Streamlining Your LMS: 3 Expert Tips on How to Track Employee Training

The effectiveness of your training program is paramount. But how do you measure success and ensure your efforts are hitting the mark?

With a strategic approach to utilizing LMS tracking features, you can transform data into actionable insights, tailoring your training programs for maximum impact. From setting clear objectives to aligning training with business goals, this guide offers a roadmap for training administrators, instructional designers, and HR professionals. Dive in as we explore expert tips on harnessing LMS capabilities to track, audit, and optimize your employee training like never before.

1. Clarify Your Intentions and Goals

Setting the stage for successful employee training begins long before the first login to your Learning Management System. It starts with clarity of knowing exactly what you want to achieve, then creating KPIs surrounding them. Here’s how to ensure your training objectives are not just clear, but also aligned with the bigger picture of your business goals.

Set up a SMART goal.

Are you aiming to improve customer service scores, reduce safety incidents, or maybe increase sales? By setting specific, measurable goals, you can tailor your LMS tracking to monitor these outcomes directly, making it easier to see how training translates into real-world performance.

Align training objectives with business goals.

Start by sitting down with stakeholders to understand the broader business objectives. From there, work backward to design training objectives that support these goals. If your company aims to grow revenue by expanding into new markets, your training might focus on language skills or cultural competence. Use your LMS to map out these objectives in your training plan, ensuring every module contributes to these overarching goals. This alignment not only ensures that your training is relevant but also demonstrates the value of L&D efforts to the organization.

Projects that are aligned to strategy are 57% more likely to deliver their business benefit. They are also 50% more likely to finish on time and 45% more likely to stay within budget. 

This statistic underscores the critical connection between what happens in training sessions and the broader objectives of your business. It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating training that moves the needle on your company’s key performance indicators.

By clarifying your intentions and goals from the outset and ensuring they're woven into the fabric of your training initiatives, you set up a clear pathway for tracking and measuring the impact of your training programs. This approach doesn't just make tracking easier; it makes your training more meaningful and aligned with the growth and success of your business.

2. Audit and Utilize Your LMS Tracking Features

Unlocking the full potential of your LMS begins with a thorough audit of its tracking features. By diving into course reports, learner analytics, and overall LMS reports, you can gain invaluable insights that help tailor and enhance your training programs. Here's a few examples of what your training platform should include and how to make the most of these features:

Course Reports

Course reports are your first port of call for understanding how your content is performing. Filters allow you to dissect this information by various criteria, providing detailed insights into:

• Learning Path Details: Track the progress of specific learning paths, identifying which stages are most engaging or where drop-offs occur.
• Learning Path Completions: See completion rates for entire learning paths to gauge overall effectiveness.
• Learning Paths by Groups: Break down learning path data by department, role, or any other group, pinpointing how different segments are progressing.
• Course Details: Get granular with individual course analytics, from engagement metrics to time spent.
• Quiz Report: Assess the effectiveness of quizzes in reinforcing learning objectives.
• Classroom Enrollment: Monitor enrollment numbers for in-person or virtual classroom sessions.
• Course Survey: Collect feedback directly tied to course content and delivery.

Learner Reports

Learner reports shift the focus to individual progress and engagement, providing insights through:

• Learner Details: Track individual learner progress, identifying who is excelling or may need additional support.
• External Completions: Include learning activities completed outside the LMS for a comprehensive view of each learner's development.
• Due Dates: Monitor upcoming or overdue assignments to keep learners on track.
• Course Reports: Dive into the specifics of course engagement on an individual level.
• Credits and Badges: See which learners are earning recognition for their efforts, encouraging a culture of achievement.

LMS Reports

For a bird's-eye view of your LMS's overall health and effectiveness, tap into:

• Popular Courses: Identify which courses are attracting the most interest, guiding content development strategies.
• Daily Logins: Track engagement by monitoring how frequently users are logging in.
• Satisfaction Survey: Gather feedback on the LMS experience as a whole, identifying areas for improvement.
• Purchase History & Purchase History by Line Item: For LMSs that include e-commerce features, these reports can help you understand buying behaviors.
• Billing Report: Manage and review the financial aspect of your LMS, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Assessments and Test Results

Lastly, don't overlook the power of assessments and test results. These tools not only gauge learner comprehension but also highlight areas where the training might need adjustment for clarity or depth.

By conducting a comprehensive audit of these LMS tracking features, you can transform raw data into actionable insights. This process not only streamlines your training programs but also ensures they are as impactful, engaging, and efficient as possible. Remember, the goal is to create a learning environment that fosters growth, satisfaction, and achievement, and it all starts with understanding the data at your fingertips.

3. Schedule Your Reviews 

To ensure your training platform - and its content - are never out of date, make sure to regularly review and adjust your training program, ensuring it remains relevant and effective in equipping your employees with the skills and knowledge they need. 

Here's a checklist of what you should be checking at least every few months:

• Evaluate LMS Software Updates: 
  Confirm your LMS is up-to-date with the latest features and security improvements, considering current industry trends in technology.
• Assess System Integrations: 
  Ensure seamless operation of integrations with HRIS, CRM, and other systems, adapting to new industry standards as necessary.
• Audit Training Materials for Industry Relevance: 
  Review all courses to ensure content is current and reflects the latest industry trends and practices.
• Update Compliance Training: 
  Regularly update courses to align with the latest compliance regulations and legal standards specific to your industry.
• Identify Emerging Workforce Needs: 
  Assess the evolving needs of your workforce and update or add content to address these areas.
• Align Learning Paths with Industry Trends: 
  Adjust learning paths to ensure they are in line with current industry trends and job roles.
• Refine Course Objectives: 
  Review and update course objectives to reflect current business goals, compliance requirements, and industry standards.
• Revise Assessments for Relevance: 
  Update assessments to ensure they are aligned with current industry practices and knowledge areas.
• Implement Learner Feedback on Emerging Needs: 
  Adapt courses based on feedback that highlights new or changing needs within your workforce.
• Enhance Navigation Based on User Feedback: 
  Use learner input to refine the UI/UX, making it more intuitive and aligned with user expectations.
• Ensure Accessibility for Compliance: 
  Regularly check that all content meets accessibility standards, adhering to compliance regulations.
• Adjust Reporting to Industry Standards: 
  Update reporting tools to ensure they capture data reflective of current industry benchmarks and trends.
• Analyze Data for Workforce Insights: 
  Use analytics to gain insights into how well training content meets the emerging needs of your workforce.
• Update Communication to Reflect Industry Language: 
  Ensure all automated communications use terminology and concepts that reflect current industry trends.
• Revise Support Materials for Current Standards: 
  Update support documents, FAQs, and tutorials to align with the latest industry practices and compliance regulations.