On Feb. 4th Microsoft announced the arrival of Viva, an employee experience platform integrated with Microsoft Teams, that combines elements of employee experience, people analytics and learning technology.
A big differentiator in Viva is its learning content partnership with Skillsoft. This emphasis on learning has been a component largely missing in most employee experience platforms.
The integration of Skillsoft’s content, comprising 180,000+ learning assets, adds a collection of robust learning experiences, expands the Microsoft Viva Learning library, and empowers the 115 million daily users of Microsoft teams to hone their skills — all in the context of their work.
“With this integration, we alleviate barriers to learning and empower people and their teams to learn in ways that make sense for them, thus improving job performance, collaboration and enabling large-scale reskilling and upskilling in a variety of fields for better business outcomes,” said Apratim Purakayastha, chief technology officer for Skillsoft.
“This is a great opportunity for Skillsoft to continue to leverage their extensive content library. We are in agreement that empowering individuals and teams to rapidly advance their development and enable organizations to reskill and upskill at scale is significant. Skillsoft can take organizations to the next level of learning with this integration,” said Michael Rochelle, Chief Strategy Officer and Principal HCM Analyst for the Brandon Hall Group.
Organizations are desperate to find ways to enrich the learner experience. Brandon Hall Group’s 2020 Optimizing Learning to Drive Performance Study showed this: according to that study 77% of organizations said improving the learning experience was critical or important to the business. Additionally, companies have been trying to bring that experience more into the flow of people’s work and Viva provides just such an opportunity. By meeting them where they are already working, Viva makes access to Skillsoft’s content feel like part of the job, rather than a separate, disconnected exercise. Ultimately, completely integrating learning into the overall learning experience is a game changer.
With Skillsoft, learners have more agency in their learning journey, being able to adapt and evolve, and develop new skills and capabilities in needed areas like machine learning, design thinking, blockchain, leadership and management, and business acumen. This partnership will benefit both organizations and their employees because it gives both variety and self-determination to employees, which contributes to personal and professional growth and when the workforce grows, organizations win.
The partnership between Skillsoft and Microsoft Viva on learning content creates a vibrant learning hub available in the flow of work as employees collaborate and connect with colleagues in Microsoft Teams. It makes the elusive connection between user experience and learner experience to make a platform the elevates the entire employee experience.
Claude Werder, Senior Vice President and Principal HCM Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
Cliff Stevenson, Principal Analyst, Talent Management and Workforce Management, Brandon Hall Group
David Wentworth, Principal Analyst, Learning and Development, Brandon Hall Group
For information on Brandon Hall Group’s research and how we can assist your organization, please visit www.brandonhall.com
Become a Brandon Hall Group member!
We are a human capital management research and advisory firm with more than 10,000 clients globally. For over 27 years, we have been delivering research-based solutions that empower excellence in organizations around the world. Our vision is to inspire a better workplace experience. Becoming a Brandon Hall Group member means our team joins your team. Membership provides a host of resources and services and – most importantly — a seasoned team of thought leaders and client support professionals dedicated to your success.
Click here for more information and to sign up for a free trial membership
Click here for information on Brandon Hall Group’s Professional Certification Program
