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Digital Learning
The best Learning and Development software tools explored
A wide range of learning and development software, tools, and platforms are available to help organisations deliver effective training and development programs. But which are the best choice for your business?
6 minutes
Written by Stuart Jones - Head of Product
In this article we will explore the following areas:
Investing in employee training and development has become more important than ever.
In their September 2022 report, the CIPD found that 60% of businesses surveyed found talent is more difficult to retain compared with a year ago and 38% of the organisations are increasing their efforts to meet talent requirements by in-house development.
At a time when the Great Resignation is continuing to send shockwaves around the world, now is the time to make staff feel valued, engaged and like they don’t need to move elsewhere to progress.
41% – Lack of career development
To fulfil essential compliance training and health and safety training to more personalised learning and career development needs, there is no shortage of learning software options to choose from.
With so many different options available however, it can be challenging for businesses to identify which learning tools are best suited to their unique needs.
In this piece, we will provide an overview of different types of learning and development software, tools, and platforms available, to help you consider which are the best options for you.
By having an overview of each, we hope to provide readers with the information they need to make informed decisions when further researching the learning tools that will be best for their organisation.
Learning tools to help your business
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- A centralised platform for managing and delivering e-learning content across your business
- Create and implement blended, tailored training pathways for specific teams, roles and purposes
- Set completion deadlines
- Track and report on both employee level and organisational level progress and performance
- Validate and target learning with assessments
- Uses automation for accurate and time saving administration
- At Access we have a fully comprehensive LMS, with options suitable for all business sizes
Virtual Classroom Software
- Provides live, instructor-led training sessions online
- Enables interaction with the instructor
- Often also available as recorded sessions
- Can be used for both synchronous and asynchronous training
- Access Self Directed Learning has Virtual Classrooms
eLearning Content Libraries
- Pre-made e-learning content that can be purchased or licensed
- Covers a wide range of topics, from compliance training to leadership development
- Usually created with subject matter experts
- Saves considerable time, resources and risks compared to creating content from scratch
- Some eLearning content, such as the full Access eLearning library, is CPD accredited
Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
- Focuses on learner engagement and personalisation
- Provides curated content, recommendations, and social learning features
- Can be used as a standalone platform or part of a comprehensive solution such as Access Learning
Personalised Learning Platforms
- Focuses on employee personal development and continuous improvement
- Provides highly personalised learning plans and professional development for each individual
- Offers a range of learning choices from videos to downloadable resources
- Managers can use analytics to help identify organizational learning needs
- Access Personalised Learning includes all of these features and more
Skills Assessment and Gap Analysis
- Allows organisations to assess their employees' current skill levels and identify areas for development
- Provides personalised recommendations for training and learning paths
- At Access we have training assessment tools within our Learning Management System and personal skills assessments in our personalised learning solution
AI powered feedback tools
- Utilising Artificial Intelligence to provide the direct, specific feedback to individuals at scale, as you would expect from a 1-1 career coach
- CV scanner with AI feedback, providing direction on improving the user’s CV
- AI-powered interview training to help users optimise their interview performance
- At Access we have CV360 and Interview360 Ai tools in our Personalised Learning solution
Self-directed Learning Platforms
- Allows employees to take ownership of their own learning and development
- Provides access to a range of on-demand content, including e-books, podcasts, and videos
- Offers personalised recommendations based on employee interests and learning history
- The interface is private to each end user
- At Access we have Self Directed Learning powered by Bookboon
CPD tracking Tool
- Tracks professional development activities over time
- Provides a record of CPD activity
- Includes reminders and notifications to stay on track
- Provides insights and analytics on progress for reporting purposes
- At Access we have CPD tracking capabilities in both our LMS and Personalised Learning
eLearning Content Creator Tool
- Easily build content from scratch
- Tailor eLearning courses to meet your needs
- Can be used to create interactive, multimedia-rich content
- No programming experience required
- This sort of tool is usually part of an LMS, like the Access eCreator
Gamified Learning Solutions
- Can be available as an integrated part of an LMS system or a standalone app
- Turns organisational content into a digital game
- Adds game-like features such as point scoring, problem-solving and rewards
- At Access, Gamebrain is our gamified learning solution
Mobile Learning App
- Mobile Application for learning on any device
- Gives your people the freedom to learn wherever and whenever works for them
- Easy intuitive interface
- At Access our Mobile App is part of our Managed Learning offering, in our Learning Management System
Considerations When Selecting Learning Software
When selecting learning and development software for your business, there are several factors to consider.
Here are some key considerations:
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- Identify your training goals and the specific features and functionality that you need
- Consider your budget and the level of support that the software provider offers
- Look for software that is user-friendly and integrates well with your existing systems, such as those for HR
- Consider selecting tools that work together or compliment each other – they may well bring greater benefit than the sum of their parts!
By selecting the learning tools that meet both your business's and employees' needs, you can support ongoing professional development and promote a culture of learning and growth within your organisation.
Key Factors to Consider When Evaluating Learning Software Providers
- When evaluating potential learning software providers, it's important to consider not just the features and functionality of one specific platform, but also the breadth and depth of their offering.
- Look for providers that can cover a wide range of L&D requirements, through a range of learning tools, and from basic compliance training to advanced skill-building and professional development programs.
- A provider with a comprehensive offering will be better equipped to meet your organisation's evolving training needs, whether that means providing additional courses or the ability for you to create customised content specific to your business.
- Additionally, choosing a provider with a strong reputation for quality and reliability can provide peace of mind and ensure that your investment in learning and development pays off.
Access Learning – for all your employee learning and development needs
Access Learning provides digital learning solutions across the full breadth and depth of business learning needs, with options for all business sizes and industries.
Managed Learning
Our Managed Learning offering includes the means to provide, track and manage all compulsory training around compliance, cybersecurity, health and safety and any other course that you need your employees to complete, such as Mental Health and Wellbeing. Our Learning Management System and eLearning course library fulfils this requirement.
Personalised Learning
Personalised learning provides individuals with highly personalised learning plans tailored specifically to them, enabling employees to focus on the highest priority areas to become the best version of themselves.
Access Personalised Learning is configured in line with your company values, expected behaviours and competencies tailored to different cohorts in your organisation, helping to increase engagement and continue to grow your culture of learning and development.
Self Directed learning
In order to fully allow your employees to elevate and build expertise in areas of interest, Self Directed Learning gives them access to a wide breadth of resources created and delivered by subject matter experts.
