Who is this article aimed at?
As an IT decision-maker or HR professional, you should gain an insight into the possibilities of an integrated learning management system (LMS). In doing so, I will address the most frequently requested functionalities. And who knows, perhaps I will also provide you with the decisive arguments to convince your superior to support your LMS project.
After this technical-user-oriented discussion, you are welcome to read more about the advantages of an integrated eLearning management system from a business perspective. Or write to me directly for an open and non-binding exchange on the subject.
If you don't have time for long reading...
...just remember the following:
- With an integrated LMS such as LMS365, you simplify user management and save time-consuming installations.
- LMS365 is fully integrated with Microsoft Teams - you can access courses from here as well as from SharePoint.
- Automate processes with a flow. This reduces interruptions at the interfaces of different systems.
- Provide content automatically - also staggered according to user authorizations, areas of responsibility and much more.
- Access SharePoint templates - no need to compromise on company design
- Integrate forms for feedback sheets and automatic notifications to instructors
The points in this quick overview are discussed in more detail below. I'll keep it as 'non-technical' as possible, because it's all about practical application. Of course, I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have about technical integration - just leave a comment on the pinboard!
Integration with Microsoft 365
Basically, with a solution integrated into Microsoft 365 (such as LMS365), you benefit from advantages that you do not have with conventional systems.
1. user management
The user information is already stored centrally in the Azure Active Directory and is used automatically. The same login is also used. This means you don't have to worry about new user profiles and authorizations - a considerable time saver.
2. installation
Instead of a conventional installation on separate systems, LMS365 modular is very easy to install and can be deployed within a short time.
In addition to these fundamental advantages, the tools included in the Microsoft 365 Suite offer additional and comprehensive options.
Integration with Microsoft Teams
Whether your employees' entry point to LMS365 is in Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) or in SharePoint is up to you. LMS365 offers you complete integration in Teams. This means that all information can be displayed in MS Teams.
Excursus: Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is the central collaboration and communication platform that primarily enables the central and targeted exchange of information within a company. In addition to this central function, group and individual meetings can also be organized and entire projects can be implemented via the application. This makes MS Teams a central component on the way to the digital workplace.
Entertainment / Conversation
Stay in contact with your employees and actively communicate new courses or training plans via the conversations in MS Teams. Such a channel is also ideal for allowing employees to post ideas for courses.
Course Catalog
Show your employees in MS Teams the entire range of your courses, whether e-learning, webinars or classroom courses. All courses can be viewed and searched for centrally.
Dashboard
Your employees can see their dashboard in MS Teams at any time with the information relevant to them, such as courses already completed, courses to be completed, certificates and qualifications. All line managers can also see the manager dashboard, which provides them with a view of their employees.
Integration with Flow
LMS365 is often just a product that is used within the customer environment. Tools from HR and IT are often also anchored in such a landscape. The big question now is: How do you get the various tools to communicate with each other? With Microsoft Flow from the Office 365 Suite, you have access to a tool with which the products can be linked.
From the field: This is how processes can be automated with a flow.
Example 1: Compliance documents (Standard Operational Procedure/SOP)
There are many documents that must be sent to all employees or to certain areas. In most cases, the employee must confirm that the document has been read and understood. Traditionally, such issues have been solved extremely laboriously with Excel lists and a large number of emails.
Such a process can be simplified with a flow and also offers the great advantage that the evaluations can be viewed centrally and can withstand an audit at any time.
Example 2: Onboarding new employees
We are all familiar with the topic of new employees. An induction plan is drawn up and communicated to the people involved. The employee goes through the plan (usually physically) and ends up with the information that needs to be communicated. In most cases, the content of this induction is identical for all new employees. It is therefore worth making these topics available to new employees as a training plan as part of eLearning.
With a flow, such an induction plan can also be assigned automatically when a new employee joins the company, without any additional work for HR or IT. It can also ensure that every new employee receives the same information.
Integration with SharePoint
SharePoint is the basis of LMS365 and so the advantage is obvious. SharePoint is already familiar to most users and can therefore also be used as a learning management system with LMS365. In addition to the basic functionalities, there are also other features that make life easier:
Document storage
The documents that are used as content in the courses can either be added to the course or stored in a central document library. The central storage of documents makes particular sense so that the most up-to-date information is always stored within the courses without having to adapt the course.
Site Templates
If you want to design the course pages yourself, you can use the SharePoint functionalities in LMS365. This means that you create a site template in SharePoint and adapt it to your needs (header, style, etc.). You can then use this template in LMS365 when creating a new course. This flexibility allows you to easily adapt your learning management system to your corporate design.
Integration with Forms
Microsoft Forms is an intuitive tool that is ideal for forms within a course. It is very helpful for the course instructor to be able to request feedback from participants at the end of a course, be it an eLearning, webinar or classroom course. Forms is very suitable for such use cases.
Within Microsoft Forms, for example, a feedback form can be created and inserted within a course via drag-and-drop.
Participants can now conveniently give their feedback as part of the course without having to leave the environment. The trainer is automatically notified via a flow and is therefore always informed about the current status.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a multifaceted picture surrounding a learning management system, because it is not worth looking at a system as a stand-alone application. The topics addressed here are often the main concerns of our customers, with whom we are already exploiting their digital potential.
Find out more in a direct conversation or during a free, no-obligation demo of LMS365. We will also be happy to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of LMS365 for you in direct comparison with other applications that you are considering. Take the first step towards realizing your company's existing potential!
