As a corporate trainer and data analyst, I am frequently asked how I have mastered various Applied products. While the short answer might be attributed to my relentless curiosity, the detailed explanation lies in the strategies and resources I have utilized over the years.
As of late, I’ve found the following resources helpful in building my expertise around dashboards, but they apply to so many other avenues. If you’re looking to become an expert in all things Applied, here are my tips you can start with today.
1. Start with Applied University. Watch every class you can and take it more than once if you need to. Even if the class doesn’t pertain to your current job functions, it might in the future. Check out live office hours, too. I love to join these when I have questions, then sit back and listen to other users and see what they have to say. I have learned so much over the years from others. Currently there are several classes for Applied Dashboards for different departments, as well as an asset builder. Check back often as new classes are being added.
2. Visit the ACN Learning Center for on-demand webinars. At the time of writing, there are over five different prerecorded classes in the Learning Center on the ACN website about dashboards alone — plus many others on a variety of topics! These are free to all ACN members and their staff. Anyone within your agency can take these classes on demand at any time.
3. Attend Member Alliance meetings. Alliance meetings are live, interactive, virtual meetings that are not recorded. They are specific to job roles, such as Canadian agencies, large agencies, and EZLynx users. During these meetings you have opportunities to ask experts and join breakout rooms and active chat conversations. Topics are always changing, so keep an eye on the upcoming events page.
4. Stay active on the ACN Forums. When I am stuck on something and want to see what other people are doing, I reach out in the forums, which are monitored by Applied users and Applied staff. Engaging with the community not only helps solve problems but also exposes you to diverse perspectives and innovative uses of various products.
5. Browse the Applied Help File and new Resource Center. Don’t forget to use the help file. It’s such an underutilized function in Epic and a lot of people forget about it. The Help File will walk you through step-by-step processes. The new Resource Center offers valuable insight like release notes.
6. Don’t be afraid to try something. I’m a firm believer that the difference between technical people and non-technical people is our lack of fear of trying something. If you are a system administrator/enterprise admin, be careful with this because you can potentially cause serious issues. I often tell our new users, “You don’t have rights to break anything I can’t fix, so don’t be afraid to try something.” This is obviously not true for admins, but get out there and try it. Click around — the worst that can happen is you’ll spend an hour or two troubleshooting something.
Embrace Continuous Learning
Whether you’re looking for a way to create better dashboards, automate processes, or find expert help in organizing systems, these resources will put you on the right track. By leveraging the strategies outlined in this article, you can enhance your expertise in Applied products and stay ahead in the ever-evolving industry. Remember, continuous learning and active engagement with the community is key to mastering any tool or technology.