How to Identify and Empower Internal Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for Better E-Learning
When it
comes to creating truly relevant and impactful e-learning, the most valuable
knowledge often isn’t found in textbooks or external agencies — it’s already inside
your organization.
Your own Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) hold years of experience,
real-world insights, and practical know-how that no outside consultant can
fully replicate. The challenge? Capturing that expertise and transforming it
into high-quality, engaging training content.
In this article, we’ll explore how to identify and empower your SMEs — and why doing so can transform your learning and development strategy.
Step 1: Map Out “Who Knows What”
Every
company has hidden experts — people who have mastered specific systems,
processes, or customer scenarios.
To tap into this knowledge, start by creating a skills and expertise
inventory. This could include:
- Technical experts – Engineers, IT specialists,
or product developers who understand systems inside out.
- Experienced managers – Leaders with a deep
understanding of operational workflows and people management.
- Customer-facing professionals – Sales reps, account
managers, and service agents who know client needs and pain points
firsthand.
Pro Tip: Use surveys, manager nominations,
and peer recommendations to identify these individuals.
Step 2: Empower SMEs with the Right Tools
Identifying
SMEs is only the first step. To make their expertise accessible, you need to equip
them with easy-to-use content creation tools.
Traditional
instructional design processes can be intimidating and time-consuming for
non-designers. This is where platforms like Mexty make a
difference:
- No-code authoring – SMEs simply describe the
topic or process, and Mexty generates a structured, interactive training
module.
- Built-in multimedia &
interactivity
– Add videos, quizzes, branching scenarios, and more without technical
skills.
- SCORM/xAPI compliance – Content works in any
Learning Management System (LMS).
- Rapid editing & updates – SMEs can quickly revise
content as processes or products evolve.
This
approach allows SMEs to focus on sharing knowledge, not wrestling with
complex software.
Step 3: Build a Culture of Knowledge Sharing
For SMEs to
contribute consistently, they need recognition and support. Here’s how
to foster that culture:
- Recognize contributions in team meetings or internal
communications.
- Incorporate content creation
into role expectations for certain positions.
- Offer professional development
opportunities
for SMEs to enhance their instructional skills.
When
employees see that sharing expertise is valued and rewarded, they’re more
likely to participate.
The Business Impact
Empowering
SMEs to create e-learning content offers several advantages:
- Reduces costs– Save costs while keeping
knowledge creation in-house.
- Speeds up content updates – Changes can be made
immediately by the people who know the process best.
- Improves relevance – Content is based on real
scenarios and company-specific practices.
- Boosts employee engagement – SMEs feel valued for their expertise, and learners receive highly relevant training.
- Final Thought
Your
employees are more than just workers — they’re a living library of skills,
insights, and best practices. By identifying and empowering your Subject Matter
Experts with the right tools, you can transform that knowledge into training
that’s faster to create, more relevant to learners, and more impactful for
the business.
With Mexty,
turning SME expertise into interactive, engaging courses takes minutes — not
months.