A great learning management system shouldn’t be an island; but rather something that can be flexible and collaborative. By integrating applications you already use, or intend to use, in your organization, you’ll get the most value and efficiency out of your LMS.
The benefits to working with LMS integrations integral in making a user friendly environment. Working with systems your users are already familiar with increases user engagement and helps in delivering a better user experience.
LMS integrations save time, reduce manual tasks, and also offer an increased range and depth of reports and usability. The more integrated your systems are, the easier it will be for individuals, teams, and departments to do their jobs, collaborate and achieve their goals.
We’re going to delve into some of the most useful LMS integrations available right now!
SSO Integrations
Single Sign-On, or “SSO”, allows users to access multiple services and applications using the same log-in credentials. An example of such credentials could be an employee number or email address and password that they already have.
This method works through authentication and authorization. Authentication is the process of ensuring the person logging in has the correct credentials, while authorization allows access to the appropriate content as approved by the administrator.
Some of the benefits SSO provides include reduced risk, a decline in password fatigue (“too many passwords!”), and reduced IT costs. Here are just some of the SSO options available through A-Suite.
Microsoft Azure AD
How the integration works: Integrating with Microsoft Azure AD makes it easy for A-Suite customers to manage user access and enable SSO with Microsoft applications like Office 365. Users log in to A-Suite using their organizational accounts hosted in Microsoft Azure AD.
Why you should integrate: The LMS integration makes it even easier for learners to access and use their LMS securely since they are not having to memorize another username and password. Admins enjoy a simple step-by-step user interface to configure the integration with ease and accuracy.
Key data transfers: User profile information, authentication and authorization (access)
GSuite
How the integration works: By placing A-Suite in the Google app launcher, employees get effortless access to the LMS through their Google ecosystem in the same way they access their other Google apps, like Calendar and Drive. Accessing everything in one location rather than having to navigate to a different website and/or bookmark.
Why you should integrate: This integration will help to increase training program adoption, while also boosting the regular use of your LMS. As many organizations already use GSuite, accounts can be linked to the LMS effortlessly. And it reduces clicks, we all love that!
Key data transfers: User profile information, authentication and authorization (access)
Okta
How the integration works: Okta uses Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), a method of verifying that a user is who they say they are before granting them access to a particular application or resource. Keeping things safe and secure along the way.
Why you should integrate: An Okta integration offers many benefits, including the ability to create new users or upgrade existing users within the application, and the capability of syncing your users with group memberships that are linked to enrolment.
Key data transfers: User profile information, authentication and authorization (access)
API Integrations
An API provides an interface that allows developers to interact with applications and programs. Each API has a set of credentials, known as keys. Similar to a username and password, these keys allow developers to use an API to interact with the data in your LMS. Think of it as a tunnel between your LMS and the development teams that allows them to work while you use your LMS.
An API speeds up processes by automating time-consuming manual steps. Essentially, it saves admins from having to manage the process manually, or via batch file uploads.
HR System
How the integration works: Integrating your HR system with your LMS works by ensuring employee’s data is synced across both platforms. Important information such as titles, office locations, departments, training histories, and more, is easily kept up to date through this integration.
Why you should integrate: It’s time efficient, it saves admins having to reenter the same information across multiple platforms, and it reduces the risk of discrepancies. New employees are automatically added to the LMS via this integration and enrolled in the training they need to complete based on rule sets that were configured beforehand.
Key data transfers: User profile information, group membership, learner progress, and completion history.
CRM Integrations
A CRM, or customer relationship management system, helps manage customer data. Through a CRM, it’s easier to track your organization's interactions with current and potential customers.
CRM’s assist in ensuring efficiency and facilitating communication between teams and departments while optimizing sales.
Key data transfers: User profile information, group membership, learner progress, and completion history.
Salesforce
How the integration works: When integrated with A-Suite, customers can access all of their training data directly within Salesforce’s platform. This means that information about learner actions like enrollment, commencement and completion automatically syncs in real-time between A-Suite and Salesforce.
Why you should integrate: If you already use Salesforce, integrating the platform with your LMS is a no-brainer. The main benefits are an improved user experience and lots of useful reporting options. To access LMS features, users simply click on a learning tab in Salesforce, without needing to log in to A-Suite or even leave the Salesforce platform. As learners access training materials, videos, and exams, all tracking and completion data is available to admins in Salesforce itself.
Key data transfers: User profile information, group membership, learner progress, and completion history.
Webhooks Integration
Using webhooks in eLearning makes for an efficient processes and a more effective system. They can be used on their own, or as an effective supplement to SSO and API.
Webhooks send notifications, so they’re perfect if you need to be notified of an event as soon as it happens in your LMS. For example, you can be notified when a course is completed, or when a learner fails an exam.
How the integration works: Integrating with webhooks allows you to customize and automate the entire eLearning processes. You’ll find webhooks most useful if you want to access real-time information. As soon as an event occurs, your LMS will use the webhook to notify you in real time of the items that you want notification of. You can then use information forwarded with the webhook to update or create additional actions elsewhere in a separate website or application in order to appropriately follow up with that learner.
Why you should integrate: Our customers use information pushed by webhooks to automate reports and flag important learning events in related applications.
Key data transfers: Event completion such as:
- Course completions
- Exams submitted
- Surveys submitted
- Learning Path completions
- Purchase completions
Webinar Integrations
When delivering courses that contain webinar sessions, it makes sense to have access to all your data in one system. Integrating your LMS with a webinar tool saves you time and effort.
A-Suite integrates with the world’s most popular webinar tools, including:
How the integration works: Integrating your favorite webinar tool with your LMS is easier than you think and can be set up in a matter of minutes. In the settings section of A-Suite, you’ll find the option ‘Webinar Integration’. You can choose one or more to set up, click add, and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
Why you should integrate: Integrating will reduce duplication of work and automate time-consuming tasks. Scheduling sessions, registering attendees, and reporting attendance can all be done from the same place!
Key data transfers:
Webinar session scheduling data, attendance tracking