In my time as a customer advisor in SAP Training and Adoption, one type of objection was raised again and again when talking about SAP Learning Hub: "E-learning? That's generally not for me!" The concept of e-learning was rejected without having looked into it more deeply. You had to be a certain type, otherwise digital self-learning wouldn't work anyway. It is of course true that different learning types also prefer different learning methods. For example, those who need flexibility in their training are more inclined to use e-learning than those who want to be given a fixed schedule for learning.
In my opinion, however, all types of learners can benefit from digital learning with SAP Learning Hub, albeit to varying degrees. The following article is therefore intended to counteract the phenomenon of categorical rejection as described above and to clarify what SAP's e-learning platform can offer when you get to know it properly.
What is SAP Learning Hub?
First, the basics: The platform offers a digital learning environment with a large selection of content and courses through which users can acquire skills in the area of SAP solutions. The content is primarily standard training courses, some of which are also offered as instructor-led SAP Learning Classes in the webshop. Depending on the specific course, manuals, exercises, live sessions or learning systems are available. Those who are also looking for an exchange with experts or other learners can use communities - so-called learning rooms - set up in SAP Learning Hub for various topics. All this is possible completely independently of time and place: The platform offers the opportunity to learn flexibly 24/7.
Learning Journeys provide orientation and help in finding suitable learning content. They can be used to create and structure a personal learning plan. As a beginner, you can simply select a Learning Journey for a desired area or topic and get started right away. The contents of the individual learning journeys are presented and recommended step by step. These can be learning rooms, training sessions or assessments, each of which is suggested in a useful and consecutive order.
As an introduction for interested or completely new users, one of our demos (live and on demand available) as well as the 14-day trial version are recommended. With the trial, however, it should be noted that full learning content is usually not available, as the trial version is more about getting a feeling for the user interface and the form of the learning content. If you already have access to the platform, the initial setup is facilitated by the Learning Journey 1st Steps in SAP Learning Hub.
Editions
Depending on what and how much you want to learn with SAP Learning Hub, you can choose from different editions:
- The Professional Edition provides access to the full catalog of digital learning content and 60 hours of usage time in SAP Learning System Access. This edition is suitable for learners who want to educate themselves in different SAP solution areas and need more than overview knowledge: consultants, administrators, developers, and anyone involved in implementing or deploying SAP software.
- The Partner Edition offers the same scope as the Professional Edition plus two exam attempts for SAP Certification. Access is reserved exclusively for SAP partners participating in the SAP PartnerEdge program.
- IT specialists have a total of eight Solution Editions available as solution-specific access in each case: S/4HANA Cloud, Digital Platforms, Procurement and Networks, Analytics, Customer Experience, IoT and Digital Supply Chain, People Engagement, and Finance. In addition to the associated learning content, 60 hours of usage time in SAP Learning System Access and two exam attempts for SAP Certification are included. So for those who want to enhance their skills in a solution area or keep the skills they have already acquired up to date, the cost-effective Solution Edition is a good choice.
- The Business Edition is suitable for learners who are new to a topic or solution, but is not suitable to prepare for certification without additional training. Content is provided to give a general understanding of the topic and provide an overview of SAP software. SAP Learning System and exam attempts for SAP Certification are not included.
- Specific learning resources for a particular solution area are included in the Edition for SAP Next-Gen. It is exclusive to students from institutions participating in the SAP University Alliance program and includes 18 SAP Learning Journeys with learning content to prepare for selected certifications. In addition, the access includes one exam attempt for SAP Certification.
Which edition is the right one can also be researched in advance using the catalog, which lists all editions and learning content. On the second spreadsheet "01 Content by Edition" all available as well as pre-filtered content of the individual editions can be displayed (macros must be activated).
SAP Certification & SAP Learning System Access
Self-study in SAP Learning Hub can, of course, also lead to certification, as this does not necessarily require attending a classroom. Preparation for many certification exams can be successful with SAP Learning Hub if one learns in a disciplined and structured manner. It is therefore advisable to follow the learning journeys corresponding to the selected certification and to complete the preparatory courses conscientiously. And since it is a well-known fact that practice makes perfect, what has been learned should also be put into practice with SAP Learning System Access, as this ability is explicitly tested in certifications. A time quota of 60 hours in the systems is included for example in the Solution Editions and the Professional Edition, but can also be booked separately.
More detailed information regarding SAP Certification as well as tips for successfully passing the exam can be found in this blogpost.
Tips & Closing Thoughts
After this plea for the many possibilities of digital learning with SAP Learning Hub, I would like to share some tips and concluding thoughts with the community. Because even the best tool is no good if you don't create the right conditions for its proper usage.
- Create the time and space - Make sure that you can concentrate on learning in as calm an environment as possible without disturbances. This includes blocking out enough time in advance for SAP Learning Hub - ideally also undisturbed by telephone, mailbox and other requests. After all, learning quickly while doing other tasks will certainly not lead to the desired result.
- Organization is key - Use Learning Journeys to build your training plan. The wide range of learning content can be overwhelming, so structure your learning plan by selecting specific learning journeys or content. In particular, those who exclusively use SAP Learning Hub for training should schedule regular slots to continuously learn.
- Leverage the strengths of the community - Often, resolute opponents of self-paced digital learning argue that learners are on their own in this environment and have nowhere to go to get their questions out, so interaction and networking fall by the wayside. This can be prevented by actively using learning spaces: Benefit from the experiences of others, exchange ideas and take advantage of a strong community.
- Practice makes perfect & certifications are trump - Especially learners who want to position themselves better on the job market should confirm their expertise by passing a certification. Practice is essential to successfully passing, as this is explicitly tested in certifications. So take advantage of SAP Learning System to practice in advance.
- E-learning, for all its advantages, does not have to be a cure-all - Returning to my initial thought: not everyone is successful exclusively with digital self-study, because each person learns differently. However, instead of categorically ruling out this option, the previously described advantages can be used in a targeted manner to achieve the most holistic and sustainable learning outcome possible in general. After all, those who have access to SAP Learning Hub are by no means limited to purely digital learning: It doesn't have to be exclusively one method or the other. After all, combining several options also combines their advantages. So you don't have to choose between the flexibility of e-learning and the fixed framework of a classroom. Instead, take advantage of the best of both worlds.
Do you have questions about SAP Learning Hub or would like to share your thoughts on the topic?
This blog was also published in German under this link.
