The digital transformation of learning has undergone a massive acceleration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but organizations are just now beginning to settle into what their technology strategy will look like moving forward. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to look at just what goes into those decisions. Because the shift presented by the pandemic was so large and happened so fast, companies found themselves making rapid technology decisions that were focused on the “here and now.” As time has passed, we have moved more into the “eye on the future” phase. However, many companies are still making technology decisions based on old thinking.
L&D teams arm themselves with lists of features and functionalities they want to see in their training platforms. But this does next to nothing to solve any of the challenges they are facing. Looking through Brandon Hall Group Research, there are basically a handful of main priorities companies are trying to achieve through technology:
- Better learner experience
- Better measurement
- Better learner engagement
- Better alignment with outcomes
Unfortunately, these items do not typically appear on an RFP. Instead, companies tick the box for things such as “mobile,” “cloud-based” and “single sign-on” with no real sense of how this technology is going to get them where they really must be. By focusing on the needs of the business and the outcomes learning is supposed to achieve, companies can begin to put together a technology ecosystem that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The old way of thinking will never keep up with today’s business environment. There is just too much pressure to upskill and reskill the workforce to meet the future needs of the business for companies to keep focusing on switching to a different LMS or adding a shiny new LXP that fails to fully address the core needs of the business.
Brandon Hall Group Smartchoice Preferred Provider Realizeit looks at their own technology through this very lens. For Realizeit, completeness of technology is not about how many boxes they can check to be the next LMS, but rather the focus is on personalizing the entire learning environment from end to end, to drive new levels of performance. That means making the learning experience personal for every stakeholder, from learners to trainers to content developers and administrators as well as business leaders focused on performance.
The answer to true personalization for performance is generally not found in replacing an LMS or in adding an LXP. The answer lies in adding the right technology to these important learning ecosystem pieces that will enhance the experience in the ways that the learner and the business will benefit most. This includes capturing granular learning data to understand exactly what learning mastery has occurred and personalizing the learning journey through AI technology at a much deeper level than simply suggesting learning topics that may be of interest. Personalization done the right way (in conjunction with your LMS and LXP) that leverages an adaptive learning core will lead to greater engagement and far greater insights for improved decision making.
For a deeper look at this holistic approach to technology selection and implementation, download the eBook “Orchestrating Enterprise Learning Technologies: Extracting Value Greater than the Sum of Its Parts.” To learn more about Realizeit AI-powered Adaptive Learning Technology, please visit www.realizeitlearning.com.
