10 Must-Have Features of a Digital Credentialing Solution

Finding the right credentialing solution for your organisation takes work. Many considerations, such as your overall objectives, budget, and additional benefits, go into selecting a digital credentialing platform. However, some features are fundamental to a rewarding credentialing experience regardless of these factors. To help you choose the perfect digital credentialing solution for your organisation, we’ve compiled a list of 10 necessary features you should look out for. These features will determine whether your credentialing solution is a gimmick or a tool to elevate your credentialing experience to new heights.

1. Custom Branding

Your organisation’s digital credentials are part of your brand identity. They represent the opportunity provided by your organisation to receive this credential. When they are displayed or shared online, your brand will be visible to the outside world. That is why the digital credentialing platform chosen by your organisation must provide the option to include your brand elements in the credential. When you are selecting a digital credentialing solution, ensure that it allows the inclusion of the following: Brand elements such as logos, colours and fonts within the credential Brand elements in the dedicated public verifier page of the credential Customisable email templates for credential issuance, including the sender’s address Customisable URL of the dedicated public verifier page of the credential, with the option to select the domain ID.

2. Instant Verification

One advantage of choosing a digital credentialing solution to issue credentials is the instant verification feature. Verifying a credential usually involves sending a request to the issuer and having them confirm the information with their database. However, that’s not the case with modern digital credentials. Modern digital credentials usually spread their information through cryptographically secured blocks on the internet. This is called anchoring on the blockchain. When a request for verification is made, the information in the credential is verified against the one in the blockchain, a process that takes only a few seconds. This instant verification process can make your organisation’s digital credentials very attractive. And if your digital credentials are attractive, so would your organisation’s learning programs.

3. Dynamic Formatting

Digital credentials come in two forms: digital certificates and digital badges. Each has its different uses, but they can also be used interchangeably in many cases. A single credential can be shared as a digital certificate through your email and then displayed as a digital badge on your social media profile. Your credentialing solution should ideally allow you to issue each credential in either format or both. This should give your recipients more options for displaying and sharing their credentials.

4. Blockchain Anchoring

When the concept of digital credentials was first introduced, they were just digital copies of existing documents, making them prone to tampering. Now that technology has advanced, a better way to secure digital credentials has been found: blockchain anchoring. By anchoring information to the blockchain, a digital credential becomes entirely immune to tampering and permanent. It also assists in instant verification without seeking explicit permission from the issuer. A digital credential without these three characteristics is prone to tampering and loss, less secure and technologically disadvantaged.

5. Enterprise Data Security

Securing the information inside a digital credential is just as important as securing the information of the recipients involved. Any credentialing solution capable of issuing a digital credential will have the option to create a database of recipients with their personal information. Securing this personal information is necessary to protect your recipients against dangerous elements on the internet. Robust security features, including the use of SOC-certified data centres, compliance with GDPR guidelines and enterprise-level security monitoring, are the bare minimum requirements you should expect. Non-compliance with these security standards should be considered a red flag and avoided at all costs. Always read the privacy policy of the credentialing solution of your choice to ensure compliance.

6. One-Click Social Sharing

Sharing a digital credential on social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, has many advantages. For the recipients, it enables them to showcase their skills and achievements to the public and seek opportunities to develop their professional careers. For the issuer, it allows them to expand their brand visibility and improve their brand perception. This is why you should only choose a credentialing solution that allows one-click sharing on social media. This feature not only simplifies sharing a digital credential on social media but also promotes such action using a prominent call to action. Additionally, if a digital credential is shared using this feature, the digital credentialing platform can track the number of credentials shared online. Your organisation can use this information to enhance your marketing strategy.

7. Easy-To-Use Credential Design

Your organisation’s digital credentials represent your brand. Additionally, a visually appealing digital credential will motivate your recipients to display it on social media and share it online. Having easy-to-use design tools built into the digital credentialing platform will enable your organisation to design attractive digital credentials that align with your branding. This feature allows your organisation to differentiate your digital credentials easily, especially when your organisation issues digital credentials for multiple courses.

8. Analytics And Statistics

Tracking your digital credentials goes beyond knowing the number of credentials issued by your organisation. The actions taken by your recipients after receiving their credentials, how often they are shared on social media, verified by employers, etc, are also important indicators of the effectiveness of your credentialing strategy. These indicators can help identify necessary information, including: The effectiveness of your organisation’s marketing strategy If your credentials are shared to prospective employers and if they verify its authenticity If issues are preventing your recipients from sharing your digital credentials on social media The overall success of your credentialing programs

9. Automated Amendments

Once issued, the control of a digital credential remains with the issuer. This means your organisation can make any additional changes to the digital credential. Unlike traditional paper credentials, however, these amendments can automatically update the digital credentials. This works because the digital credential is anchored on the blockchain. Once any change is made, the information on the blockchain is updated, automatically updating the digital credential. With this feature, your organisation retains complete control of any digital credential issued. It also simplifies the process of amending any issued credential.

10. LMS Integration

The easiest way to issue digital credentials is by integrating your chosen credentialing solution with a Learning Management System. With this integration, digital credentials can be issued automatically when a learner completes a program in the LMS. This feature will enable your organisation to fully automate the issue of digital credentials, saving your organisation enormous amounts of time and effort. One additional benefit of this feature is how it simplifies the process of introducing gamification into your organisation’s learning programs. This will not only increase the rate of engagement but also motivate your learners to learn more.

CredSure: The Perfect Digital Credentialing Solution

Selecting the right credentialing solution for your organisation is a time-consuming process. These features will give you a reference on what to look for when you choose a digital credentialing platform for your organisation. CredSure offers all the above features and more. To see if CredSure is the right credentialing partner for your organisation, book a demo with CredSure today!