Dive deep

Tracking employee skills

Dan Wheeler — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 20:17:51 GMT

Tracking employee skills and competencies with spreadsheets is a pain. Who has the latest matrix versions? Who's going to fix formulas that are deleted or broken? Who is keeping them up to date?

Prosperity Skills Mark is the premier solution for tracking and reporting employee on the job training, competencies and skills.

Tracking employee skills and proficiency levels is increasingly critical for workforce management and employee development. Matrix reports that show available and required skills and proficiency levels is an easy, visual way to track who is trained and capable of doing various jobs. It is also increasingly required for customer and quality standard audits.

Many organizations have built complex spreadsheets to try and track skills, but these are often cumbersome, easy to break and no one knows who has the most up to date version. That's where Prosperity Skills Mark can help.

Unlike spreadsheets you can:

Maintain one consistent up-to-date matrix
Quickly update with no formulas
Easy reporting for audits
Filter and group data to get the precise data you need
Set automatic updates to keep employee and team information up to date
Automate tracking reports, notifications and reminders

Prosperity Skills Mark gives you the data you need at your fingertips to make better decisions, identify gaps, and report on skills for employees, teams and entire companies.

Isn't it time to ditch the spreadsheets?

Online training in the age of COVID-19

erin@ziiva.com (Erin) — Mon, 10 May 2021 15:41:00 GMT

It goes without saying that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has altered almost every aspect of how we live, and arguably defined 2020. Terms like “quarantining”, “flattening the curve”, and “social distancing” are now used every day, and businesses of all trades have had to alter their policies in compliance with new regulations and change the way their employees are allowed to interact as a response to the threat that the pandemic has posed. The ultimate way to social distance is to move everything online, including and possibly especially training, which has proved to be beneficial in more ways than one. Could this shift to online learning be the new normal?

The COVID-19 pandemic has corporate and professional training organizations scrambling to find ways to make learning accessible and effective and, now that people are spending more time at home, this seems like the perfect time to transition to online learning or give your current LMS a revamp. You can play a valuable role in offering your clients options and delivering solutions for maintaining training and compliance with your expertise backed up by great technology.

A few different ways to do that are by:

Shifting classroom training to live, virtual sessions. Covid-19 made the need for this type of flexibility clear, and even just having the ability to do this will make your business and the training it offers more responsive to and less impacted by whatever challenges may lie ahead.
Delivering blended learning programs that incorporate self-paced modules and materials, perfect for those who are balancing a few more things than usual while spending more time at home.
Automating learning paths that incorporate follow up training and assessments to measure training effectiveness with less energy spent on doing so.
Building a library of digital learning assets for learners to access as needed, whether their training is set-paced or self-paced.

The pandemic has presented new challenges for us all, but we have been working with businesses to develop and support great learning programs for over twenty years. Ziiva knows online training but what we would love to learn is how we can help you transition to a more flexible way to offer online learning in a time when that is most needed, and ultimately help strengthen and grow your business.

Schedule a quick consultation call with an experienced eLearning professional.

Top LMS Features for Selling Your Training

Dan Wheeler — Fri, 07 May 2021 15:37:43 GMT

The eCommerce industry is growing fast! And while you don't have to have eCommerce to sell your training, you are likely missing out on revenue opportunities if you don't. And considering the current shift towards online everything, now is the time to either reconsider eCommerce as an option or, if you have it already, step up your game. At Ziiva, we work with all kinds of training providers and consultants to sell training directly to individuals and businesses.

The Prosperity LMS learning platform gives you a catalog of training that your customers can purchase directly, whether it’s buying an online course or registering for a webinar or live session class.

Here are the top 6 features our clients use to maximize their sales:

eCommerce - Use a merchant account and payment gateway like Stripe or PayPal integrated with our shopping cart to automate sales. Automation means less work for you and more fluid upward scaling. Work hard and work smarter.
Training codes - Generate unique codes for your clients to distribute for specific, pre-purchased content. Easy for your clients. Easy for you.
Discount codes - Generate specific item or overall discounts that can be applied at purchase to boost sales and help you track marketing campaigns. Marketing 101- everyone likes a good sale.
Graphics and copy - Add photos, Instructor Bios and detailed descriptions for your content to grab your learners’ attention and keep them interested.
Remarket - Email former students to let them know about new content or offer them repeat purchase discounts or referrals. They’ll follow through (again) if you follow up.
Social media- share your catalog, specific classes, specials, and more on popular social media platforms. Let your learners advertise you by word of mouth by sharing their successes and learning experiences.

With features galore, figuring out how to find everything you’re looking for can be overwhelming. Choosing and LMS to help you do that shouldn’t be. Prosperity LMS makes it easy and our experienced team can help.

Schedule a consultation call with us to learn how to get started.

Start Small to Go Big

Kellyann Bryan — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 16:03:03 GMT

Tips for Scaling your Training System

Prosperity LMS is synonymous with scalability and flexibility – it’s what we do best. As a client-focused, partnership-based company, our top priority is making sure each customer gets an LMS as unique as their business, along with the right amount of support through each stage and phase of the process.

A flexible and scalable learning management system is a multi-tiered, multi-location business’s best friend. When a large company or corporation decides to employ a learning management system, deciding where to start can seem overwhelming. Could we be your new best friend?

Instead of creating a complex system that spans multiple locations and departments, we recommend starting small. It is always possible (and unequivocally easier) to scale up -- rather than starting too big and having to re-structure the entire thing. Sooner is better than better. It may seem appealing to map out every thread in the training system web -- but that has the potential to get you tangled up. By jumping in with one objective, you will reduce the amount of time it takes to get value from the system, as well as lessen the overwhelm of creating a complex system all at once.

Here is what we recommend for starting small:

Pick a focus project – Decide on the smallest project that will bring value to your company. Whether that be on-boarding, compliance, safety, quality, or a unique-to-you training program. See the diagram below for choosing a subcategory to start your focus project.

Assess the project as you go – Once you've decided on your focus project, how will you know you're getting value from it? Value can typically be defined in two ways: faster and/or better.

Examples of "faster" would be when it takes you less time to do a specific task, such as:
- preparing and distributing reports
- scheduling classes
- handling out-of-compliance learners
- delivering, scoring, and tracking tests
Examples of "better" would be when the results you get are more accurate and/or more detailed than you currently have, such as:

- tracking the time a student spends reading a course
- tracking the time it takes for a learner to complete a test
- automatically assigning training based on job requirements -- instead of leaving the decision up to supervisors

Make modifications and scale – Before you decide to scale the project (or how to scale it), meet with your team to gather feedback, see what worked, and what needs to be adjusted so you can feel confident in pushing it out on a larger scale. In fact, this is a great time to consult with your LMS provider for feedback as well. The right LMS partner will have insight into your project and be able to share best practices with you.

The benefits of starting small are many. Save yourself from the pain and suffering of trying to do too much, too soon, and come up with an attainable plan of which you can be sure. From there, scaling up is a cinch.

LMS Tips Refresh: Integrating with 3rd-party Systems

Kellyann Bryan — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:51:41 GMT

Integrating your LMS with 3rd-party systems is a necessary step. However, it may come with unanticipated hurdles.

Take a look back on one of our infographics to see four common issues that arise with integration, as well as our advice on how to handle them.

Prosperity can integrate with just about any system to streamline your workflow and make things easier for you and your users. Common integrations include SSO for seamless access, HRIS and CRM systems for user account synchronization and updates, and payment gateways for eCommerce.

No matter which systems you use, the Prosperity team can help you put the integrations in place to make your training more successful.

Should You Update Your Training Content?

Kellyann Bryan — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:03:22 GMT

New year, new…training?

Whether or not you conform to the “new year, new you” thinking at the start of January, an occasional shake-up or re-imagining does have its perks – especially when it comes to your employee training.

Forget the diets, budgets, and gym memberships (well, maybe don’t, if that’s your jam) and let’s take a look at your training content and see how a few small tweaks can make a difference.

1. Take Stock of All Current Training Programs
What programs are you currently using – are they working well for you? For your employees? Is the content relevant and up-to-date? Taking the time to peruse and assess your current programs will have a ripple effect throughout your company. Properly trained employees are informed and engaged, resulting in better performance, fewer accidents, and overall, time and assets saved.

2. Check Employee Training Data
While you’re at it, check that all of your employees are also up-to-date on their training requirements. Administrative tasks like these often fall through the cracks, so consider running monthly (or weekly) automated reports to keep up with deadlines and data. Send email reminders to employees for upcoming or overdue training. Read more about reporting here.

3. Consider Implementing (or Revamping) Microlearning
Microlearning is an effective method for specialized training, refresher courses, and supplementing long-form training. It also boasts higher retention and engagement among users because of its often fun, easy-to-consume delivery. If you are already using microlearning in your training, see if there are additional courses you could add – look for gaps in training you noticed when you did your assessment.

4. Compile Existing Training Extras (and Create a Few New Ones)
Gather all of your existing training extras – info-graphics, charts, videos, PDFs – and decide what stays and what may no longer be relevant. Create some fresh additions to fill in those gaps that may be present.

5. Revitalize Your Reference Library

If you don’t already have a reference library, it’s a great tool to have in your training arsenal. Take all of the training content that you’ve updated, as well as the supplemental extras, and keep it all in one place. Not only is this a great organizational tool for you or your training supervisor, it’s infinitely valuable to your employees to have access to training materials, all the time. If you do have a reference library already, give it a little TLC – when’s the last time you did a little dusting, a little polishing?

We may scoff at the idea of new year, new anything, but let’s be honest -- it’s not a bad idea to rethink your training content to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. You’ve already done the work, make it work for you.

Better yet, make us work for you --

The Big Benefit of Microlearning

Kellyann Bryan — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:55:23 GMT

During my second year of college, I signed up for a macroeconomics class. I had only ever heard of microeconomics, but macro means big, right (?!) and I was considering opening a business. So, I decided bigger was better, and I went for it. However, bigger does not always mean better, you guys -- and I quickly learned that in order to understand macroeconomics, one must have a firm grasp on microeconomics (a grasp I did not have, since I’d never taken microeconomics).

Micro, macro, what’s with the Greek prefixes? Well, besides confounding the English language (that’s a whole other blog post), they essentially mean small and large, respectively. Throw one of those bad boys in front of a word, and it changes the meaning. Like, macroeconomics or microlearning.

What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is bite-sized, user-centric learning that is efficient and effective. Unlike macro-learning, where things can get in-depth, microlearning cuts straight to the point – without sacrificing relevancy or value of content. Studies have found microlearning to be more engaging for learners, and not surprisingly, the knowledge retention rate is higher.

Make no mistake about it -- you cannot just cut your same old training into smaller chunks. Microlearning modules and learning paths should be specifically created to engage the learner, quickly convey the necessary information, and support the retention and application of that knowledge.

A good rule of thumb for your training is “Just long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to stay interesting.”

What are some examples of Microlearning?

Show examples with short videos
Use info-graphics and diagrams
Provide concise text and step-by-step instructions
Test learning often with just a few focused questions
Build a library of just-in-time “how to” training items
Require short follow up refresher courses to increase learner retention
Incorporate quick online training modules and quizzes to supplement classroom training

How will Microlearning benefit me (and my learners)?

It’s faster and easier to create and deliver than complex training
It’s more engaging
It leads to better retention
It’s on-the-go friendly (and we all know that ease-of-use and accessibility are a top priority these days)

So what are you waiting for? Microlearning is an invaluable tool for training and eLearning that can save you and your learners time, and make your training more effective.

Got questions? Want to suggest a topic? Set up a demo? Let us know 😊

The Skinny on Prosperity's User Interface

Kellyann Bryan — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:32:46 GMT

I was born right on the cusp of the digital era. Everything wasn’t digitalized yet, but things were rapidly changing – and I got to learn in both worlds. I learned how to type on a keyboard in first grade and write in cursive in second grade. By the time I made it to middle school, technology had become second nature, which on the surface might seem cool, but ... then my parents started using it. Oy vey.

Even after a considerable number of years showing them how to use the internet, create email accounts, and restart a router, I still get the (more than) occasional phone call – as if I am some sort of tech wizard (I google practically everything).

Luckily, Ziiva is happy to be the helpful resource for your students – and you! (Sorry – you’ll still have to help your parents with their router.) As an admin, we walk you through the system until you’re comfortable with how it works. After that, everything else is a cinch! (And if it’s not, we’re just a phone call away to work through any hiccups that might pop up.)

The Student Interface

The top feature of the Prosperity LMS is the ability to be highly customizable, so when it comes to the student interface of your training system, it can be as simple as you want it to be.

We will match your existing website for a seamless experience for your learners and customize a layout and workflow that quickly gets learners where they need to go. Start with one of our mobile-friendly templates, or let us know what you want and we'll make a site as unique as your business.

For Our Manufacturing Clients

Ease-of-use is the leading concern of manufacturers regarding their training. Employees don’t have the time for a complicated, time-consuming runaround. To make sure your employees get the vital training they need to do their jobs properly and safely while getting them on the job quickly, Prosperity LMS offers

A training portal that is simple and easy to navigate
The ability to include videos, visuals, and a reference library of related materials and how-to training
A quick way to sign off on SOPs, work instructions and competencies
A layout that works as well on a mobile device on the shop floor as it does on a computer

For Our Clients Who Sell Training

Clients that sell their training and content with an LMS are also interested in an easy-to-use student interface, but perhaps more so, they are looking for a visually appealing portal. When you partner with us to sell your training, we

Brand your site(s), so you can maintain your image
Let you decide how you want to market and sell training – bundles, a la carte, discount codes, bulk purchase
U.S.-based tech support by phone and email available to you AND all of your users
Are happy to share our experiences and best practices and always willing to work with you to come up with new or different solutions

Perhaps one day my mother will stop trying to use CNN as a search engine and my dad will be able to set up an email account all on his own. Or perhaps not. Either way, I'll be there to help them -- and Ziiva will be there to help you.

Partnering for Success with Prosperity LMS

Kellyann Bryan — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:31:27 GMT

Howdy, Pardners

When we are working with our clients, we think of them as partners – not merely customers. Unlike many off-the-shelf LMS companies, we don’t just go in for the quick sale and then throw you to the wolves. We take the time to listen to your needs and concerns and answer all of your questions. You tell us what you need, not the other way around. Once we understand your pain points and objectives, our team will take the lead in putting together a solution that is just right.

The Prosperity LMS Approach

Here's a smattering of ways our company strives to work with you:

Fit the solution to what you need; flexibility is our (unspoken) middle name
Start with your desired outcome and reverse engineer to find the best path to achieve it
Adapt to changes -- both planned and unforeseen; life happens -- we are always willing to adjust and develop new strategies accordingly
Reports, compliance, and audits -- Oh my! Does a surprise audit have you scrambling, wondering who you're gonna call? Well, we've got your back -- call us (not those Ghostbuster goons)
Our team will gladly share our experiences for pitfalls to avoid and best practices to follow -- just like those guys at Farmer's Insurance, we've seen it all

When you partner with us we are just a phone call or email away. Heck, you could even drop by and visit. Just let us know first so we can make the coffee.

Set up a call today to discuss how you can benefit from partnering with the Prosperity LMS team!

Partner with Ziiva, Keep Your Groovy Image

Kellyann Bryan — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 19:20:51 GMT

Whether we realize it or not, we are all highly influenced by branding, and branding transcends space and language. People all over the world recognize the beckoning golden arches of McDonald’s, the bright and inquisitive typography of Google, and the mysterious sea-green siren of Starbucks.

A lot of thought is put into the branding of a company and their subsequent websites, marketing material, and overall image. So, when a company considers delving into online training, one of the biggest questions is, “Will it still look like our site?”

If you partner with Ziiva, the short answer is, “Absolutely!”

What Does Ziiva Do?

We provide a learning management system (LMS) – a platform that delivers your training content. Since we know the importance of branding and how it affects your business, we build your training sites in a way that maintains the look and feel of your brand – or even that of your individual clients. We will design the user interface to engage your learners and seamlessly integrate your existing website and materials with your logos, colors, fonts, and graphics. We can even custom-brand individual sites for your clients based on their unique needs, but all easily managed from your Prosperity LMS administrator portal.

More, More, More:

Here’s how we can make it happen:

Integrate the LMS into your existing website for a seamless experience
Build a standalone website using Prosperity LMS, branded to your business
Offer multiple client-specific websites with unique branding and configuration, all easily managed in one place
Target different customers with training websites focused on each target audience

How Do You Like it?

Referencing 70s disco hits is one of my more appealing personality traits, but really – what did you think? Are you ready to give us a call so we can custom-build your training site and keep you looking sharp?

Email me: kellyann@ziiva.com, or go ahead and put your boogie-self down on the calendar.