Microsoft introduced a Dynamics 365 feature that empowers you to publish custom content and instruction for your users. Users get access to the content the moment they need it, in the context of their process and on the form they are using. It’s called the Learning Path. Creating a custom Microsoft Dynamics 365 Learning Path takes some work. But the ability to deploy reference material for instruction and reinforcing best practice is a smart way to ensure the value of your system. Another nice feature is the ability to deploy the Learning Path in a browser or mobile experience.
Difference between Help and Learning Path
There is a lot of contextual Help built-in Microsoft Dynamics 365. It’s probably adequate for users with standard features and forms. You even have the ability to replace the stock Help by pointing users to new URL, or overriding Help for a specific entity or workflow. Building a custom Learning Path is different. Systems that feature more custom entities and forms, customized workflows, or have users that are not able to attend a formal training – all are good candidates for the Learning Path. The “real time” nature of the Learning Path offers the instruction where and when you need it, as opposed to depending on a user to seek it out somewhere else in the system.
The Content Library
You will use the Content Library to store and control the content you have created and made available to your organization. In addition, the commands used to manage, work and interact with the Learning Path live in the Content Library.
Guided Tasks and Sidebars
There are 2 ways to surface content in the Learning Path – Guided Tasks and Sidebars. The Guided Task generally lists the steps that define the respective process. The Guided Tasks are good for walking users through common or new scenarios that need to be performed in a consistent manner. Links to videos or other pages can be included.
Sidebars emerge from the side of the screen when the user clicks a button, or goes to a page for which you have created content. Error sidebars can be created to immediately offer guidance or instruction on correcting system use in the moment it’s needed.
Publishing Groups
After you create your Learning Path you’ll need to publish to a Publishing Group. The group may be an entire organization or even multiple organizations you need to push the same content out to. On top of that an organization may be part of multiple groups. There’s a lot of flexibility there.
Managing the Learning Path
Content in your Microsoft Dynamics 365 Learning Path can be saved, exported, and imported at your convenience. The Learning path can also be localized for use across territories or for centers that service multiple territories. Keep in mind that Learning Path content is exposed to Azure Cloud Services so be aware of any security policies that may need to be addressed.
The Microsoft Dynamics 365 Learning Path represents a great way to train and keep users focused on proper use of Dynamics 365 in a way that help ensure adoption and best practice.
By Mark Abes, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Dyn365Pros. Agile and expert implementation services for Sales, Service, Marketing and ERP. Microsoft Partner, Southern California.
