It’s all too common: every task you need to do requires a different system or tool.
Even with tech developments, the number of systems the average desk employee uses has nearly doubled to 11 since Gartner last checked in 2019. The Linux Foundation encountered this exact problem, trying to juggle different platforms to develop a curriculum, deliver training, and conduct certification exams.
The more the Linux Foundation scaled, the more it needed to rely on platforms that its learning management system (LMS) and existing tech stack couldn’t integrate with.
No matter how thrilled you are to launch new training resources and learning tools, disparate systems only create more work and headaches. Instead, your external learning program requires a dedicated LMS that integrates your full tech stack and centralizes your data and capabilities.
Here’s why LMS integrations are so important in today’s digital learning environments.
What Are LMS Integrations?
A learning management system is any platform that helps an organization facilitate, track, and evaluate the learning of its employees and/or customers. However, learning management systems hardly comprise the only platform in your tech stack.
LMS integrations enable the platform to connect with your existing operations and organizational infrastructure. This usually occurs via application programming interfaces (APIs). They achieve interoperability—streamlining the backend administration and data transfer necessary to deliver your educational content and provide all the supplemental resources learners need.
A modern LMS should also leverage integrations to gather, analyze, and report on all kinds of data. Valuable information ranges from course enrollments for online training to common support tickets your customer support team frequently fields. This insight allows you to calibrate your educational content to best serve your audience.
Certain LMS integrations, in particular, will boost LMS productivity, efficiency, and utility:
- Communication tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams
- Productivity apps such as Google Workspace or Slack
- Content libraries such as LinkedIn Learning or Udemy
- CRM or customer support software such as Salesforce or Zendesk
- Data analytics and reporting tools
- HR and payroll systems
Each type of integration offers you unique benefits. CRM software holds valuable information about customer behavior, which will help you to better advocate for your learning programs. Communication tools can bring learners together to share their experiences of those programs. Content libraries can provide quick access to all of your creative content.
Key Benefits of LMS Integrations
A tech stack comprising disconnected systems will never provide the same customer learning management capabilities or value as one that strategically integrates them. Here are just a few highlights of what dynamic LMS integrations can do for you:
- Improved efficiency: You can better automate administrative tasks and streamline common HR or payroll processes, freeing your employees to focus on customer relationship management.
- Enhanced learning experience: The right LMS integration provides seamless access to training initiatives and other learning tools, empowering learners with more self-direction.
- Data synchronization: Integrating your management systems will ensure that data exchange and storage are consistent across all platforms. This remains crucial for data security regulations and protecting against breaches or inaccuracies.
- Scalability: Integrations keep you agile. Expanding your LMS functionality without overhauling the whole system provides digital solutions that are faster, easier, and more secure.
Common LMS Integration Types
There’s an LMS integration that makes sense for nearly every sector of your business:
- CRM platforms such as Salesforce can work with your training platform to help track user behavior and tailor the training process to your core users.
- eCommerce tools can work with your LMS to manage payments, track subscriptions, provide access to premium content, or analyze consumer behavior.
- Custom integrations will ultimately provide maximum flexibility and agility for your needs, whatever they are. Whether you’re hoping to track ROI by analyzing product adoption through a marketing automation platform or share educational whitepapers with curious customers, the right integrations make it easier.
Think creatively about what your educational program and business operations need. Then, evaluate the LMS solutions available to you through a shortlist.
Why Your Business Needs LMS Integrations
It’s easy to focus too narrowly on the core benefits of LMS integrations—efficiency, flexibility, and scalability. But the potential value-adds go way beyond those improvements:
- Make better data-driven decisions: LMS integrations provide a varied range of comprehensive data, allowing you to make more informed decisions about which learning and training initiatives best serve your customers.
- Benefit from increased engagement and retention: You can offer more personalized and flexible learning experiences. This becomes crucial to building brand loyalty and increasing engagement rates over time, as 56% of consumers return to brands that understand them and their needs.
- Slash costs: Reducing administrative overhead and building in more cost-efficient automation processes will streamline your long-term budget. Increased customer retention rates will also cut your costs.
- Future-proof your platform: LMS integrations will leave you better positioned to adapt as your tech needs (and capabilities) develop. The more integrated your platform, the less likely you will require full system overhauls.
LMS integrations will simplify your day-to-day logistics but can do much more. Once you’re ready to implement them, where do you start?
How to Implement LMS Integrations: A Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you are a novice or have previous experience with LMS, this step-by-step approach will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed for a seamless integration process.
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
Which systems and tools will your LMS need to integrate with? What processes are you looking to streamline, or what pain points do you hope to eliminate? Is customer feedback informing your goals?
Step 2: Evaluate Integration Options
To customize or not to customize? The answer will depend on your needs and what your LMS can offer. A good LMS platform will have plenty of pre-built integrations that can save you the complexity of customizing everything. But certain custom API integrations might still make sense.
Step 3: Work With IT/Developers
Picking the right LMS and choosing the most useful integrations will not help much if the technical logistics get snarled. Make sure you work closely with your IT staff to ensure a smooth adoption process and minimal downtime.
Step 4: Test and Monitor
For better or worse, selecting your LMS integrations isn’t just “one and done.” It’s an ongoing process of teamwork and collaboration! Be sure to test the integration at implementation and regularly after that, monitoring performance and soliciting feedback as necessary.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in LMS Integration
LMS integrations can make your life easier, but that doesn’t mean they’re without their own challenges. Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid:
- Ignoring scalability needs: If you don’t plan ahead for future growth, the effectiveness of your integrations will suffer.
- Overcomplicating your integration: If you pile on unnecessary features or complex setups, your users aren’t likely to appreciate the bells and whistles. Try to incorporate every single thing you need, but be sure to stop there.
- Overlooking data security considerations: Faster operations and smoother user experience won’t benefit customers whose data is accidentally compromised. Your customers and their employees want to feel engaged and secure.
Future-Proof Your LMS With Integrations
The right LMS platform will engage customers, turning them into loyal users and potential brand advocates. And the right LMS integrations will position that platform to do its absolute best work, maximizing future growth, precision, and efficiency.
That’s why it’s so important not to neglect LMS integrations as you explore your LMS options. Start thinking now about what you need—and which integrations will make it happen.
Thought Industries can get you started with the LMS platform that Craig Weiss named the #1 learning platform in the world in 2023 and an accompanying range of integration capabilities.
Explore our LMS integration checklist and schedule a demo today!
