Essential LMS Reporting Features and How to Use Them

It's Monday morning, and your inbox is already full. The CEO wants to know how the new microcredentialing programs are performing. Your committee chair needs a list of courses due for review. Your boss is asking about Q3 revenue. Sound familiar?

Forget your original plans for the next four hours. Instead, you’re pulling data from different systems, cross-referencing information, triple-checking numbers, and trying to produce decent-looking reports before everyone gets back from lunch.

Mondays aren’t as ugly when you have a learning management system (LMS) with real-time analytics and advanced reporting capabilities. Instead of eating lunch at your desk again, take care of these requests in minutes and get back on schedule.

Essential Association LMS Reporting Features and Advice from Experienced Users

With LMS reporting features designed for associations, you can easily answer questions, improve programs, demonstrate departmental ROI, and transform data into useful insights.

Before searching for a new LMS, think through the details of the reports you need and include them in your LMS reporting requirements. Make sure the LMS finalists on your list provide these essential reporting features.

📊 Standard association LMS reports 

Standard (out-of-the-box) reports eliminate Monday morning frenzy. Pre-built reports answer the most common questions without any setup required—or you can configure reports to make them more useful. Standard reports help you track learner progression, exam results, upcoming credential expirations, survey responses, training histories, and more.

Tips from experienced LMS users:

• Improve marketing campaigns by finding the best learner testimonials buried in course evaluations.
• Identify at-risk learners. If someone hasn't logged in for 30 days, they're about to disappear. Put them into an email reengagement campaign.
• Analyze program drop-off rates to identify where you’re losing learners. Do some member/customer segments have a higher abandon rate? Is it a program length or content design problem? 

📈 LMS data querying and advanced reporting 

Unlike standard reports that answer the same questions every time, advanced reporting helps you better understand learners by querying any data stored in the LMS. Create customized reports tailored to your needs and the needs of your co-workers, C-suite, committees, and board.

Tips from experienced LMS users:

• Find out what time of year enrollments are higher to determine when to ramp up marketing efforts or introduce new programs.
• Compare trends in course attendance over the past few years to see if interest in any course is waning. Add programs with the lowest purchase and participation rates to your sunset review list.
• Get answers to “what if” questions. Find revenue opportunities by identifying members who’ve completed most credentialing requirements but haven’t yet applied for the credential.
• Show the CEO and board that members who participate in online education programs have higher renewal rates.

📢 Automated LMS report distribution

Spend your mornings enjoying your coffee while your reports send themselves. With just a few clicks, schedule the automatic distribution of real-time reports to team members, colleagues in other departments, committee members, association executives, and board directors. Start with one report, automate it, share the insights, and watch how quickly data-driven decisions become the new normal.

Tips from experienced LMS users:

• Automate a Monday morning report with metrics about enrollment and course completion by segment, program performance, revenue, and other KPIs.
• Send monthly executive summaries to the C-suite and other stakeholders that highlight revenue, learner feedback, and program growth.
• Schedule quarterly committee reports with metrics that facilitate strategic discussions, like trends and benchmarking data.

🕰️ Real-time LMS reporting and analytics

Be ready for the board member who corners you at the annual meeting asking, “How many people have earned the new microcredential?” With real-time analytics, pull that information up on your phone—how impressive!—knowing your answer reflects system data at that moment.

Tips from experienced LMS users:

• Immediately answer members’ questions by accessing real-time data about their account or program.
• Find out how your latest marketing campaign is performing and make adjustments early in the campaign if the numbers are disappointing.

☑️ AMS integration for unified reporting

When your LMS and AMS talk to each other, you can combine learning and membership data for a more holistic view of members and customers.

Tips from experienced LMS users:

• Identify the data fields you want the AMS to write to the LMS so the information is available for reports, like membership status, career stage, position, business size, etc.
• Give your membership colleagues a report showing members who are the most engaged learners. They’re ideal recruits for membership ambassador and other volunteer positions.
• Find out how specific programs appeal (or not) to different segments, such as early-career members and customers.
• Pull reports showing how participation in online learning affects membership renewal—powerful metrics when arguing for a bigger budget.

These five LMS reporting features will turn your day around. No more spreadsheet marathons. No more “Let me get back to you.” Now you have the answers, insights, and (finally) time to focus on what matters—creating engaging learning experiences.

With TopClass LMS’ comprehensive reporting features, you don’t’ just track numbers. You discover insights that help you demonstrate your department’s value, increase program participation, and improve your learning portfolio.

Our Guide to LMS Selection and Implementation shares everything you need to know to ensure your team chooses the best LMS for your association’s current and future needs.