The HRM Software Features to Look for to Promote Ongoing Learning

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing". In the good old days of Socrates, this maxim probably sounded like an epiphany. But today, between having to keep up with tech trends and faster innovation cycles, many employees probably feel this way on a daily basis.

To better address these aspects of digital transformation and other macro-dynamics, including growing market competition and a general shortage of specialist expertise, leading organizations embrace corporate training strategies that ensure superior flexibility and cost-efficiency.

One of these alternative approaches is that of ongoing learning or continuous learning, which replaces the typical one-shot sessions or short-term programs of traditional training with virtually never-ending development journeys encompassing projects, case studies, simulations, stretch assignments, and more. Let’s find out why HRM software may be the right tool to fully support a continuous learning strategy.

The role of HRM software

HRM systems (similar to HCM and HRIS systems) are very comprehensive tools, with a wide range of potential features designed to enable ongoing learning. You should also keep in mind that customers in need of robust L&D-related capabilities or particular functionalities often opt to integrate their HRM system with software solutions specifically designed for online education, such as an LMS (learning management systems) and content authoring-focused LCMS (learning content management systems).

We’re concentrating this article on the main HRM features we think are most useful to fostering ongoing learning—but keep in mind that a standalone LMS or LCMS may be the best option for those looking for more robust capabilities. In that case, an integrated solution between platforms is probably your best bet.

Below, we split HRM features into four macro-groups: corporate training administration, learning content management, learning experience, and analytics and reporting. However, we recommend you rely on a consulting team specialized in HR software development to define the best feature set for your business needs.

Corporate training administration

Ongoing learning in a corporate training scenario requires continuous management efforts. Therefore, let's start our overview with all those features enabling the effective organization and long-term provision of educational services. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Online scheduling for easier planning of virtual lessons, study groups, or meetups based on trainers' availability and employees' needs. This generally includes an online calendar and a notification system to better coordinate such activities.
• Account management to configure role-based access permissions, offer personalized learning content, streamline user registration, and speed up enrollment in courses or training sessions.
• Employee progress assessment and certification, including exam authoring, grading, and proctoring functionalities, along with systems for issuing diplomas and certificates.

Learning content management

While software such as LCMS are generally superior to HRMS in terms of content management, the latter can still be equipped with several features designed for this purpose.

Such functionalities represent a mainstay of the "push" knowledge management strategy, namely the codification of professional knowledge into eLearning content, which can be used by corporate staff as information sources later on to keep up to date. This makes these features extremely valuable from an ongoing learning perspective.

• Content editors equipped with intuitive features to design and assemble training resources or entire courses, typically encompassing customizable templates, collaborative authoring functionalities, and content repurposing options.
• Learning content repositories to store didactic resources, featuring filters and meta tag options for easier object cataloging and search, along with advanced file management functions and multi-format content support.
• Employee handbooks for uploading and 24/7 self-service consultation of product and service information, corporate guidelines, or FAQs.

Learning experience

The general trend in modern education, including corporate training, is to shift the focus more and more to learners. This learner-centered strategy results in the growing implementation of feature sets aimed at enhancing the learner experience and making training enticing even in the long run, as the ongoing learning approach requires:

• Social learning to promote teamwork and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing among learners via corporate blogs, wikis, forums, discussion boards, collaborative tools, social media features, and more.
• Gamification to enrich the learning experience with engaging, highly interactive game mechanics such as points systems, leaderboards, contests, badges, VR and AR, role-playing, and storytelling.
• Adaptive learning, an approach leveraging data analytics to keep track of employee progress and achievements along their ongoing learning journey and provide them with flexible, customized training resources and tasks tailored to their educational needs.

Analytics and reporting

Since we've just mentioned the importance of data analytics in personalizing and readjusting the learning experience, let's expand this topic to all those HRMS features leveraging data to improve the quality, impact, and return on investment of your ongoing learning programs. 

The role of these functionalities consists of gathering data from your corporate systems or any other integrated sources, processing it to extract meaningful insights, and visualizing such information through intuitive dashboards, charts, and other graphic representations for easier sharing and reporting.

• Learner analysis to assess employees’ skill sets, monitor training outcomes, identify expertise gaps, and configure or adapt their learning paths based on these results.
• Training program analysis to fine-tune your educational activities based on user performance and feedback while optimizing learning resources according to actual content usage and completion.
• Financial analysis to estimate the ROI of your ongoing learning initiatives, optimize corporate training budgeting in the long term, and select the most impactful and profitable courses.

10 benefits of HRMS for ongoing learning

After this overview of the most significant HRMS features to support ongoing learning, let's sum up the key advantages of their combined implementation:

1. Flexible learning journeys, achieved through education analytics and the adoption of the adaptive learning approach.
2. Opportunities to practice with quizzes, tests, role-playing, and VR-based simulations. 
3. Easier employee development planning via advanced administrative features. 
4. Performance monitoring through analytical tools that keep track of learners’ interactions with the software.
5. Skill progress tracking based on a variety of solutions for testing and certification.
6. Enhanced decision-making thanks to the aforementioned data analytics and data visualization features.
7. Motivation and retention by implementing gamified activities in the training workflow.
8. Training cost optimization, an essential element in light of the constant efforts and investments required to foster ongoing learning.
9. Corporate culture promotion via social and gamification features that promote cohesiveness and shared values across your enterprise.
10. Greater business resilience to ever-evolving business scenarios thanks to solid knowledge sharing.

Sometimes, an integration is best

While technology certainly plays a leading role in reshaping our careers, workplaces, and the job market, it also provides us with a variety of software solutions to better deal with mass digitization and foster the adoption of innovative training approaches like ongoing learning.

HRM software represents a striking example of this fruitful combination. However, keep in mind that despite the holistic nature of HRMS and the possibility of equipping these systems with comprehensive eLearning modules and a full spectrum of built-in features, they are not the only solution available. 

For example, you may opt for integration between your HRMS and the aforementioned LCMS or corporate LMS. The choice, of course, will depend on your specific requirements and business scenario. If you think that 360Learning might well be your LMS of choice, you can get your free demo below to learn more: