Saba Software

When Saba Software was acquired in 2020 there was a shift in direction to outsource most Professional Services.

So where are these talented Saba professionals now?

A large contingent has found a home at Digital Cues. And with an average of more than 15 years’ experience, we are eager to share our knowledge.

Why Digital Cues?

Because Digital Cues is a small, family-owned business, with global resources and a 100% customer-first services model. We have deep Saba roots to support our new flexible services which allows us to provide an even higher level of service customers experienced working with our team in the past.

What does this mean to you?

That every customer conversation, project, and opportunity is focused on providing you with the most we have to offer. But don’t just take our word for it; hear what customers are saying.

Digital Cue Cards

Take a look at some helpful Cue Cards, derived from our team’s experience in what Saba customers need to know. They are easy to use and contain concise information for the Saba’s learning, performance, talent, and system administration modules.

What is the difference between compliant and non-compliant content formats?

Compliant content is published in a way that allows for communication between ​the content and the LMS. Formats include:

  • SCORM
  • AICC
  • xAPI (formerly TinCan)

Non-compliant content does not have the ability to communicate with the LMS.  Formats include:

  • Files (PDF, Docs, videos)
  • URL based content
  • Embedded videos (YouTube, Vimeo)

What content vendors are supported by Saba Cloud?

Saba Cloud has several Marketplace connectors available to integrate with content vendors. However, a Saba Marketplace connector is not a requirement to using a 3rd party content vendor.

Marketplace connectors:

  • LinkedIn Learning
  • OpenSesame
  • GetAbstract
  • Lynda.com
  • Cornerstone Content
  • Skillsoft
  • Panapto
  • MOOC
  • Harvard Manage Mentor
  • Pan

Why doesn’t Saba Cloud mark the course complete when content is completed?

If you notice that you have some users completing content modules within a class, but the course is not being marked complete, the issue could be with the detect and fix jobs not being scheduled properly. The purpose of the ‘Initiate Detect Process’ job is to find instances where a user has completed the web-based content, but the course is not being marked complete. The purpose of the ‘Initiate Fix Process’ job is to mark the course complete if all required web-based content has been completed successfully.

To check the job:

  • As a Superuser or System Admin, go to System > Manage Notifications > Events.
  • Search for ‘Initiate Detect Process’ and open the notification by clicking on the name.
  • Verify the Event and the Event Action are both enabled.
  • Click on the Edit link in the Schedule field to verify the schedule. Update the schedule to run on your preferred cadence and save.
  • Repeat the above process for the ‘Initiate Fix Process’. You will want the fix process to run about 15 minutes after detect process, so make sure to adjust the Start Time field appropriately.

Can I make a survey/evaluation required for course completion?

Typically, a survey is attached to a course or class in the Evaluation section of the Activities tab. This is attached as an optional item and does not prevent the learner from completing the course if they do not complete the survey.  Adding the survey in the Activity section allows you to set the survey as required.

To configure:

  • Select the Add Activities link in the Activities section of the Activities tab of the class.
  • Select the Attach Content option when prompted.
  • On the content search popup, check the option labeled ‘Used as Survey, Evaluation, or Multi-Rater Assessment’. If you do not select this option, your surveys will not show up in the search results.
  • Search for and select the survey you wish to attach to the class.
  • Set the activity details to your requirements and save.
  • Don’t forget to Save and Publish the class to save your change.

What is the difference between a Saba curriculum and a Saba certification?

In Saba Cloud, both a curriculum and certification allow you to bundle one or more courses into learning paths. Once the learner completes all the required courses within the curriculum or certification, they are marked completed (acquired).

The differences between curricula and certifications:

  • Certifications are designed to be taken on a recurring basis. For example, you may have compliance training that needs to be repeated every year.
  • Curricula are designed to be taken once. For example, onboarding training to be taken when first joining an organization.
  • Certifications support versioning while curricula do not allow for versioning.
  • Certifications can be configured to count a learner’s past completions for a specific number of days.
  • Curricula will count any past course completion, no matter how old, towards the completion of the curriculum.

What is the difference between a Saba certification and a Saba recurring course?

The certification and recurring course functionalities provide the ability to deliver training which must be re-taken on a periodic basis.

The differences between certifications and recurring courses:

  • Certifications are designed to group together one or more courses into learning paths which can support multiple paths along with multiple modules. The learner must complete all required courses within the certification to acquire the certification.
  • A recurring course provides similar functionality but is restricted to a single course.
  • There are some nuances between a recurring course and a single course certification to consider before deciding which fits your needs the best.  For instance, counting past completions.
  • NOTE: Once a course is created as a recurring course, it cannot be changed to a regular course.

Why can’t I see my categories in the Saba Cloud catalog?

You have created some categories and they are not showing up in the catalog when you browse. There are a few things that you can check to verify the configuration.

  • Verify the domain selected aligns with the users that should have access to the category.
  • If you have enabled social groups in the environment, make sure you are sharing the category with the appropriate groups. Only members of the groups listed in the ‘Shared with’ section of the category have permission to view the category.
  • Check the audience type and sub types assigned to the category. If you have assigned audience types to the category, verify the audience type membership is correct as only members of the audience types listed will have access. If no audience types have been assigned to the category, there is no access restriction based on audience type.
  • Make sure you have at least one course assigned to the category. Learners will only see categories that have courses associated to them. Empty categories are not displayed in the Saba Cloud catalog.

How are Saba Cloud audience types used?

Audience types are used to define a specific group of people based on common characteristics. For example, all users at a specific location with a specific job title. The audience types can be populated manually, through data import, or by specifying dynamic criteria. Once the audience types are created, they can be used for the below:

  • Restrict access to individual learning items (courses, classes, certifications, curricula)
  • Restrict access to catalog categories
  • Determine the home page view displayed to the user
  • Assign courses
  • Prescriptive rule assignments of learning items, class registrations, goals, skills, continuing education requirements, checklists, job roles, security roles and alternate managers
  • eCommerce configuration

How do I create a vendor in Saba Cloud?

The vendor table is populated with external organizations which have been designated as a ‘learning vendor’ within the external organization details.

To create a vendor:

  • Go to Admin > HR > Manage Organizations > External
  • Click the ‘New Organization’ link
  • Populate the required and other relevant fields
  • Towards the bottom of the list of fields, enable the Learning Vendor checkbox and save
  • The newly created external organization will now show in the list of vendors for courses and classes

How do I hide the social functionality that I am not using?

Saba Cloud provides several tools to promote social learning and collaboration but not all organizations have fully implemented some of the features and may want to disable the functionality.

To enable and disable these features, you will need to have Superuser or System Admin privileges.

  • Log into Saba Cloud and access the Admin portal.
  • Go to the System Admin menu and select Configure System.
  • You will see a list of services including a service for Collaboration. Click the + symbol next to Collaboration to expand the service and expose the sub services.
  • Holding your mouse pointer over each service name will pop-up a brief description of the service.
  • Remove the checkmark from any services you wish to disable and click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
  • Any configuration changes should be first done in your non-production environment and tested to verify there are no unexpected adverse impacts to your environment.

How can I add people to Saba Cloud social groups?

Saba Cloud social groups provide a way to access informal learning and collaborate with other group members. There are a few ways that groups can be populated with members based on the group configuration.

  • Allow users to join the group on their own. When the user sees a group they wish to join, they simply click the join button, and they are in.
  • You can configure your group to require users to request access to the group. The request would need to be approved or denied by one of the group owners or admins.
  • A group can be configured so that only the group owner can manually add members.
  • If you would like to automate the group member then the dynamic membership option would be the best fit. The dynamic membership allows you to dynamically select the members based on a user’s profile criteria. Members are automictically added and removed based on the membership criteria.

How do I enable eCommerce in Saba Cloud?

The Saba Cloud eCommerce functionality is enabled from the Services section of the System Configuration area within the System Admin portal. You must have Superuser or System Admin privileges to enable eCommerce on your site. Additionally, reach out to your Saba account representative to ensure your license includes Extended Enterprise package.

Enable eCommerce Service

  • Navigate to System > Configure System > Services
  • In the frame on the right, you will see eCommerce listed with a + (plus sign) to the left. Click on the + sign to expand the child eCommerce services.
  • Click the checkbox for eCommerce and any of the sub services you wish to enable.
  • Click the Save button at the bottom of the Services page to save your changes.
  • After the changes are saved, you will see the eCommerce menu displayed on the menu bar.
  • Enable Pricing and Payment Flows for External Users
  • Navigate to System > Configure System > Services > Click on eCommerce
  • In the settings tab, select “On” for the following Settings:
    1. Enable Payment flows for external users of the tenant
    2. Pricing Functionality

Now that the eCommerce service and essential settings are enabled, you will need to configure the Saba Microsite and setup the preferred eCommerce payment gateway vendor. If you need assistance, please contact us.

What is the purpose of a Training Unit in Saba Cloud?

A Training Unit is treated as a type of currency in Saba Cloud which external organizations can use to allow their members to purchase learning. In order to enable training units, you must have the eCommerce service enabled with at least one of the payment methods configured: Credit Card, PayPal, Purchase Orders, or Invoice.

To configure Training Units:

  • Enable the Training Units service in Saba Cloud. Clickpath: Admin > System > Configure System > expand eCommerce service
  • Create a New Training Unit to set the equivalent dollar amount of 1 training unit. Clickpath: Admin > eCommerce > Training Unit
  • Create Training Unit Agreements for the external organizations which will use the Training Units to purchase learning. For example, an organization may purchase 1,000 Training Units for $500 U.S. dollars. Clickpath: Admin > eCommerce > Training Unit > Manage Agreements
  • Assign the cost in Training Units to the learning items the learners of the external organization can purchase.
  • Learners from the external organization will see the price of the learning items shown in a dollar amount as well as in Training Units. During the shopping cart/checkout process, the learner will see an option to pay for the class(es) in Training Units instead of a monetary cost.
  • The learner will then select the Training Unit Agreement available for their organization. The number of training units spent on the learning item is deducted from the balance of the external organization’s total Training Units.

NOTE: It is possible for an external organization to have multiple active Training Unit Agreements. In these cases, it is also possible to combine Training Unit Agreements within the organization to simplify the purchasing workflow.

Can my external customers create their own accounts on Saba Cloud?

Saba Cloud can be configured to allow external users the ability to create their accounts from the login page by selecting the “Sign Up” option. The sign-up process can be configured to gather specific profile information which can be used to determine how the user is created based on sign-up rules configured in your system.

Some user creation options:

  • Determine what domain to assign the user
  • Determine what organization to map to the user
  • Assign specific security roles and audience types
  • Auto-assign learning (courses, certifications, curricula) and register into specific classes

When configuring Sign-up Rules, Security can also be enabled to restrict who can create accounts which include:

  • Requiring a security keyword to create an account
  • Requiring admin approval to activate the account prior to access being granted
  • Mapping users to organizations based on email domain
  • Specifying the email domains that are allowed and not allowed to create accounts

Does Saba Cloud support multiple currencies?

Saba Cloud does support multiple currencies and has many currencies pre-loaded. However, most currencies are inactive and will need to be activated for use. Saba Cloud also allows for the creation of custom currencies. You will need Superuser or System Admin privileges to manage currencies.

To view and activate currencies:

  • Go to Admin > System > Configure System > Currencies
  • Uncheck the ‘Active’ checkbox in the search criteria to view all currencies
  • Click on the name of the currency to open the currency details
  • Enable the ‘Active’ checkbox to activate the currency and Save

To create a custom currency:

  • Go to Admin > System > Configure System > Currencies
  • Click on the ‘New Currency’ link
  • Populate the currency details and save

Once configured, you will be able to add a price in these currencies to your classes. This allows you to create one class offered in multiple currencies which is then displayed based on the user’s default currency found on their profile.

F.A.Cues

What is Saba LMS?

Saba is a Learning and Talent Management cloud software company that specializes in providing businesses with tools to help train and develop talent within their organization. With Saba you can automate and deliver training programs, upskill and reskill employees, manage goals and performance reviews, develop talent and designate successors, create compensation plans, sell training to customers and partners, and much, much more.

How much does Saba cost?

Saba does not disclose their pricing on their web site and recommends that you contact them for more details. However, in general, the cost of the software license will factor in the number of active users along with what modules you purchase. You will also want to factor in implementation services which is separate from the software license. For a cost estimate on Saba Cloud Implementation Services contact us.

How long does it take to implement Saba?

The exact answer for this depends on a number of different factors such as the number of Saba modules you have purchased, the volume of existing data that needs to be migrated into the system, the complexity of your processes and required integration, and the availability of resources that can commit to the project.  However, to give you a general baseline, for a Learning only implementation the average timeframe is 10-12 weeks. For help scoping your Saba Cloud Implementation contact us.

How many years of experience do you have with learning management system implementations?

Our consultants have an average of 15 years of experience working with Saba. Many of our consultants were employees of Saba Software prior to the Cornerstone acquisition and have extensive experience with Saba products.

Do you have experience with validated environments (VEMS) implementations?

Yes, we do. We have implemented several pharmaceutical and medical device companies on Saba Cloud. We are experienced in IQ/OQ/PQ requirements that must be met by our validated customers. We can also help with documenting requirements, test scripts, trace matrix documentation and ongoing validation.

Can you help with writing test scripts?

Our team is extremely familiar with Saba Cloud functionality and has a great deal of experience writing test scripts. The scripts are written in a way that is easy to execute and record results.

Have you integrated with any document management systems (DMS)?

The majority of our Saba Cloud validated environment (VEMS) implementations have involved integration with a document management system (DMS). Our technical resources work with your team and your DMS vendor to establish an integration to automate the import of versioned process documents to ensure employees remain in compliance.

Are you able to produce data extracts for importing data into external systems?

Our consultants can help you build data extracts using the Saba Cloud Analytics functionality to extract data from Saba Cloud and configure the extract to run on an automated schedule. For complex data extracts and integrations, Digital Cues has a team of developers with deep Saba Cloud API knowledge that can design, develop, and implement data integrations between multiple platforms.

Do you offer any Saba Cloud system administrator training?

Our consultants are experts in Saba Cloud and can provide administrator training to our customers. We work with our customers to determine their specific training needs and develop a customized training agenda that best fits. Training can be delivered virtually or onsite.

In what industries do you have experience implementing learning management systems?

Our consultants have implemented Saba Cloud for just about any industry you can imagine. This includes technology, retail, pharmaceutical, energy, insurance, quick service restaurants, mortgage, automotive, higher education and more.

What happens after our Saba Cloud implementation is complete?

At Digital Cues, we have adopted a customer-first philosophy and strive to ensure our customers are successful after implementation. We offer flexible services to help our customers get the most out of their investment in Saba Cloud and continue to build upon the foundation established during implementation. Whether you need training, staff augmentation or assistance implementing additional features, we have you covered.

Do you provide any post go-live support or aftercare?

We have flexible services to assist customers at any point after go-live. Our experience working with Saba Cloud customers over the past several years has inspired us to design our services to be flexible and easy to use. Saba Cloud customers are looking for responsive and reliable solutions and that is what Digital Cues delivers.

Can I customize Saba Cloud?

Saba Cloud does not allow for any customizations to its core product since it is a cloud-based system. However, there are some features available to customers to enhance the product with custom micro apps using APIs. Digital Cues has a team of developers that are experienced in creating Saba Cloud micro apps to fill technical and process gaps in the system.

Testimonials

We assist Saba Learning and Talent Management customers through our flexible services and Volunteer Services Program. Here is what Saba customers are saying about Digital Cues team members and the services they provide:

Digital Cues has quickly built a fan through their willingness to volunteer time of their experts to help me better understand areas of complexity in an LMS implementation I am trying to operationalize. I finished a conversation regarding eCommerce today and learned about a number of factors I hadn't considered. The best part is that we could talk about both strategies around eCommerce as well as tactics. I'm now thinking about becoming a customer because of their unique, customer-first model!

Steve JHealthcare Industry

I always learn something valuable with Teri, and she is imaginative and creative in helping me solve my problems. The first time I worked with Teri during our Saba implementation, I knew I had lucked out. She is the most competent consultant I have ever had the pleasure of working with. While others look to provide shortcuts and quick fixes, Teri is always looking to do the right thing and find the right solution for our organization. I feel like my Saba questions are her questions until she finds a satisfying answer. Having Teri’s expertise available to us is absolutely indispensable and her input has had a measurable impact on our organizational success.

Training SpecialistTriumvirate Environmental

Barbara was very knowledgeable and easy to work with! It is ALWAYS a pleasure to consult with Sedef Akkor. She is friendly, informative and professional. I look forward to doing business with Digital Cues!

Carol F., Training CoordinatorFinancial Industry

Albert was incredibly helpful in working through the numerous questions that I had. The directions he gave were clear and easy to follow and he was incredibly patient as I worked through things on my end. I hope to utilize future volunteer sessions!

Morgan PowellLearning & Development Manager

Barbara provided exactly the kind of support I needed in time. She was terrific to talk to you. She got right to business once we established a connection. And then she helped me with exactly the thing I asked for.

Corey YuglerDirector, Training & Development

Great to talk through best practices and how to move with the best foot forward.

Brittany ShapiroLearning and Development Product Owner

Sedef Akkor is AWESOME! She is so knowledgeable, dependable, patient, and helpful! I am so thankful for her guidance and support.

Jennifer OwenTraining Coordinator