Quick Answer
Pinnacle Series does not currently offer pre-built integrations with other systems; organizations instead build integrations using the open Pinnacle Series API, a middleware platform such as Zapier or Microsoft Power Automate, or periodic CSV or Excel data import and export.
What This Article Helps With
This article is intended for Technical Administrators and Learning Managers who want to explore integrating with the Pinnacle Series platform. It explains the integration options available, the benefits and considerations involved, common integration use cases, and the data typically discussed when scoping an integration project.
What Is a Pinnacle Series Integration?
A Pinnacle Series integration connects Pinnacle Series with another application, enabling the exchange of data between systems. This can be achieved natively or through a third-party integration platform. Pinnacle Series does not currently offer pre-built integrations with other systems; organizations build integrations using the options described below.
Integration Options
Custom API Integration
Developing a custom integration using the Pinnacle Series API can provide flexibility, but it may require significant development effort. Resource availability and cost should be carefully considered.
Middleware and Integration Platforms
Middleware or integration platforms such as Zapier, Integromat, or Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) can connect Pinnacle Series to other applications and automate workflows without extensive coding.
Data Import/Export
For less complex integrations, data can be periodically exported from one system and imported into another using a standard file format such as CSV or Excel. This approach is suited to occasional data transfers. Data exchanged between Pinnacle Series and other systems must be appropriately mapped and transformed to match each system's requirements.
Why Integrations Matter
- Reduced Human Errors: Integrations eliminate the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors, especially when updating employee records or transferring data between systems.
- Enhanced Learning Experience: Integrating Pinnacle Series courses and training into platforms employees already use saves time and effort. In-depth analysis of training results supports more personalized and effective learning experiences.
- Improved Compliance: Integrations help organizations maintain compliance by providing timely reminders and enabling HR and managers to identify employees who have not completed required training.
Considerations Before Integrating
Before starting discussions about integrating with Pinnacle Series, consider the following:
- Strategic Goals and Objectives: Define your integration objectives and ensure they align with your organization's strategic goals.
- Data Privacy and Security: Define what data will be shared and how it will be protected, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
- Cost and Resources: Assess the upfront and ongoing financial implications, and evaluate whether you have the IT resources and expertise to support the integration.
- Technical Compatibility: Verify the technical compatibility of your systems and the integration tools or APIs involved.
- Use Cases and Requirements: Define the use cases and integration requirements, including what data needs to be shared, in what direction, and which processes will be automated.
Common Integration Use Cases
- Send Post-Onboarding Assessments: Integrate your Human Resources Information System (HRIS) with Pinnacle Series and a business communications platform to send quizzes to employees after a set period, evaluate their readiness, and share results with managers and the L&D team.
- Provide Learning Opportunities Within a CRM or Other Platform: Integrate your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or other internal platform with Pinnacle Series to assign, track, and access Pinnacle Series training content seamlessly.
- Leverage Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Integrate Pinnacle Series with a BI platform to automatically transfer completed assessments to the BI tool, enabling in-depth analysis of training data and the creation of dashboards and reports.
- Automate Training Reminders: Integrate Pinnacle Series with business communications platforms and email service providers to design workflows that trigger reminders for employees who have not completed mandatory training.
- Talent Management System Integration: Align Pinnacle Series with a talent management system to support talent development, succession planning, and career pathing based on training data.
- Performance Management System Integration: Integrate with a performance management system to align training initiatives with individual performance goals and evaluations.
- Custom API Integration: Connect Pinnacle Series to specialized applications tailored to your organization's requirements using the open Pinnacle Series API.
API Reporting Calls for Business Intelligence
All User Progress
A listing of all user enrollment data for a tenant from the organization's inception to the current date.
Current Enrollments
A listing of currently active enrollments for all users in your organization. Date criteria can be entered for specific timeframes.
Completed Courses
Returns the list of completed courses for all users in your organization. Date criteria can be entered for specific timeframes.
Learning Path Progress
A listing of Learning Path progress for all users. Date criteria can be entered for specific timeframes.
Top Searches
A list of search terms and the number of times each unique search term was searched for. Date criteria can be entered for specific timeframes.
Usage Reports
Returns a listing of unique user sign-ins to the Pinnacle Series application, with statistics by date for the number of users who signed in over the last 7 days. The date range is based on the date the report is run: the start date is the current date minus 7 days, and the end date is the current date. Results are returned in ascending order by sign-in date.
Data Typically Discussed When Scoping an Integration
When scoping an integration, it is useful to clarify which of the following data points you need, where that data should go, and when the exchange should happen.
User Data
- User IDs
- Usernames and emails
- User roles
- User profiles
- Enrollment status
- User progress
Course and Content Data
- Course IDs
- Course names and descriptions
- Course tool links
- Course completion status
- Quiz scores and Assessment scores
Learning Analytics
- Quiz and Assessment scores
- Learning objectives
- Time spent learning
- Participation metrics
Compliance and Certification
- Compliance status
- Certification data
User Engagement Data
- Login and activity logs
- Communication history
Custom Fields
- Custom user attributes
- Custom job role attributes
Learning Path Data
- Learning Path progress
Assessment and Feedback
- Survey and evaluation responses
Course Interaction Data
- Video views
- Downloads of course materials
- User navigation patterns within courses
- Duplicate views of course items
- Workflow navigation patterns
External Integration Data
- Data from external applications or systems integrated with Pinnacle Series, such as CRM data, HR data, or performance management data.
Badges and Achievements
- Badges or achievements awarded to learners for completing courses or meeting specific milestones.
User Feedback
- User comments, suggestions, or complaints related to Pinnacle Series or course content.
Scheduled Reports
- Scheduled reports and analytics data sent automatically to external systems or stakeholders.
Listing a data point above does not confirm that the Pinnacle Series API currently supports exchanging it. Once your specific data needs are clarified, Eagle Point Software will assess the feasibility of the required data exchange using the current API.
Previously Explored Integrations
The Customer Success Management (CSM) and Customer Support teams have explored integrations with several platforms, including LearnAmp, SkillJar, Workday, and SuccessFactors.
Intellum/Blueprint
An automated integration was successfully implemented with Intellum, which included:
- Visualizing learning history.
- Search capabilities within Intellum, with links and descriptions to Pinnacle Series content.
Vista
A successful integration has also been implemented with Vista Overview – PDS, where an organization scripted in-house:
- The ability to administer users in the Admin Portal.
- Placing users in Groups.
- Assigning a custom attribute to all users using the open Pinnacle Series API.
Common Questions
Does Pinnacle Series offer pre-built integrations with HRIS, CRM, or other systems?
No. Pinnacle Series does not currently offer pre-built integrations. Organizations build integrations using the open Pinnacle Series API, a middleware platform such as Zapier or Microsoft Power Automate, or periodic CSV or Excel data import and export.
What should I consider before starting a Pinnacle Series integration project?
Review your strategic goals and objectives, data privacy and security requirements, available cost and resources, technical compatibility, and your specific use cases and data flow direction before beginning an integration project.
Can I use Pinnacle Series reporting data in a business intelligence tool?
Yes. The Pinnacle Series API v1 reporting calls, including All User Progress, Current Enrollments, Completed Courses, Learning Path Progress, Top Searches, and Usage Reports, can be used to feed Pinnacle Series data into a business intelligence tool.
Has Eagle Point Software built integrations with other learning or HR systems before?
The Customer Success Management (CSM) and Customer Support teams have explored integrations with LearnAmp, SkillJar, Workday, and SuccessFactors. Successfully implemented integrations include Intellum/Blueprint, which visualizes learning history and provides search with links to Pinnacle Series content, and Vista, an in-house script that administers users, places them in Groups, and assigns custom attributes through the open Pinnacle Series API.
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