topic, but the “live” atmosphere and varied activities create a more engaging experience for the learner.

6. Mentoring Takes a Front Seat

Coaching and mentorship programs are making appearances in the eLearning industry. They provide the long-term attention needed to retain employees and meet training goals. Initial training is essential, but mentorship programs allow employees to grow within the company with the guidance of experienced mentors. eLearning provides more opportunities for communication and better tracking when working towards a goal.

7. Augmented Reality is In Demand

The use of augmented reality (AR) is on the rise. It’s cheaper than developing virtual reality programs and can be used on just about any device. Demand is growing for AR-embedded mobile apps in the education industry. Through superimposed images and text, users can learn more about the world around them. The possibilities are endless when applied to a working environment.

8. Social Learning Keeps Getting Better

The social aspect of online learning continues to improve as more developers and educators learn how to better utilize this resource. Ej4’s Thinkzoom LMS campus introduced The Quad this year, which allows learners to build an informal social network of their peers. Features include badges, leaderboards, comments, and the ability to see course activities and exams taken. Learners can break out of assigned groups to see how they compare to the rest of the student body. The Quad is a great example of how social networking can provide motivation and increase engagement.

9. Digital Textbooks for Faster Research and Study

Digital textbooks are another growing trend that continues to improve the student experience. Some organizations offer eLearning tools but still hand out hard copy textbooks. Transitioning to the digital format is not only cost effective but easier for the learner. Searching text is much faster when a link or a quick word search can direct the user to the section they need. It also cuts down on the need for storage space and waste in schools and offices.

eXact Learning Solutions introduced a new authoring feature last September that allows users to create digital textbooks and similar resources through their system. Document Model, or DM, enables users to build professional looking documents with headers, references, paragraphs, and more that can be delivered digitally.

10. Learning with Serious Games

Serious games have been around for years, but only recently became a big player among LMS features. Titles like Second Life are considered serious games because users can do more than just play. They can build businesses and economies. This idea has also been utilized to further human knowledge.

Project Discovery launched in 2015 and used the serious game concept as a mini-game in the popular MMORPG Eve Online. Players could act as citizen scientists by categorizing real astronomical data and genetic samples for astronomers and geneticists at the University of Geneva.

eLearning has been rising in popularity over the past decade. This year and the next promises to continue that trend with new concepts and improved methods. Businesses should consider reevaluating their training approach to take advantage of these developments, which could lead to better quality workers and lower hiring costs.

Shel Gatto is a writer for LMS.org. She has spent years exploring technology-related topics through freelance writing projects. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and beloved canine companions.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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Over the years, the importance of learning management software has become obvious, and many companies have been using it for quite some time now. But how do you know whether the system you’re using is still right for your needs?

Here are six signs that it might be time to switch LMS software providers:

1. Inability to Scale

When your users are experiencing difficulty with the system and receiving errors because they’re locked out, your storage space is full, or the programs load too slowly, you’re in a bad situation. Instead of learning and tracking KPIs, your users are wasting time waiting for system outages to resolve themselves. As you grow, your learning needs will also tend to require a higher level of customization, and some basic LMS platforms just aren’t built for that. It’s important to look for a new system that can scale with your company before you start hemorrhaging investment dollars.

2. Poor User Experience

It may seem frivolous or unnecessary to choose your learning management system based on its interface and design, but let’s consider another side: a smooth, user-friendly process is important because it makes it easy for newcomers to navigate and complete their work. When learners are able to find their way around without manually searching for buttons or asking for help, they’re won’t find themselves frustrated or falling behind. In most cases, employees will avoid or procrastinate or at least complain about working in an outdated system, which makes it difficult for them to stay on track with learning requirements.

3. Doesn’t Provide Multi-Device Access

The reality of working from multiple locations is here. Statistics show that because so many people are using mobile devices and spend 50-60 percent of their work time away from their desks, companies are redesigning their space to adapt. LMS software should be adapt to mobile workforce trends in much the same way, allowing access from multiple devices so users can work on laptops, smartphones, and tablets and complete training requirements at their own pace.

4. No Ability to Provide Feedback

There is no way to gauge the effectiveness and value of a tool if you can’t measure it. Robust LMS software should provide companies with the ability to obtain quality learner feedback about the tool and the courses they are taking. This feedback should also be able to travel from teacher/manger to pupil. In your next solution, look for features that support forums, instant/internal messaging, surveys, and email integration.

5. Limited Analytics Capabilities

As a learning administrator, it’s important to know how your learners are progressing, how the tool is performing, and how effective the results of your courses are long-term. The best way to measure this is by running reports in your LMS on key performance indicators (KPISs). Your system should be able to provide this in a way that is appealing and easy to understand.

6. Lack of Support

When you’re ready to launch a class, and you encounter an urgent problem requiring support, it’s important to have that support available immediately. Your LMS vendor should offer chat forums and knowledge bases to help you solve issues quickly, or a dedicated support line to call when you have more complicated questions. Having live support from someone who knows your company and your learning needs is even more valuable.

If your company is experiencing the growing pains of a learning management system that isn’t growing with you, it might be time to look for greener pastures. We can help in that search. Start investigating which LMS is best for you with our Learning Management Systems Product Selection Tool, or call an unbiased Technology Advisor today for a free consultation.

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During your learning management system comparison, make sure you see these eight features and capabilities before you add a product to your shortlist:

1. Learner-Centric Experience

The purpose of buying an LMS is to ultimately train your users, right? These users could be internal employees, external users, channel partners, etc. You’ll want to tailor the learning experience to each user or user group. You can do this a number of ways using an LMS.

An LMS that lets you assign users to specific user groups will ensure each group is seeing the appropriate training and information that’s pertinent to them. For example, you don’t want your sales team seeing courses for accounting and vice versa. Assigning the sales staff to a sales-specific group ensures a better learning experience with less confusion.

ALSO READ: 5 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement with Your LMS

Branding is another way to create a learner-centric experience. A great LMS will let you brand the interface based on user groups or departments. It also helps keep consistency across your company’s online training presence.

2. Intuitive User Experience

One of the biggest complaints of LMS users is a clunky and inefficient system. When navigation is hard and users can’t easily find what they need, that can have a negative impact on training completion.

Look for an LMS that is easy to navigate and highlights the important information users want to see front and center. The interface should be clean and modern and offer basic customizations to suit the needs of your team.

3. Mobile Capabilities

The shift to mobile isn’t a new trend, but you still need to make sure your LMS is keeping up with the times. This means it should at least be mobile-responsive, resizing appropriately based on screen size.

Many of the bigger players in the market also have or are in the process of creating native mobile apps to make training on-the-go even easier. One of the biggest benefits to these mobile apps is the offline sync feature that can save information and coursework even when a user isn’t connected to a network.

4. Built-in Reporting

Purchasing an LMS is a big financial decision, so it’s important to choose a system with built-in mechanisms for tracking performance and return on investment (ROI). One of the most important features for administrators should be reporting. LMS reports will help you prove training ROI to stakeholders and executives.

Run demos, and ask each vendor questions about how reports are run, what information can be shown, how deep the reports go, etc. Comprehensive reporting will make it easier to measure specific training metrics gauge effectiveness.

It goes without saying that you should be able to run these reports yourself. Some LMS vendors require administrators to request reports from the vendor support team. Steer clear of this headache.

5. Native Integrations

A great LMS will easily integrate with most major HRIS, CRM, Payroll, Active Directory, and other business systems to make data syncing between departments and job functions easier.

Wouldn’t it make life easier if you could see training completion data in your HRIS, instead of jumping back and forth between two systems? This becomes increasingly important for companies who enforce specific training deadlines as a prerequisite for promotion or pay increases.

These integrations can come as out-of-the-box integrations or be custom built. The real difference between the two is whether they work with just a few mouse clicks or a custom connector. Hint: you’ll have to pay for the second option.

6. Surveys

Taking advantage of survey tools to administer pre-training assessments, post-training evaluations, and gain training feedback can help significantly improve training effectiveness.

In a modern LMS, this survey tool should be integrated into the system, and administrators should be able to quickly create reports based on the collected data.

7. Blended Learning Capabilities

Online training makes up the majority of what happens in an LMS, but many businesses still need a more blended learning approach that incorporates instructor-led and on-the-job training.

For those businesses, a great LMS will be able to track online registrations for in-person trainings, send email and SMS reminders, print sign-in sheets, and more.

8. Regular Updates

Of course, what good is an LMS if it’s not keeping up with industry trends and regulatory standards? LMS providers that aren’t SCORM or xAPI compliant may soon find themselves obsolete, if that hasn’t happened already.

Likewise, a great LMS provider will make incremental updates to the LMS throughout the year as opposed to one or two large updates. These smaller, more frequent enhancements cut down on the number of bugs and help clients to better acquaint themselves with each new piece of functionality.

* * *

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s a great starting point for comparing solutions. As you research vendors, be sure to read reviews and demo any products that make your shortlist.

eLogic Learning is a best-of-breed learning management system that makes delivering, tracking and reporting on training activity faster, easier and more accurate. It has been rated the Best All-Purpose Extended Enterprise LMS by Talented Learning (2016) and ranked among the Top 3 LMS Overall by Elearning 24/7 (2015).

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No open office would be complete without the tools necessary to support the very concept they were built for. Here are five important tools every open office needs:

Visitor Management

One of the most transparent ways to manage visitor flow in an open office is through the use of a visitor management system tool like The Receptionist for iPad. The Receptionist creates a reception-less office, providing fewer interruptions and making sure the proper person is notified of their visitor immediately.

The Receptionist for iPad includes features like two-way communication through SMS, email, and Slack. It also provides message forwarding, so if you aren’t available, a colleague can be notified of your visitor or delivery. The tool can be customized to include specific package carriers or restaurants. For security purposes, visitors can print their own badges, and the iPad receptionist will keep a detailed visitor log.

Internal Messaging

Speaking of Slack, Slack is an internal messaging platform — another important tool every open office needs. Others include HipChat and Office Chat. Tools like these let employees create team channels to share messages, files, and videos, and hold conversations, regardless of their location. They also provide the option to create private channels for groups or teams looking to keep a project or topic under the radar. And of course, you can message other team members individually.

The utilization of an internal messaging system means immediate collaboration on ideas and seamless information sharing. Rather than sending emails that don’t elicit a timely response or trying to track someone down by phone, internal messaging systems cut straight to the concerned parties without interrupting the flow and environment of your open office.

Learning Management System

No company is successful without the continued learning of their employees. What’s even more important than having training available to those employees is having it available on their time, and on whatever device they prefer. Consider platforms like Bridge, ProProfs, and LearnUpon. These learning management systems let employees engage in interactive training from a web browser, desktop app, or mobile device. Users can complete training modules and courses and receive immediate, real-time feedback.

Want to plan development strategies around what your employees want, think, and feel? Some platforms can even survey your associates and provide training tailored to those results. Creating courses is simple and intuitive, and you may even be able to convert your existing courses into a cloud-based platform. Just make sure you choose a provider that integrates with your existing HRIS system.

Project Management Software

Managing projects can become everyone’s worst nightmare if you’re attempting to do so without the right tools. Take a look at Smartsheet, for example. Open offices thrive because of their collaborative work environment, and a tool like Smartsheet further fosters that environment by allowing its users to share notes, conversations, files, and other critical information, all held in one centralized location. Collaboration is in real-time, from any device or system. Key team members can use this software to move a project forward, collaborate, and hit deadlines, regardless of their location. Other leading vendors include Wrike, Asana, and Basecamp.

Human Resources Software

When all of your employees work together in close proximity, it can be difficult to keep up with administration. A human resource administration tool like Zenefits can help you manage payroll, employee benefits, insurance, and other operational responsibilities. It also assists in hiring, onboarding, and employee records management. For anyone confused about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how to remain compliant, Zenefits and other similar platforms can help you stay compliant.

Other leading HR solutions include Namely, Bamboo, and Cezanne.

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The collaboration and seamlessness an open office provides is a key component to driving business results forward. Achieving company and client goals is realized with talented team members, and the help of these important tools. To browse other solutions, read reviews, and get a custom recommendation for your business, visit our Product Selection Tool. 

The post Five Software Tools Every Open Office Needs appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

If you answered skills, you’re not alone: more than 70 percent of organizations cite “capability gaps” as one of their top five organizational challenges.

The desire to fill this skill gap has caused the training industry as a whole to grow by 15 percent (the highest rate in seven years) to over $70 billion in the US and $130 billion worldwide.

To facilitate the consistent transfer of critical knowledge and skills to workers, enterprises are increasingly turning to modern technology for corporate learning, which covers everything from onboarding and training to ongoing education and skill development.

Corporate Skills and Learning Challenges

In addition to the capability gap, businesses are further challenged by the imminent exodus of Baby Boomers from the workforce. A study conducted by the Kenan-Flagler Business School found that less than one-third (30 percent) of senior leaders believed their organization had a strong leadership pipeline, and 85 percent said there was an urgent need to step up leadership development.

The majority of respondents also said they planned to offer more leadership development programs in the next five years, which is good news since Millennials are likely to look elsewhere if employers fail to provide opportunities to learn and acquire new skills.

If companies want to bridge the skill gap, build a leadership pipeline, and engage and retain the next workforce, then a dedication to and investment in employee learning is crucial.

Corporate Learning and Elearning Trends

If you’re ready to stock your workforce with high-potential employees who perform their job well and can grow into vacant roles, then it’s time to invest in technology to help bridge existing skill gaps. Human resources software is designed to link the specific skills you need to corporate learning programs. Let’s examine some of the current trends in learning and elearning technology.

MOOCs

Massive open online courses, or MOOCs, started in 2011 when Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and other university professors began putting their courses online. The MOOC market now consists of large companies like Udemy, Coursera, and Udacity who offer free or low-cost online classes. In addition to largely video-based lessons, MOOCs offer a system of testing, grading, and peer-to-peer learning that opens up higher education to the masses. You can take advantage of online material to provide learning and development to your workforce through corporate partnerships. MOOCs are an innovative alternative to traditional classroom training for employees, and can also be leveraged externally to attract potential new hires.

Gamification

Gamification has become a popular complement to education. Based in game thinking and neuroscience, the act of adding game elements to non-game contexts is designed to make the learning experience more engaging. Gamified learning can help keep employees attentive while gaining competence, as well as encouraging them to pursue mastery in their current roles.

Social Learning

Social and collaborative learning are not technically a trend. In essence they represent one of humankind’s oldest forms of learning: attaining knowledge from other people. In business applications, social learning is when we learn informally from colleagues. But by using technology such as blogs, wikis, discussions forums, videos, and company social networks, enterprises can enable employees to take responsibility for their own personal development. Companies that incorporate social learning technology engage employees, encourage continuous training, and foster a learning culture.

Cloud and Mobile

The corporate learning and elearning industry is not immune to the proliferation of cloud and Software-as-a-Service technologies. Cloud-based learning technology makes education available to employees anywhere at anytime. Rather than relegating learning to the workplace, employees can login through an online portal or mobile app to learn new skills on the go.

Intelligent Learning

Good corporate learning and elearning solutions don’t just manage and deliver educational and instructional content: they help identify and assess individual and organizational learning and training goals. The best learning management systems then track employee progress towards meeting those goals, and use the data to make personalized recommendations for individual learning. A system that provides smart learning paths for each employee helps make training as relevant and effective as possible.

LMS

Learning management systems, or LMS, aren’t new technology. But the LMS market is now well over $2 billion and still rapidly growing. Though originally used as a content management system and to help automate and track training administration, LMS now do much more.

Modern learning management systems now incorporate most of the corporate learning trends mentioned above. Many larger companies are now upgrading their legacy systems to LMS programs with new capabilities, built-in best practices, and the ability to integrate with other HR suites, which is fueling market growth.

The Best Corporate Elearning Solutions

There are myriad benefits to corporate learning management and elearning solutions: they’re effective, flexible, consistent, and data rich. Unfortunately, a Brandon Hall survey shows high customer dissatisfaction, with 47.7 percent of respondents indicating they are looking to leave their current LMS platform for a new provider. Similarly, results from a 2012 eLearning Guild survey show 31.5 percent of respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their LMS solution.

If you’re unsatisfied with your corporate elearning solution, it’s time to switch to a provider that gets results. To determine which system best fits your company, first identify what programs you want to offer employees. Common topics include:

• Certifications and compliance
• Workplace safety, diversity, and inclusion
• Management, supervisor, and leadership development
• Communications, computer, or sales skills

Once you know your goals, decide which features are non-negotiable. To do this, you’ll need to pinpoint the requirements that get you closer to achieving those goals. Do you need a specialized vendor to make your corporate training possible? Will your old HR data transfer to your new learning system? Does the vendor have experience in your field and business size?

The core functions of most corporate elearning solutions are similar, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to choose the best program for your business. In fact, e-learning expert Charles Severance stated,

“There’s a lot of parity between the systems. You can almost throw a dart at a dartboard and pick an LMS, and it won’t be that bad.”

And while the dartboard method might sound tempting, it’s far from necessary (and is likely one of the reasons for such high dissatisfaction rates).

Learning management systems vary significantly from vendor to vendor — if you know what to look for. At TechnologyAdvice, we can help you do better than ‘not that bad.’ If you need help choosing the best corporate learning solution for your business, download the guide below, call one of our in-house experts, or use the product selection tool to get personalized software recommendations.

Online education and learning management systems have changed the world of learning — and they have the potential to revolutionize your business, too. When corporate learning systems start to blur together, don’t let one single dart control the fate of your entire workforce.

Top Human Resources Software Recommendations

The post Corporate E-learning Solutions, Challenges, and Trends appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.