Why It’s a Good Idea to Integrate Your Mobile Learning Platform with Your Cloud-Based Systems

By Jan Steinar Kvilesjø

Jan Steinar Kvilesjø, CTO at Motimate, is responsible for realizing our technological vision, making sure we offer our clients the best possible features to keep them at the cutting edge of mobile learning capability. Here, Jan Steinar takes a look at how the API economy has revolutionized the mobile learning and value creation opportunities for businesses working with cloud-based systems.

About the API Economy

Historically, businesses have often struggled to integrate digital services. Different bits of software, underwritten by different coding languages have found even the most experienced programmers struggling to connect the dots. Today, cloud computing and the rise of the Application Programming Interface (API) have massively simplified the possibility of combining different software.

Initially something used by programmers and coders to integrate new software into existing systems, today the Public API (Open API) is a strategic business tool, offering the promise of continuous innovation and new value-adding products and services. This once back-room species of software is now front and centre-stage, and the opportunities are manifold.

How APIs Work

Integrating your app-based services creates a bridge of communication between different bits of software. This means that you can create smart workflows that not only save time and resource for your business, but that form the basis of potential new products and services. Combining app-based services together opens up a world of innovation previously locked away behind doors that have been clunky, awkward and incredibly expensive to open.

One part of our API is the Experience API (XAPI). The XAPI standard allows systems to speak to each other and record data about multiple types of learning experiences. XAPI integration enables data gathering from a wealth of relevant sources, storing it in a single repository called a Learning Record Store (LRS).

A factor that sets an XAPI integration apart is its ability to record statements, essentially recording qualitative feedback. Integrating your mobile learning platform with the XAPI means that you can draw on far richer data, building a clearer picture of learning activity and helping you to deliver better, more relevant, learning experiences. Better data collection offers greater oversight, which informs better decision-making across the business.

How APIs’ Add Value

From a learning perspective, the value of XAPI integrations is that they enable context relevant, just-in-time learning. Connecting your e-learning system with a CRM such as Salesforce means that employees can be trained whilst they work, without ever leaving the Salesforce platform to look at their emails or log into their e-learning system. Information about learner progress can be collected and fed back to your e-learning system.

At Amazon, XAPI is used to integrate the e-learning system with workstation software to facilitate just-in-time learning on screens at packing stations. This means that new employees can learn on the job, greatly reducing the time to productivity of new employees. Couple this thinking with the flexibility of mobile based learning and the possibilities for combined system just-in-time learning increase even further.

From a business growth perspective, the XAPI standard simplifies the process of partnering with other organizations, enabling product and service innovations, greater speed to market, and allowing businesses to offer their customers more choice and greater flexibility – think Uber.

How Motimate Uses API

API makes meaningful new partnerships easy to establish and manage, making collaborative business models a no-brainer. In 2020, Scandinavian recruitment firm, Otiga Group, integrated Motimate with third party recruitment app, Mojob. This integration allowed them to develop a streamlined process for attracting, selecting and training the best temps for their clients’ needs.

By integrating Motimate you can also save time on training related admin and HR activity. Zapier is one of the tools that we use to connect the cloud-based business and productivity apps used by our clients to their mobile learning system. It’s a powerful combination and you don’t need to be a developer to action this integration. Here are some examples of Zaps that help automate simple activities:

• G-suite – to disseminate user diplomas on course completion
• Google Forms – to run surveys to help assign learners to the right groups
• Office365 – to set up calendar events for newly registered users
• Slack – to send team members notifications about completed training modules
• Twitch – to add new video followers to learning groups
• Mailchimp – to share new training courses with subscribers
• Shopify – to enable access to monetised training courses through a web shop
• Squarespace – to activate self-signup to courses