The Role of Completion Rates and Data Use in Elearning Success
Completion rates aren’t just vanity metrics—they’re a goldmine of insight for strategic decisions and content evaluation.
But read through LinkedIn or watch a presentation at a Learning Conference and you’ll quickly see how they are often underutilised by organisations.
Are you doing that?
What if you shifted the narrative and treated them as a window into the user experience and organisational efficiency?
Uncovering the ‘Why’ Behind the Numbers
You need to think about the why. Stop thinking about certificates and the binary finish/not finished.
Low completion rates can signal deeper issues.
Is the content too long or irrelevant? Are IT or accessibility barriers at play?
Investigating these drop-offs can provide valuable data to refine course design, remove technical obstacles, and align learning programmes with strategic objectives.
Do you ever look at completion data and then review the course design again? Are you so confident that the design was perfect? Have you looked at the data in conjunction with geographic data or the technical platforms that are being used? Very quickly you can find trends that might point to information gaps.
There are other things that you can look at, like:
- Content Design: Shorter, targeted modules like microlearning increase completion rates by 58%, especially when integrated into workflows. Embedding micro topics into daily tasks before formal training boosts engagement and satisfaction.
- Technical Insights: Completion data highlights platform usability issues, such as poor mobile compatibility or frustrating navigation. Tools like Google Analytics and SharePoint track completion rates and pinpoint geographic or role-based engagement gaps. For example, identifying underperforming offices helps address specific IT or resource challenges.
Do you include employees in content creation? Including and featuring them in videos,fosters ownership and voluntary engagement.
This approach boosts completion rates and creates a culture of learning. Adding creative formats, like interactive or humorous videos, maintains interest and anticipation.
Using Data for Smarter Investments
Completion and usage rates inform procurement decisions. By analysing platform data, organisations can uncover:
- Usage Trends: Identify peak usage times and preferred devices to optimise content delivery.
- Geographic Insights: Address IT or resource issues in underperforming locations.
- Content Relevance: Pinpoint underused courses to avoid overpaying for irrelevant content.
Insights reveal regional or departmental challenges, such as low engagement in certain offices.
Tailored interventions, such as department-specific content or alternative delivery methods like mobile notifications or QR codes, resolve these issues effectively.
Driving ROI Through Continuous Improvement
Data transforms learning programmes from static compliance tools to dynamic, strategic assets.
Completion rates inform course design and procurement decisions, ensuring every investment delivers measurable value.
Organisations that are prioritising data analysis achieve better engagement, higher ROI, and clearer alignment with business goals.
Are you dismissing your data? You also don’t need to invest thousands of dollars in massive dashboards. You can start with Excel and Google Sheets – share the data with IT and Finance and start to build some basic reports.
Post-completion actions are critical.
Microlearning for pre-training preparation and post-training reinforcement sustains engagement and knowledge retention. Feedback loops, such as knowledge checks and post-session updates, enhance the learning process. For example, post-training videos or short quizzes reinforce knowledge and provide actionable feedback for future sessions.
Creating a Culture of Learning
Have you thought about the content that you are delivering and when?
Microlearning fosters a culture of continuous learning. Weekly modules integrated into workflows improve retention and satisfaction.
For example, at Learning 24, Jose Hoyos shared how an apprentice programme combining weekly microlearning with hands-on training reported significant retention and engagement gains. The personalised onboarding videos or mobile-delivered safety updates saved time and improved accessibility.
Fun, engaging content like interactive elements or employee-led videos excites employees and strengthens involvement.
Think about flexible delivery options—mobile-friendly modules, QR codes, LMS integration, Slack, or MS Teams—boost accessibility and completion rates.
Management buy-in is essential. Visualising outcomes, such as reduced errors, higher satisfaction scores, or improved survey results, secures leadership support. Demonstrating results in action, rather than abstract ideas, is key to scaling these efforts.
Final Thoughts
Completion rates and usage data are more than numbers—they’re the foundation of effective, adaptable elearning strategies.
By digging deeper into the ‘why,’ organisations uncover actionable insights that enhance learning outcomes, improve platform performance, and ensure their investment pays off.
Combining data-driven decisions, creative content design, and flexible delivery methods transforms completion rates from metrics into meaningful tools for growth.
From pre-training preparation to post-training reinforcement, every step builds a successful, sustainable learning culture.
