Have you ever been given a report from your LMS or LXP? It is probably an export in an excel or google sheet.
You’ve probably been left to make sense of the numbers. If you are lucky, there might be some graphics – a couple of pie charts and a few graphs.
If you are the Learning and Development Director chances are that you get the reports from your Learning Management System (LMS) or Learning Experience Platform (LXP).
It’s going to be full of columns, metrics, and percentages, but it might as well be written in computer code.
Without proper context, it’s hard to make sense of it, let alone act on it. You need something more than this.
This is where data storytelling becomes essential.
LMS/LXP data isn’t just a collection of numbers—it’s a resource that can help you understand the impact of learning on your organisation, your teams, and your strategy.
The data can provide insights that will be more than just L&D, they will help with strategic decisions across the organisation.
If you are not looking at the data, this is why you should.
Why LMS/LXP Data Matters: Key Statistics
- Demand for Data-Driven L&D: 57% of L&D professionals now spend more time analysing data than three years ago, reflecting the growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. (Source: LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, 2020)
- Strategic Impact on ROI: Organisations that integrate learning analytics into their strategy are three times more likely to see positive ROI from training investments. (Source: Deloitte Insights, “Reimagining Talent Practices for the Digital Age,” 2017)
- Alignment with Business Goals: Linking LMS data to strategic outcomes can lead to a 32% improvement in training efficiency. (Source: ATD Research, 2019)
- Identifying Engagement Trends: 44% of organisations are looking to replace or upgrade their LMS, largely for better analytics and reporting capabilities. (Source: Brandon Hall Group, “Learning Technology Trends,” 2016)
- Ensuring Accessibility and Relevance: 74% of employees want to learn during spare moments at work, highlighting the need for flexible formats informed by LMS engagement data. (Source: LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, 2019)
These figures underline the importance of understanding and interpreting LMS/LXP data.
It’s no longer just about delivering training—it’s about aligning learning outcomes with business objectives.
Are you sharing your learning data across the business? When was the last time you provided a data analytics report with the CEO, CIO and CFO?
Understanding LMS/LXP Data
LMS/LXP data covers everything your platform records—whether that’s users logging in, courses being completed, or feedback being submitted.
You might include:
- Course Completion Rates: How many participants actually finish their training?
- Engagement Metrics: Who’s logging in, how often, and for how long?
- Drop-off Points: Where are users losing interest or encountering issues?
- Feedback Scores: What are users saying about their experience?
- Skill Tracking: What competencies are being developed, and by whom?
Each data point is like a puzzle piece.
When you connect them, they tell a story about your organisation’s learning culture, areas for improvement, and what’s working well.
Question from Scott Hewitt: What’s the biggest misconception L&D Directors have about LMS data storytelling?
Many L&D Directors think LMS data, like completion rates, isn’t useful at a strategic level.
These metrics can unlock valuable insights when linked to broader organisational goals. The challenge for organisations is presenting the data in a way that helps leaders to make decisions.
Why Data Storytelling Matters
Raw data doesn’t speak for itself.
To be useful, it needs to be interpreted and turned into actionable insights.
Data storytelling bridges the gap, helping you connect the dots between numbers and real-world outcomes.
The Power of Visualised Insights
Imagine a course designed for North American employees gaining unexpected traction in Asia.
By mapping the data geographically, you uncover this hidden demand and adapt the course for a global audience. You can then look to translate your content and empower your team with multilingual learning.
These are the insights that data provides – and you can be looking for. Your programme can then go on to deliver a much larger impact.
Without storytelling, this kind of information would remain buried in a spreadsheet.
Question from Scott Hewitt: How does LMS data storytelling directly impact an organisation’s learning and development strategy?
It provides clarity about user preferences, guiding decisions on content format, accessibility, and delivery. With these insights, organisations can align their learning strategy with employee needs and overall business goals.
Key Principles for Effective LMS/LXP Data Storytelling
1. Know Your Audience
Tailor your narrative. A report for IT might focus on technical details, while HR would be more interested in engagement trends and skills tracking.
Don’t be afraid to prepare different reports for different departments.
2. Connect the Dots
Identify relationships between datasets. For example, combining feedback scores with completion rates could reveal why certain courses perform better than others.
3. Start Small
Question from Scott Hewitt: What practical step can L&D Directors take today to improve their data storytelling?
Start simple. Even basic data analysis can provide insights. Link engagement data with strategic goals to create reports that resonate with executive leadership, such as CIOs or CFOs.
4. Avoid Overcomplicating
Question from Scott Hewitt: What’s a common mistake L&D Directors make when working with LMS data?
Trying to do too much too soon. Stick to a few key metrics, present them clearly, and avoid overwhelming your audience with unnecessary detail.
5. Humanise the Data
Data alone isn’t persuasive.
Show the real-world impact of your findings, such as how improved engagement reduces compliance risks or boosts productivity.
Be consistent. You need to provide your reports regularly. Don’t provide a report and then forget. People need to see patterns and get updates from you.
Conclusion
LMS/LXP data is no longer nice-to-have. It is a key strategic tool for leaders.
The organisations making the most progress are those turning their raw numbers into actionable insights.
Start small: pick one report, link it to a meaningful story, and refine how you present it. Ensure that you build on the data, analyse and present to your stakeholders – looking for patterns and change.
Over time, you’ll move from simply crunching numbers to influencing real change. Initially, you can use the data to create and update basic reports.
As you become more confident in interpreting and presenting the data, the natural next step is to move onto dashboards.
Dashboards provide a dynamic way to centralise data, visualise key metrics, and track performance over time.
Tools like Power BI or Tableau allow you to bring together disparate data sources, create clear visual narratives, and uncover trends that basic reports can’t easily highlight.
Dashboards not only save time by automating updates but also empower stakeholders with insights that drive strategic decisions.
Look at the reports you have today and ask: What’s the story they’re telling, and how can a dashboard take it further?
Q&A
What is LMS and LXP?
An LMS (Learning Management System) is a platform to manage, deliver, and track online training. An LXP (Learning Experience Platform) is more user-focused, offering personalised content and interactive learning paths.
What is LMS data?
LMS data includes metrics like completion rates, engagement statistics, feedback scores, and skill tracking. It helps organisations measure the effectiveness of training and identify areas for improvement.
What does LXP stand for?
LXP stands for Learning Experience Platform. It’s designed to focus on the learner, offering tailored content that matches their preferences and goals.
What does LMS mean?
LMS stands for Learning Management System. It’s used to organise, deliver, and monitor training programmes for employees or learners.
