How a Microsoft learning hub can attract company Subject Matter Experts

Introduction

For many organisations, the challenge is not only delivering and tracking learning content but also getting internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to actively contribute to learning content. 

An unexpected side-effect of launching a new set of Microsoft-integrated learning hubs, was that they received a surge of training content offers from in-house experts, all eager to provide training content.

The Key Requirements of a Learning Hub

In delivering their new learning hubs, the L&D team was keen to ensure they were:

a) Easy to access for learners,
b) Easy to brand and keep fresh, and
c) Easy to track training progress and certification renewals.

The solution that fitted these criteria was Learn365 (formerly LMS365).

Learn365 lets you deliver learning ‘in the flow of work’, being embedded in Microsoft Teams. It is also accessible from Microsoft Viva, SharePoint and mobile devices.

Learn365 is also highly customisable, allowing you to create learning hubs that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate.

As a fully-fledged learning management system (LMS), Learn365 additionally provided the tracking, auto-renewals, and reporting capabilities needed by the business. These features enabled the company to stay up-to-date with industry-specific certifications, as well as line-of-business and role-specific skills.

The Importance of Branding & Promotion for SME Engagement

The L&D team rapidly built a series of learning hubs, each differently branded and curated to suit the needs of its different divisions.

The new learning hubs have not only boosted employee engagement but also redefined how subject matter experts (SMEs) perceive their contributions to organizational learning.

With features like ‘New and Trending’ sections, SMEs have a platform to showcase their work, enhancing their sense of ownership and pride in content quality.

Additionally, a comprehensive course catalog with a calendar view for ‘live learning events’ in Teams, complete with reminders, keeps participants informed and engaged, ensuring they don’t miss valuable in-person and hybrid training sessions.

Before the launch of their new learning hubs, the organisation struggled to harness the knowledge and expertise of their own employees.  

“Previously, the impetus to contribute learning content just wasn’t there, as it didn’t have a proper home to live in and could easily get ‘lost in the noise.”

Company L&D team member

Making it Easy to Contribute Training Content

Learn365 not only creates a welcoming space for learners and provides training oversight for the business; it also makes it easy for SMEs to contribute learning content, with features that include:

• Familiar Tools: Contributors can easily create training resources using standard Microsoft apps like PowerPoint and Word. 
• AI-Powered Course Creation: SMEs can swiftly develop courses using AI-driven tools that assist in drafting course documents and building quizzes, streamlining the content creation process.
• Live Training Scheduling: Teams-based live training sessions can be scheduled for specific days, using Learn365 to showcase upcoming events and allow user enrolment. 
• Reminders and Notifications: Delegates receive reminders for upcoming live Teams events to ensure they don’t miss important training sessions. 
• On-Demand Resources: Microsoft Teams inbuilt recording and transcript facilities allow live training sessions to be captured and repurposed into on-demand content
• Training feedback: Learners can rate their experience and send feedback at the end of courses.

Such capabilities really make a difference to SMEs, enabling them to use tools they are already familiar with, such as Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

From Passive to Active: A Learning Hub That Works 

For our client, their new learning hubs empowered in-house experts to contribute easily, and in the knowledge their efforts would be highly visible and appreciated.  

This organisation’s experience highlights how embedding a well-designed learning hub into a company’s daily digital environment can transform passive employees into active contributors.  

This increased engagement has had far-reaching benefits: 

• A richer, more diverse range of content for learners. 
• Faster response times to learning needs, with new courses being created in response to real-time challenges. 
• A dynamic learning environment where you workforce feels empowered to grow and contribute. 

This case study highlights how a Microsoft-integrated learning hub can do more than deliver content—it can inspire subject matter experts to become champions of learning within the organisation.

By surfacing learning directly into the daily work environment, the organisation unlocked the potential of its in-house experts, enriching the learning experience for everyone and creating a culture of knowledge-sharing and growth.