Move over LMS, here comes LXP – or the Learning Experience Platform.
In early 2018, L&D thought-leader and founder of Bersin Deloitte, Josh Bersin, spotted a trend and coined a new phrase: ‘in the flow of work’.
The idea behind this was that the employees want to learn something in the moment of need, and apply it instantly. And this is at the heart of the learning experience Platform or LXP.
Bersin naturally predicted that LXP will replace the veritable LMS. And that’s because LXP encompasses all of the varied ways that individuals learn in that flow of work – which includes lunchroom conversations with colleagues and social learning. Imagine how this changes the learning experience, and how it differs from conventional Learning Management Systems.
But if this sounds too chaotic, you might have some company amongst the in-the-know L&D professionals who are left wondering how the likes of workplace communication tools like Slack and Udemy are going to be calibrated into learning analytics.
So, what exactly then, is the difference between LXP and LMS?
Quite simply, LXP refers to a platform that makes learning content more accessible. In the era of Netflix and YouTube, consumers are used to a personalised experience based around ‘discovery’ and search as well as multi-device convenience – as opposed to the top-down administrator driven approach of typical LMS systems.
LXP has seen an explosion in the number of players in this market over the past few years. However, at the very mention of ‘discovery’, one can’t help but think about the complex and sophisticated algorithms we’ve come to know and love on a daily basis – mainly that of Google. It is no mean feat to replicate this type of search engine for LXP platforms, and therein lies the challenge.
The Future of Content Delivery
Video is the medium of choice now. It is at its most accessible, too.
When Lynda.com came on the scene, who would have imagined that today, literally anyone with a software hack could teach you how to do virtually anything through a short, sharp series of videos distributed instantly on any device. But that’s exactly what has happened since YouTube spawned the video revolution and the ubiquitous iPhone enabled easy video self-authoring and distribution.
However, with xAPI solidly emerging as the defacto eLearning data standard, collecting data about the wide range of experiences a person has (online and offline) across multiple touch points anywhere, anytime, the expectations of learners and enterprise L&D professionals have evolved very quickly. And the tech will similarly evolve quickly. New and evolving software is popping up.
Instilled is one such example. Instilled is set to launch as a completely new and exciting video-driven LXP product at the ATD International Conference in May, and already has some heavy-hitting clients involved – such as Weetabix, whatsapp, Shell, Intel, Aldi, and Volvo – along with several US government agencies.
The New Instilled – Sneak Preview
Mike Alcock, Managing Director of Instilled says that the new Instilled LXP is “the Google and YouTube of eLearning”, and will easily enable organisations to empower their employees to create their own content as well as accessing all the learning they need.
“Instilled LXP is set to revolutionise the eLearning world by creating the ultimate YouTube-style channel for organisations to create, post and auto-caption and even translate user generated content into 100+ languages instantly,” says Alcock.
Some interesting features of this new LXP include:
- Built on the industry’s best tech stacks: Rustici xAPI & Watershed LRS analytics
- Powerful alternative to LMS or can leverage existing LMS
- Enables learning in the flow of work, user generated content & social learning
- Auto Caption (95% accuracy) and instant translation (90% accuracy) of video content
- Leverages existing digital content eg. Lectora, Lynda.com, Articulate etc.
From a cost benefit analysis perspective, there are benefits too. Interestingly, Shell came onboard early as a development partner for the new Instilled LXP. Having eleven LMS’s, they found that switching to Instilled LXP saved them in the millions of pounds, and they have all but dropped their classroom training.
For Volvo everything will be Instilled except classroom training. And L’Oreal has recorded and auto-translated all of their training videos for the Philippines, South Korea, China – instantly – and with significant cost-savings.
Is the traditional LMS going away?
In short, ‘no’, according to Bersin, who observes that the LMS and learning portals are integrating in some way into these LXPs, displaying and recommending content in the employee-facing systems used by enterprises.
The recommendation algorithm will be key. Why can’t every stage in the employee journey recommend content based on role or personal activity history?
Bersin says that as companies and vendors become more familiar with the characteristics of micro-learning (the average employee only has 24 minutes per week to learn), new segments of the market are emerging. LXP, program delivery platforms and micro-learning platforms will come together as a ‘next generation of LMS’.
And this is something we are working very hard on at ITC – by curating the best tools on the planet and working alongside our clients to create engaging content that achieves their business goals.
Watch This Space
As the newly launched Instilled rolls out, and as new innovations come to the fore, the team at ITC Learning are partnering closely with clients to help them with the best solutions for their needs.
As Instilled launches its new brand in May, we will be rolling out more news. In the meantime, feel free to have a chat by reaching us here.