For convenience and simplicity, many rely on their association to provide them with these opportunities.

In fact, many members go to their associations first for professional development! 

For obvious reasons, associations should be ready, willing, and able to answer the call.

It may sound difficult to become the landing spot for all your members’ continuing education needs, but it can be done with the right LMS and the right plan. 

Optimizing your CE system is more than just providing great content; associations need their entire system and all of their processes working toward the same goal. 

The results will speak for themselves: increased revenue and more engaged members! 

To get your association’s CE on the right path, follow the steps below:

1. Connect Everything

Your continuing education platform shouldn’t be an island. 

Ensure that your CE is interconnected with your entire system–including your event center, career services, and CRM software. 

With proper integration, members are able to access your association’s store, job board, and main page directly from the CE platform, allowing these sections to work together to enhance the user experience. 

Your continuing education platform should look and act the same as your main website–you want to provide the most seamless transition possible! Ideally, users shouldn’t even notice they are going between different platforms.

The easy exchange of data across your entire system allows for additional benefits, including single sign-on (one login for everything!) and a better shopping experience overall. 

2. Get Social

Your association should also consider integrating various social systems, like connecting their CE to social media and establishing a member forum. Continuing education isn’t only courses and training, after all; social learning in peer discussions and communities can offer some of the most valuable and relevant lessons available!

Consider creating a course-related forum section for current and past learners to discuss the material–or even open the forum up to all members! You can even mix and match with specific threads within your forum. Encourage discussions by posting think pieces, industry news, and relevant topics.

With social media, learners can share about their learning experiences, which can grant them validation and support. Additionally, by creating a digital badging system, members can showcase the training and certifications they’ve completed on social media, member forums, and job boards–promoting their achievements and your CE all at once! 

3. Personalize It

The most effective learning systems organize their entire experience around each individual user. 

The advanced AI present in many learning management systems today can create personalized learning recommendations for members based on usage and interests. For example, course and certification suggestions can be generated based on past job searches, showing members what training is a prerequisite or could give them an advantage. This can work for non-members as well–effectively turning your LMS into a recruitment tool!

Don’t be afraid to ask members for more information about their likes, interests, and goals, either. You can use this information and create a personalized development path as well. Offer them training in the formats that appeal to them most, suggest training that might serve some of their objectives, and provide recommendations that can give them a helpful career boost. 

4. Support and Evolve

Even with the most intuitive LMS, members will still need support from time to time. Make sure that your association’s lines of communication are open, that your instructions are clear and easy to understand, that there is someone to contact when necessary, and that training and support resources are easily accessible. 

This goes beyond technical support, however; members can also benefit from continuing education support. Provide assistance and advice for members as they plan their careers and educational development paths; a little help can lead to a lot of loyalty! 

Next, you want your association to be at the forefront of your industry. Your courses need to evolve over time, and your materials need to be updated to reflect any changes in the industry. If compliance regulations shift, be sure to offer courses and training that allow members to update and maintain their skills. 

Be sure to incorporate the latest in learning trends and technologies–your members want you to be cutting-edge, and keeping your courses (and platform!) modern will go a long way. Keep your content as up-to-date as possible so that members will be confident in your CE and your association overall. 

5. Create New Opportunities

To get the most out of a training course, associations may need to advertise it and offer it in various ways. Consider making your in-person conferences hybrid, which can improve attendance, engagement, and revenue generation. When it comes to online sessions, record them! You can then use the resulting videos to make fast, easy on-demand courses for members.

Associations can also look at repacking and repurposing older courses with newer ones to help renew interest in past content. Try offering different price levels for different groups–member tiers can create an additional revenue stream and let members pick the plan that’s right for them. That’s instant personalization!

Finally, pin any training that is related to current industry news or changes–this highlights the importance of both the item and your CE. The most important content is that which is evergreen (always relevant) and that which is relevant to the now. Be creative with it! Filling niches is one of the best things an association can do.

You may also like: How to Sell Your Online Courses to Your Members

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, becoming the go-to continuing education resource for your members is a goal that can be achieved with the right tools, strategies, and dedication. 

Combine the right LMS with a well-thought-out plan, and you can provide your members with the best CE experience around, rewarding your members with new skills and your association with repeat renewals for years to come!

References

Don’t worry, though–we’re here to help! 

In this article, we’re going to look at what associations really need from an LMS, while also clearing up some of the “unknowns” you may find yourself encountering. 

Here are some common questions:

• What should you and your association look for in an LMS? 
• What are members looking for from these systems? 
• What do you do after you get your LMS?

Below, we’ll answer these questions and highlight what your ideal LMS will include–helping your association get the most out of its continuing education!

A User-Friendly LMS

User-friendliness is one of the most obvious (but also perhaps the most important!) thing to consider when establishing your LMS. 

It doesn’t matter how powerful or how complex the system is behind the scenes–it needs to look and operate in a simple, straightforward way on the surface. 

Because users possess a variety of technological experience and comfort levels, your system can alienate basic users if it’s too complicated. Besides that, an intuitive LMS and interface don’t mean they lack depth; rather, they’re just cleaner and easier to operate for everyone. 

Another aspect of user-friendliness that associations should consider is that of training and operation resources and documentation. 

While many LMS vendors offer training resources that come with the system, it is sometimes up to the association to create their own. Ensure that your documentation is as clear as possible and that users can access it easily. For best results, keep this material up-to-date and add a “Frequently Asked Question” section populated with answers to users’ most common queries.

Personalize the Experience

Whether your LMS does it for you or you find a way to accomplish it yourself, personalizing your training in a way that makes each learner feel like it’s been designed specifically for them can make for a very powerful learning experience. While this may sound like it requires a significant time investment, it can actually be accomplished fairly simply!

For example, most systems allow administrators to ensure learners see only the learning content that applies to their specific careers, experiences, and training levels. You can also offer training and certificates that help learners further develop their careers or make a change to their profession. 

Allow learners to set their own goals and create a roadmap for them to follow. As they complete their training, they’ll move along the path and will be able to better visualize how close they are to realizing their goals! Now, that’s incentive.

(Mobile)ize Your Training

It probably goes without saying these days, but mobile access is absolutely necessary for modern training courses. Most learning management systems today include mobile-ready and responsive designs, which allow users to access the content from any type of device or screen size, but it’s important for associations to create mobile-friendly content as well. Remember, training should be designed with mobile users in mind!

For instance, training should be offered in small, snackable segments to allow learners to complete their training in short bursts. Few working professionals can set aside hours at a time for study, so small chunks of training allow them to complete and digest mini-lessons. 

Additionally, to enhance engagement, mobile-compatible modules should be interactive. Have users complete in-lesson quizzes and knowledge-testing activity games to make the learning process fun.

Furthermore, allow users to connect to and from social media straight from your platform, as the majority of social media use is done via mobile devices. This can help boost your association’s social media status, too!

Learn from the System 

Regardless of how good your training is in the beginning, it’s never a good idea to leave it unaltered and unsupported. Some of the most powerful tools provided by an LMS are the tracking and reporting options. 

To get your training to its most effective, and to help your learners get the most from their training, use these tools to improve your CE components as much as possible. Get the system to track your learners’ progress and produce reports documenting weak points in your training. Are the majority of users getting hung up on a specific module? This can indicate a problem in the material!

By paying attention to analytics and spot-fixing any issues you encounter, your association will be able to boost your content’s efficacy quickly and easily. Don’t forget to pay attention to modules and courses that are doing especially well, either–you can set them as an example and learn from their popularity! 

Basically, your LMS can offer you insight into how your users are interacting with your system: which courses are performing best, and which ones still need a little TLC? Determine what content and learning formats produce the best results, then replicate them. 

In general, this process can help associations create highly effective training for their users. The better your content, the more value for your members, the higher the renewal rates!

Make No Mistake: Integrate!

Integration makes life easier for everyone on a platform, as users can seamlessly move between systems without getting lost or confused. An integrated system allows learners to access the association’s entire system–including the main website, the LMS, and the online store–all with a single login.

For administrators, system integration allows for better and easier reporting and transference of data. Learner activities can be shared with other department systems, and information can be accessed from a centralized location without having to move between management systems or transfering data. 

Many systems contain built-in integration features, whereas some accommodate it through their customization capabilities. Either way, integration is quickly becoming one of the more important features an LMS can offer. 

Keep It Updated

Updates are an essential part of both online learning and an association’s LMS. Content-wise, training needs to stay current and relevant. Industry changes and compliance mandates need to be reflected in your content, and learner feedback should be continually incorporated to ensure your CE offers the most effective training possible. 

The system itself also needs to stay updated–in a number of different ways! Your security and privacy controls need to remain current and intact to keep users (and their information) safe and protected.

The way you keep your system up-to-date will vary based on your platform. If you use SaaS (Software as a Service), you’ll get automatic updates. If your platform is custom-built, however, you’ll have to maintain any updates yourself–or else hire someone to do it for you. This can get costly if your platform is especially custom, since anyone fixing your software will have to learn it first!

Any apps or plugins that the LMS uses should be updated as well to keep things operating efficiently. Have you ever left updating your computer or browser a little too long? Things start to get a tad buggy when you do, right? The same goes for apps and plugins, so to keep your system working smoothly, you want to keep everything current.

Finally, different system features and components should be updated regularly. Your association should stay on top of the latest developments in training and incorporate these new additions whenever and wherever necessary. Your members don’t want to waste their time on outdated education, after all!

Be Supportive

After you’ve implemented your learning system and posted your training content, the next stage of the training begins: the support stage. 

Ensure that your members and learners feel supported in every way. Keep traditional lines of communication (like phone and email) open and accessible. Post and update training materials to assist learners, and make sure these resources are hosted in an easily-found location.

Again, here’s where an association’s social media channels can come in clutch; by maintaining a solid social media presence, you can address issues and concerns as they appear. More and more, people are reaching out to organizations on their Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn feeds when they want a real human answer, so be sure to give them a friendly, helpful, and timely response when they do!

You May Also Like: 5 Things NOT to Leave Out of Your LMS

Conclusion

While choosing and supporting the right learning management system can feel like a daunting task, with the right checklist, it becomes a simple process. 

First, it’s important to understand what your association and its members need, and how those needs will be met by your chosen LMS. Your ideal LMS should be user-friendly and offer personalized education options; mobile-responsive, snackable learning modules; and integration capabilities. Once implemented, you should be regularly updating its content and offering members support. 

With the right system, you can take your continuing education to the next level. Provide members with an enjoyable, informative experience, and they’ll continue to come to your association for their needs for years to come!

References

Tip: Safety First

You want your association’s data to be accessible, but not too accessible–at least, not to the wrong people! Keep your files secure by looking into your online security. You want your members to know their data is safe in your hands, and that they can trust your association’s cyber savvy.

Educate

First, educate: yourself, your staff, and your members. You can’t spot a problem you don’t know exists, so make sure to offer resources on how to spot scams, fraud, phishing, and other heinous tricks.

Teach everyone about password control: users should change their passwords regularly, employ two-factor authentication, consider using secure password managers, and lock their computers when away from the keyboard. Additionally, make sure to use only secure wifi connections; if there’s no lock symbol, it shouldn’t be trusted. By pairing all of this with regular network testing, your users should be able to stay safe–and your data will stay where it belongs!

Assess

You want to keep your association’s various functions safe (and trustworthy!), so look into having online security audits performed on your system. Set up yearly on-site data security assessments and encrypt your information. Use VPNs whenever possible as an additional precaution.

You should also inform your staff of any risks, and set up protocol on what to do should someone make a mistake. It’s better to know there’s a problem and respond than to rugsweep and pretend it never happened!

Protect

One way to increase the security of your online environment and simplify password management for your members is to standardize authentication across all your online solutions. This is made possible using single sign-on (SSO) cloud technology. Single sign-on (SSO) is a user authentication process that allows for access to multiple online applications with one set of credentials.

In addition to greatly enhancing the online experience of your members (they login only once to access multiple services!), SSO reduces password fatigue and facilitates the adoption of stronger password policies. Just make sure that prior to implementation, you consider what SSO protocols are supported by your preferred software solutions and confirm that they can connect.

You may also like: Post-Purchase Service: Why It’s Crucial When Picking an LMS Vendor

Conclusion

When doing anything online, you want to make sure you’re practicing good digital hygiene. Inform your bar association of the dangers associated with the web, audit your tech, and remind members to safeguard their credentials. They say the best defense is a good offense, but the reverse is often also true!

Next time, we’ll be concluding our Vocalmeet/Lexum article series with one of the best support (and engagement!) tools of all: social media.

Tool: the Cloud

You may have heard of “cloud computing” (or just, “the cloud”) before, but what is it? It refers to information and processing power that is housed online, rather than on-site. You aren’t pulling files from your own computer’s memory but directly from online storage. This type of computing provides fast, on-demand service that anyone with access to the internet can take advantage of.

SaaS

Software as a Service (or SaaS) is a type of software that lives directly in the cloud, meaning it’s easy to access on any device. Many platforms run on SaaS because you can use them directly on their respective websites–no extra programs or downloads necessary! With their convenience and easy integration capability, SaaS platforms are a great solution when it comes to different types of association systems (be they association, member, learning management, or more).

Document Retrieval and the Cloud

“The cloud” isn’t just for hosting platforms–it can help you store association documents! This not only makes things super accessible, but it can allow your organization to improve its consistency and formatting.

Imagine: all of your document templates in one place, easy to download to your device and modify whenever you want. Member application forms, event submission forms, testimonial submissions, surveys–the sky’s the limit! You can streamline a number of administrative tasks this way, and improve your association’s overall data organization while you’re at it.

Solutions that support members in retrieving legal documentation and collaborating online also exist to help your bar association out. Not only this–some of them don’t even require changing the way you operate and produce your documents! Whether you’re using your desktop, tablet, or phone, you can search and load reference material quickly and easily, as well as make and share notes with clients and colleagues–a must in any data-driven industry (like the legal sector!).

You may also like: Making Your Content More Accessible Does Not Mean Introducing More Complicated Technology

Conclusion

While the term “cloud computing” can sound daunting, don’t let it inject fear into the heart of your bar association; leverage the right cloud technology, and you’ll discover a world of increased ease and efficiency!

Tune in (or click on) next week for our article all about web safety!

As member-based organizations increasingly rely on technology to run their operations and interact with their members, the value of connecting one’s tools can’t be overstated.

Today we’ll be talking about Software as a Service (SaaS) integrations, which link two separate cloud-based software systems together. Integration can provide many benefits to your organization, including increased efficiency, improved data accuracy, decreased administrative work, and higher member satisfaction. But what does that look like in practice?

In this article, we’ll explain how SaaS integration works, where it can be used, and why it matters for smoother day-to-day operations. Let’s begin!

Key Takeaways

• Understand how connected systems work: Software as a Service (SaaS) integration allows separate platforms to exchange information and support more efficient workflows.
• Choose integrations based on your needs: The right setup depends on your organization’s systems, processes, and member experience goals.
• Keep data consistent across platforms: Data integrations can reduce duplicate entry and help member records stay accurate across connected tools.
• Simplify access with one login: Single sign-on (SSO) can make it easier for members to move between portals, courses, and resources.
• Streamline online transactions: Payment gateway integrations can process purchases, update records, and reduce manual work for staff.

What is SaaS integration?

IBM (2024) defines SaaS integration as the process of connecting software with other applications and systems, whether cloud-based or on-premises. It enables applications to request and share data more easily, driving workflow automation and enhancing functionality across various business processes. This can be achieved through several means, including:

• Application programming interfaces (APIs)
• Webhooks
• Pre-built connectors
• Middleware or integration platforms
• File imports and exports
• Web services

The main goal of SaaS integration is to help systems work together more effectively. This can reduce manual data entry, support workflow automation, improve data consistency, and make it easier for staff and members to move through connected processes.

In the context of organizations, SaaS integration can simplify member record management. For example, integrating your association management system (AMS) with your learning management system (LMS) can make course activity easier to track. Depending on the setup, when a member completes a course, that completion record then flows back into their member profile, helping staff keep learning records, certificates, and engagement data more organized.

SaaS integration can also help you save time and money while also improving information accuracy by reducing the need for manual data entry.

You may also like: 7 Universally Crucial Features for Your New LMS

Useful Integrations for Organizations

There are many types of SaaS integrations available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. For member-based organizations, three common examples include data integrations, single sign-on (SSO), and payment gateway integrations.

Data Integration

Data integration allows different software applications to share, sync, or combine data. For member-based organizations, this can help connect systems, like your AMS, LMS, CRM, payment gateway, and events platform.

Data integrations can work in different ways. With one-way (or unidirectional) integrations, data only moves in one direction. It sends information to another but doesn’t receive anything from it (Skyone, 2022). For example, an event platform might send registration details to a member database, but the member database doesn’t send updates back.

Meanwhile, with bi-directional integrations, data flows back and forth between systems, helping keep records more consistent. Also known as two-way integration, this setup keeps data consistent across two or more applications over time (Gitlin, 2023).  For member-based organizations, this can mean that when a member updates their profile, registers for an event, completes a course, or renews their membership, that information can be reflected across connected systems. This can save a lot of time and hassle for both your team and your members!

Single Sign-on (SSO)

Another useful integration for member-based organizations is single sign-on (SSO). SSO allows members to access multiple software applications with a single set of login credentials (often the same username and password they use for your website or member portal!).

This can be especially convenient for members, as they don’t have to remember multiple sets of login information. And that’s not all! According to Okta (2022), SSO systems can reduce login-related help desk calls by 75%, save 30 minutes per application provisioning request, and speed up information technology (IT) integration with acquired businesses by 500%.

For example, an organization might use SSO to allow members to move from the member portal to the LMS without creating a separate account or logging in again. This can be especially helpful when members need to access courses, event recordings, certificates, or member-only resources through connected platforms.

Payment Gateway Integration

Payment gateway integrations connect your organization’s website, AMS, LMS, event platform, or online store with a payment processor, such as PayPal or Stripe. This allows members to pay for membership dues, event registration fees, continuing education courses, donations, products, and other purchases online.

What makes a payment gateway integration convenient is that it can provide a smoother checkout experience, whether payments are completed directly through your platform or via a secure hosted checkout page. Either way, the integration can help reduce manual payment processing for your staff, saving your organization time and money.

For example, when a member renews their membership, the payment gateway can process the transaction and send the payment status back to the connected system. Depending on the setup, the platform may also update the member’s renewal status, send a receipt, and record the transaction for reporting.

There are many other types of integration available, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. The right setup depends on your organization’s goals, systems, data needs, and member experience. To determine this, it can help to speak with a SaaS integration expert who can assess your systems, workflows, data needs, and member experience goals.

You may also like: Taking the Fear Out of Updating Your Association’s Technology

Conclusion

Overall, SaaS integrations can provide a number of benefits for organizations. When choosing a SaaS integration, it’s important to consider your needs and goals in order to select the best option for your organization; you’ll be glad you did!

REFERENCES

IBM. (2024, July 15). SaaS integration. Ibm.com. https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/saas-integration

Okta. (2022, April 28). The Advantages and Benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO). Okta.com; Okta.  https://www.okta.com/en-sg/blog/identity-security/benefits-of-single-sign-on/

Skyone. (2022, December 21). Systems integration: what is it, what types are there, and how does it work? Skyone. https://www.skyone.solutions/en/systems-integration/