Evaluating A Skill Management Platform: Towards an Upskilling System for Large and Small Companies

Abstract

As industry navigates the transition towards Industry 5.0, the need for human-centric workforce development becomes more pressing than ever. This shift highlights not only technological implementations but also employee empowerment through lifelong learning. Digital platforms for learning and skill management rapidly emerge, to align individuals' skills with changing organisational needs. However, how these platforms are perceived and integrated across different companies is greatly underexplored. This study describes a mixed-methods evaluation of a digital skill management platform implemented in two industrial contexts: large Swedish companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. The platform offers individual skill gap assessments, recommending suitable training for users. In the study, two main dimensions were investigated, i.e. the platform's perceived effectiveness for users and the organisational integration of the platform. Results show a range of challenges in said dimensions. Users report varying platform usability and relevance of recommended learning. Results also reveal challenges in organisational integration and in aligning the platform with existing company-internal skill, task, and job taxonomies, including learning management systems (LMS). Other identified issues were user engagement and the visibility of learning progress for managers. Our conclusions emphasise the importance of adapting solutions to organisational contexts when implementing skill management systems. Based on insights from the study, recommendations for supporting successful implementation of such platforms, including the need to accommodate different stakeholder needs, are outlined. Our recommendations include enabling conditions, organisational integration and platform design. The presented results contribute to ongoing discussions on how digital learning solutions can support efficient workforce transformation towards Industry 5.0. Our findings have clear value for the university and research institution context, where researchers, teachers, and leaders are exploring ways to deliver lifelong learning opportunities in industry. Skill management platforms have potential to serve as bridges between university courses and workplace learning demands, enabling universities to play important roles in their employees' lifelong learning.