For as long as most can remember, professional certifications have been physical: a diploma hung proudly on a cubicle wall, a special decal tacked to an employee badge, a certificate stashed in the deep recesses of a file cabinet. While these forms still have their value, be that professional or simply sentimental, digital credentials are now becoming the preferred way to confer educational achievements and certifications.

Though still an emerging technology, digital credentials have become mainstream. Credential issuers who don’t adopt digital credentials may soon become less attractive to learners, as the appetite for versatility, visibility and ease of access that digital credentials afford grows stronger.

With any disruptive technology, there are myths and misconceptions that obscure the utility of digital credentials — but companies who can’t see through the clouds are destined to fall behind. Let’s evaluate some of the biggest myths about digital credentials.

Myth 1: Digital Credentialing Is Difficult To Implement.

There are three areas which are often viewed as roadblocks to implementing a digital credentialing solution:

1. The lack of a digital credentialing strategy.

   Since digital credentials are an emerging technology, there is no foolproof playbook on how to adopt them, which can make the process seem daunting. Fortunately, many digital credentialing platforms offer their clients access to experts, but for organizations that rely on the credentials as a critical revenue stream, it may be advisable to hire an in-house team of credential managers. Either way, having access to a solid team of professional services experts within the digital credentialing space can help organizations develop integrated strategies for referrals, course and membership enrollment, renewal and retention, driving program value.

2. Technological complexity of digital credentials.

   While they’re easy to confer, today’s solutions come with a plethora of integrations and other features, which can make digital credentials work even better for the credential issuer, but might be overwhelming to new issuers at first glance. However, they’ll find these complexities are more helpful than a hindrance, as these platforms offer many native integrations with widely used commercial learning management systems. Others also offer robust, third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) for a truly customizable credential solution. With time, education and patience, issuers will find digital credential implementation to be a process that makes their lives easier — not harder.

3. Fear of low attendance.

   This can especially be a concern since physical credentials have been the norm for so long. However, digital credentials offer the advantage of instant gratification. Moreover, companies and training organizations can select from digital credential solutions that allow the recipient to quickly retrieve their credentials without creating a separate account or taking other additional, likely unnecessary steps. Removing the chore-like elements from obtaining credentials makes them more attractive to learners and more likely to attend in the first place.

The actual presentation of the credentials can also have an impact. A white labeled digital credential platform enables consistency with the issuer’s branding across the recipient’s training journey, providing a seamless user experience that keeps the issuer top of mind and encourages further adoption.

Myth 2: Digital Credentialing Is Expensive.

Implementing digital credentials may sound like another costly addition to an organization’s already bloated tech stack, especially since costs are usually paid upfront for a batch. But, while that upfront payment may at first look like a blemish on the budget, digital credentials are actually far less expensive than physical credentials. Traditional paper certificates can cost as much as $5/unit to produce, which can add up quickly when issuing credentials across a large learner base. Meanwhile, digital credentials can be as low as $0.96/unit.

Digital credentials are also easier to distribute than physical credentials. Their online format removes any need to mail them, saving organizations money on postage, especially if they have a high number of remote learners. This same format lends itself to increased visibility, as digital credentials can easily be displayed on websites and social media, adding marketing value while costs remain low.

Moreover, strong security reduces the likelihood of costs associated with credential fraud. Anyone can falsify employment credentials, creating dangerous implications for organizations and the people they serve, and therefore reducing the value of the credentials issued. A good digital credentialing platform mitigates the potential for fraud by providing strong encryption and authentication technologies such as blockchain.

Overall, companies and training organizations should see digital credentials as an investment, rather than a cost. A strategic digital credentialing program can generate a strong return on investment (ROI) from:

• Boosting course enrollment. As a credential brand grows, so will enrollment, transforming the power of accreditation as a revenue source.
• Driving learner and member retention. By enabling improved renewal of credentials and keeping the learner-issuer relationship ongoing, digital credentials can encourage repeat learners to seek new credentials through the same institution.
• Generating referrals. Digital credentials are easily shareable on social media, which can be a powerful method of lead generation. Moreover, certain credential platforms have features that promote additional course recommendations to recipients.

Myth 3: Digital Credentials Are Still in the Early Adoption Phase

Finally, some may argue that there is no need for digital credentials when physical ones have been the norm for so long. It’s easy to see where this notion comes from: People have been taught to see a physical document as a source of truth, its value reified in printed calligraphy and shiny seals they can run their fingers over. But in the age of the digital transformation, people’s reliance on physical documents is eroding rapidly.

Nowadays, people are accustomed to having everything they need in a digital format. Business expenses are going on virtual cards and people are making in-store purchases with their phones. What’s more, they’ve adopted this technology rather quickly. Just a few years ago, it might have been strange to see someone paying for coffee by holding their phone to the scanner — now, no one bats an eye.

Credentials are naturally going the same way. While still considered a new, disruptive technology, companies and training organizations have caught on quickly to the utility of digital credentials over physical ones. One key advantage is how easy they are to share. The shareability of digital credentials on social media and other channels increases their value for recipients, who may need them to get a new job or promotion, or otherwise want to demonstrate their learning a new skill. On the backend, they’re also easy to integrate with existing company technology, allowing certifications to appear anywhere from learning and development (L&D) portals to public employee profiles.

Organizations are also turning to digital credentials for the environmental advantage. By eliminating the paper waste and energy emissions associated with print physical credentials, digital credentials can reduce an organization’s carbon footprint. Because of this, digital credentials are becoming a valuable “plus one” in environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies. Conversely, for those who do prefer a physical document, digital credentials can be printed on demand, rather than in wasteful surplus.

Finally, digital credentials are much easier to manage than physical credentials. Through digital credentialing platforms, issuers retain full control of a credential even after it’s conferred, allowing them to maintain, update and even revoke them as necessary. Not only does this give the issuer a stronger sense of security, but it ensures the recipients know in real time when their credentials need to be renewed.

Conclusion

Digital transformation is more than just a workplace buzzword — it’s a real, rapidly moving shift in the way organizations operate. As this shift progresses, skills training will become increasingly important, and with that will come the need to verify these skills in a way that’s compatible with these new technologies.

However, even as digital credentials become more widespread, it’s understandable that issuers might be skeptical about this disruptive new technology. After all, digital credentials are used by a diverse array of organizations from workforce development and professional certification organizations to higher education institutions and professional associations, all of which will have unique reservations about technology. Given this, it’s critically important they know the facts behind the myths before making any decision on how to issue their credentials most effectively.