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We help our customers navigate and understand the world of skills assessments and competency-based training programs.

Authentication and Roles

Posted May 09, 2022

Shift iQ is designed to accommodate the diverse communication needs of users. Each user account in Shift iQ is allowed to have a primary login email any number of secondary email addresses or aliases. This means that even if a user sends an email from an alias account, our system will still recognize them as the same user. This feature ensures seamless communication and user recognition across multiple email addresses.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted February 03, 2023

Shift iQ is designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate complex role assignments. Each user in the system can be assigned to multiple roles, such as Staff, Alumni, Extension Student, and more. Each of these roles can then be linked to any number of Access Control Lists, which define the specific permissions granted to the users in that role.

This feature allows for granular control over user permissions, ensuring that each user has the appropriate access based on their roles. It's part of our commitment to providing a versatile and adaptable platform that can meet diverse organizational needs.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Calendar

Posted May 15, 2023

Shift iQ does indeed have a calendar feature. This calendar is integrated with the Registration and Course and Events pages, providing a seamless way to manage and view upcoming activities and events.

The calendar feature allows you to visualize your schedule, making it easier to plan and manage your courses and events. It's designed to enhance your user experience and help you make the most of the Shift iQ platform.

You can easily access the calendar feature from your Shift iQ dashboard. If you need any assistance navigating to or using the calendar, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our team is always here to help.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted February 28, 2023

In Shift iQ, we provide administrators with a wide range of customization options for calendars to ensure that they can effectively manage and display various learning activities.

As an administrator, you have the ability to configure calendars to display various catalogue items, courses, events, and other learning activities. This allows you to create a comprehensive overview of all the learning opportunities available to your users.

Additionally, you can set up waitlists for courses or events that have limited availability. This ensures that interested learners can still have a chance to participate if a spot becomes available.

You also have the option to set up shopping cart functionality. This allows learners to select multiple courses or events and register for them all at once, providing a more user-friendly registration process.

Please note that several of these "customizations" are performed by one of our skilled developers. Our team is well-equipped to assist you in making these changes to ensure that Shift iQ is optimized for your specific needs.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted December 12, 2022

In Shift iQ, we have integrated course availability, events, and sessions directly with the calendar. This feature allows you to have a comprehensive view of all the learning activities scheduled within your organization.

You can easily track the availability of courses, view upcoming events, and monitor the schedule of various learning sessions. This makes it easier for both administrators and learners to manage their time and plan their learning journey effectively.

Warm regards, Stefan C Shift iQ Customer Support

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted October 20, 2022

In Shift iQ user notifications can indeed be posted to the calendar. This feature allows users to receive important updates and reminders directly within their calendar view, ensuring that they stay informed about upcoming courses, events, and other learning activities.

By integrating notifications with the calendar, we aim to provide a seamless user experience where all important information is easily accessible in one place. This helps users manage their time effectively and stay on top of their learning journey.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Posted February 15, 2023

Absolutely, we have designed the calendar to be more than just a tool for viewing dates and events. It's also a platform where users can directly register for Courses and Events.

This integration of registration within the calendar provides a seamless user experience. It allows users to view the details of a course or event and register for it right away, all within the same interface. This eliminates the need to navigate to a separate page for registration, making the process quicker and more efficient.

Take care,

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted April 18, 2023

In Shift iQ, we have designed the calendar to be a comprehensive tool that not only displays dates but also provides detailed information about courses, events, and sessions.

Course and event information is directly linked to the calendar. This means that when you view a date on the calendar, you can see all the courses and events scheduled for that day. You can click on each course or event to view more detailed information, such as the time, location, and description.

This feature is designed to provide a seamless user experience, allowing users to manage their schedule and stay informed about their learning activities all in one place.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Data Import and Export

Posted May 15, 2022

Shift iQ is designed to make data import and export as straightforward as possible. Every search page and report page within the system includes features to download or export data. The supported file formats for this operation are CSV and Excel, which are widely used and compatible with most data processing software applications.

In addition to CSV and Excel, we also support other file formats where applicable. These include Microsoft Word, PDF, JSON, and XML. This variety of formats ensures that you can work with your data in the environment that suits you best.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted March 20, 2023

Shift iQ provides a flexible approach to data import and export to ensure seamless data management. For data import, we support text files in CSV and JSON formats. These are common, versatile formats that are compatible with a wide range of data sources.

In addition to file upload, Shift iQ also supports data upload through our API. This allows for more dynamic data integration, particularly useful for real-time or automated data updates.

For data export, as mentioned in a separate response, we support a variety of formats including CSV, Excel, Microsoft Word, PDF, JSON, and XML. This ensures you can work with your data in the format that best suits your needs.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted March 15, 2023

Shift iQ allows users to upload a wide variety of file types for attachments. You can attach files to various assets throughout the system, enhancing the richness and accessibility of your information.

The supported file types for attachments include, but are not limited to:

Document files: .doc, .docx

Spreadsheet files: .xls, .xlsx

Compressed files: .zip

PDF files: .pdf

Image files: .jpg, .gif, .png

Data files: .csv, .xml, .json

This broad range of supported file types ensures that you can upload and share the information you need in the format that best suits your needs.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted November 18, 2022

Shift iQ is equipped with robust data import and export capabilities to facilitate seamless data management. You can upload data from text files in CSV and JSON formats, providing flexibility in the types of data you can incorporate into the system.

In addition to file-based data import, Shift iQ also supports real-time data integration through the REST API. This allows for dynamic data exchange and ensures that your system stays up-to-date with the latest information.

If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted June 12, 2023

Shift iQ provides robust data import and export utilities to ensure seamless data management. We understand the importance of data integration with third-party platforms and reporting tools, and we have provisions to automate these processes.

We utilize pipelines that can be configured to schedule and automate the export of data. This automation is facilitated through Octopus Deploy and Azure DevOps, which are renowned for their efficiency in handling pipeline automation tasks.

This means that once set up, your data exports can be automated to run at specified intervals, ensuring that your third-party platforms and reporting tools always have the most up-to-date data from Shift iQ.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted April 26, 2023

We understand that data portability is a crucial aspect for any organization. In the event that an organization needs to transfer data to an alternate solution in the future, Shift iQ has a straightforward process in place.

We use the Microsoft Bulk Copy Program (BCP), a highly efficient tool for large-scale data migration. This tool is used to export all customer data into files. These files can then be bulk-imported into an external SQL Server database. This process ensures that all your data is securely and efficiently transferred without any loss.

Please note that while this process is fairly straightforward, it's recommended to be carried out by someone with technical expertise to ensure data integrity. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Data Integrity and Backup

Posted April 28, 2023

Yes, at Shift iQ, we understand the importance of data security and business continuity. Therefore, we have a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery process in place.

We perform full backups on a weekly basis to ensure that all your data is securely stored. In addition to this, we carry out incremental backups daily to capture any changes made since the last full backup.

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent data is always protected, we also perform transaction backups every fifteen minutes. This means that in the event of a disaster, we can recover your data up to the last fifteen minutes.

These measures are designed to provide you with peace of mind and ensure that your business operations can continue with minimal disruption, even in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

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Marsha Miller

Operations Manager

Posted November 18, 2022

We have a robust system in place to ensure that your data is always safe and accessible. Our platform automatically copies all backups to a standby server. This server mirrors the Production environment database throughout the day, ensuring that we always have the most up-to-date copy of your data.

Moreover, we don't just set up these systems and forget about them. We actively test our disaster recovery process on a daily basis. This helps us to identify and rectify any potential issues promptly, ensuring the highest level of data security for our clients.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Environments

Posted February 23, 2023

Yes, Shift iQ is designed with multiple environments to support various stages of your workflow. By default, we provide three environments: Development, Sandbox, and Production.

Development: This is where new features and updates are initially implemented and tested.

Sandbox: This is a testing environment that mirrors the Production environment. It's used for testing updates and changes before they're implemented in the Production environment.

Production: This is the live environment where your users interact with the system.

If you have specific needs for additional environments, such as for training, user acceptance testing, or other purposes, these can be provided upon request. We're committed to providing a flexible and adaptable platform that meets your unique needs.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted October 15, 2022

Absolutely, Shift iQ has a robust and proven framework for managing and migrating changes across different environments.

We use Jira, a widely recognized product management tool, to track all changes to the system. This ensures that every modification is documented and can be traced back if needed.

When it comes to migrating application changes between environments, we rely on our Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) platform. This platform, which includes Azure DevOps and Octopus Deploy, allows us to define, manage, and automate the migration of changes.

This process ensures that changes are implemented smoothly and efficiently, reducing the risk of errors and minimizing disruption to users.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Implementation

Posted May 18, 2022

At Shift iQ, we offer a comprehensive suite of services to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of our platform. Here's a brief overview:

Requirements Analysis: We work closely with you to understand your specific needs and tailor the implementation process accordingly.

Consultation and Program Planning: Our team provides expert guidance on how to best utilize Shift iQ to meet your organizational goals.

Project Management: We oversee the entire implementation process, ensuring it stays on track and within budget.

Subject Matter Expertise and Curriculum Design: Our specialists can assist you designing a curriculum that aligns with your educational objectives.

Configuration and Integration: We handle the technical aspects of setting up Shift iQ and integrating it with your existing systems.

Large-scale, Enterprise Data Migration: We ensure a seamless transition of your data to the Shift iQ platform.

Web Services, LTI Integration: We facilitate the integration of web services and Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) to enhance the functionality of Shift iQ.

Testing and QA: Our team conducts thorough testing and quality assurance checks to ensure optimal performance.

Change Management: We provide support to help your team adapt to the new system.

Training: We offer comprehensive training to ensure your team can effectively use Shift iQ.

Operational Management and Support: Post-implementation, we provide ongoing support to ensure Shift iQ continues to meet your needs.

Data Analytics and Reporting: We provide tools for in-depth data analysis and reporting to help you make data-driven decisions.

Life-cycle Management: We assist in managing the life-cycle of your courses and content within Shift iQ.

Help Desk: Our help desk is always available to answer any questions or resolve any issues you may encounter.

We're committed to providing a seamless implementation experience and ensuring you get the most out of Shift iQ. Implementations can vary significantly in their requirements and scope, so if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

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Marsha Miller

Operations Manager

Posted October 15, 2022

Our training approach at Shift iQ is designed to ensure a smooth transition and effective use of our platform. Here's a brief overview:

Staged Training: We deliver training at key intervals throughout the project. This allows customers to gradually grow into the platform, learning about key features and functionality as they are being delivered. This approach prevents information overload and ensures a gradual learning curve.

Initial Configuration Training: After the initial setup tasks and content are configured, we provide training on navigation and editing. This includes how to access help content and perform common daily tasks.

Ongoing Support: We supplement our training with ongoing tech support via email. This is for those "how do I" questions that may arise while performing common tasks or when a new requirement comes up.

Additional Training Sessions: We also provide short training sessions as needed to support new hires, introduce new functionality, or suggest ways to simplify work processes.

Our goal is to ensure that all users, whether they are part of the project team, configuration specialists, technical support, or end users, are comfortable and proficient with Shift iQ.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Integrations

Posted December 03, 2022

Shift iQ is designed with a high degree of interoperability in mind. It can interface with a wide variety of external systems and tools that are commonly used in a university setting. This includes, but is not limited to, Single Sign-On (SSO) systems, LTI, Microsoft Authenticator, REST API Web Services, Blockchain, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft CRM.

Moreover, Shift iQ also supports data exchange via CSV file uploads and downloads. This flexibility allows Shift iQ to seamlessly integrate with other systems on a university campus, such as Residence systems, Awards systems, and more.

Our goal is to ensure that Shift iQ can effectively communicate and interact with the diverse range of systems that our customers use, thereby providing a cohesive and streamlined user experience.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted April 15, 2022

Shift iQ is built on a robust and flexible technology stack that enables seamless integration with other applications. Shift iQ is implemented using the C# programming language and the Microsoft .NET Framework, which are widely used and well-supported technologies.

In addition, Shift iQ provides an open REST API that uses JSON as the default data format. This API allows for easy and efficient data exchange between Shift iQ and other applications. It enables developers to create, read, update, and delete data in Shift iQ from other applications, providing a high degree of interoperability.

This combination of technologies ensures that Shift iQ can be effectively integrated with a wide range of other applications, meeting the diverse needs of our university clients.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted February 08, 2023

At Shift iQ, we are always looking to provide the best user experience possible. While we currently do not have built-in chatbot functionality within the platform, we are open to exploring this feature based on our clients' needs.

If chatbot functionality is a requirement for your institution, we can certainly look into adding it as a custom request. Our development team is experienced in integrating various technologies and can work to incorporate a chatbot that meets your specific requirements.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Posted November 28, 2022

At Shift iQ, we offer a comprehensive Developer API that provides access to all system functionality. This means that every feature and function you can use in the Shift iQ interface is also available through the API, ensuring maximum flexibility and integration potential.

However, for security reasons, we only publish parts of the API that are used by external third parties through the Public API. The exact percentage of functionality available via the Public API can vary depending on the specific needs and permissions of the third party.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted December 20, 2022

Shift iQ offers robust integration capabilities with Google's GSuite applications. We leverage Google's extensive API for a variety of purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, Google Translate for language translation, Google Maps for location-based services, and Google reCAPTCHA for enhanced security.

As for specific GSuite applications like Google Calendar and Google Meet, links to these applications can be incorporated anywhere within Shift iQ where users have the ability to input content. This allows for seamless scheduling and meeting setup directly within the Shift iQ platform.

If you have specific integration needs or questions about integrating other GSuite applications, feel free to ask. We're here to help!

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Maintenance and Release

Posted October 15, 2022

Shift iQ follows a robust release schedule to ensure optimal performance and continuous improvement. We roll out 8 production releases annually. Additionally, our development environment receives updates three times daily to maintain the highest standards of functionality and user experience.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Posted March 23, 2023

For major releases of Shift iQ, we provide a Sandbox test environment for our users. If needed, access to the Development environment can also be arranged upon request. We ensure that releases occur punctually and do not entertain delays. The delivery mechanism for all releases is online, across each environment.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted February 18, 2023

During our pre-scheduled maintenance, clients may experience partial downtime, but this is typically less than 60 seconds. We strive to minimize any disruption to your operations. The frequency of our maintenance releases is in line with our commitment to provide a seamless and efficient user experience.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted April 27, 2023

The delivery mechanism for maintenance updates on Shift iQ is managed through automated Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. We utilize tools like Azure DevOps and Octopus Deploy to schedule and execute these updates, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted November 24, 2022

Maintenance is an integral part of our daily DevOps practices. We follow a continuous delivery model, deploying new components, features, and functions three times per day to our Development environment. This approach allows us to keep the platform updated and running smoothly.

We also have a unique perspective on testing. Rather than treating it as a separate milestone or event at the end of a project, we view testing as an iterative process. This approach helps us catch and rectify any escaped defects early and often, ensuring that the functional requirements of Shift iQ are always up-to-date and working as intended. This way, we can provide you with a reliable and efficient service at all times.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted July 07, 2023

We pride ourselves on our responsiveness to changes in technology and unexpected incidents. We stay ahead of the curve by updating our system three times a day. This frequent update schedule allows us to promptly address any technological changes or incidents, ensuring that our platform remains reliable, secure, and up-to-date. You can rest assured that we're always working to provide the best possible service.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted March 07, 2023

At Shift iQ, we believe in providing direct, high-quality support to all our customers. Therefore, all support services are provided by our in-house team at Shift iQ. We do not outsource our support services. This approach ensures that you always receive accurate, timely, and reliable assistance directly from the people who know our product best.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted November 28, 2022

No specific technical expertise is required to support or use Shift iQ. Our platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing users to navigate and utilize its features without the need for specialized knowledge in areas such as Java Scripting or SQL Reporting. Our dedicated support team is always ready to assist with any questions or issues that may arise.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Notifications

Posted May 15, 2023

We understand the importance of timely and relevant notifications for effective learning management. Administrators have the ability to configure notifications based on specific "triggers" that they set. These notifications can contain any information that you wish to send to your contacts. The notifications are tailored to each customer and their unique requirements.

Here are some common notifications that are often configured in Shift iQ:

• Credentials Expired Today or in x# of weeks

• Assignment/Assessment/Survey Started, Submitted or Completed

• Assignment/Assessment/ Survey Prompt

• Blog Subscription Requested

• Competencies Expired

• Learning Resource Changed

• Training Registration Submitted

• Users Pending Approval

• Group Created

• Help Requested

• Invoice Paid

• Password Changed

• Password Reset Requested

• Registrant Contact Information Changed

• Registration Complete

• User Access Denied

• User Access Granted

• User Access Requested

• User Account Archived

• User Account Created

• User Account Welcomed

• User Email Verification Requested

• User Registration Approval Requested

• User Registration Submitted

Remember, our team is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the configuration of these notifications or any other features of Shift iQ.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted March 25, 2023

Absolutely, notifications can indeed be scheduled and automated. This feature is designed to provide administrators with the flexibility to manage communication effectively and efficiently.

Administrators can set specific "triggers" based on which these notifications are sent out. This means you can automate the process of sending notifications based on certain events or conditions, ensuring timely communication without the need for manual intervention.

Our team is always ready to assist you in setting up these triggers and scheduling notifications. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with this feature.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Posted February 18, 2023

In Shift iQ, we provide administrators with extensive customization capabilities to ensure that the platform can be tailored to meet your unique needs.

As an administrator, you have the ability to set various parameters for notifications. This includes the Notification Name, Type, and Code. You can also customize the notification text to convey the exact message you want to deliver.

Additionally, you can specify the Contacts (Groups) to whom the notification should be sent, and set the Sender Contact information. You also have the flexibility to choose the delivery method for the notifications.

Furthermore, you can set the date and frequency for the notifications, ensuring that they are sent out at the most appropriate times. Finally, you can set specific triggers that determine when a notification should be sent out.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Posted April 30, 2023

We understand the importance of delivering notifications in a format that best suits the needs of our users. Therefore, we offer multiple delivery formats for notifications to ensure that they reach you in the most convenient way.

Notifications can be delivered as:

Email: Notifications can be sent directly to your email inbox, allowing you to receive updates even when you're not logged into the system.

Text Messages: For immediate and direct communication, notifications can be sent as text messages to your mobile device.

In-System Messaging: Notifications can also be delivered within the Shift iQ system itself, ensuring that you don't miss any updates while you're using the platform.

Our team is always ready to assist you in setting up your preferred notification delivery format. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with this feature.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted January 22, 2023

We provide administrators with extensive control over notification settings to ensure that communication is tailored to the needs of the users.

As an administrator, you have the ability to set various parameters for notifications. This includes the Notification Name, Type, and Code. You can also customize the Notification Text to convey the exact message you want to deliver.

Additionally, you can set the Sender Contact information, choose the Delivery Method for the notifications, and set the Date and Frequency for the notifications. Finally, you can set specific Triggers that determine when a notification should be sent out.

While these settings are controlled by administrators, they are designed to cater to the preferences and needs of the users, ensuring that they receive the right information at the right time in the right way.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Posted November 08, 2022

Absolutely, in Shift iQ, you have the flexibility to schedule push notifications according to your needs. You can target these notifications to specific contact lists, user groups, or subscriber lists. This allows you to tailor your communication strategy to reach the right audience at the right time.

Whether you want to send a notification to a select group or to all tenant users, Shift iQ provides you with the tools to do so effectively. This ensures that your messages reach the intended recipients, enhancing communication and engagement within your learning environment.

Our team is always ready to assist you in scheduling these push notifications and setting up your target groups. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with this feature.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted September 12, 2022

Shift iQ provides a simple and efficient way to generate and distribute mass communication. You have the flexibility to select your list of contacts to whom you want to send the message. Once you've attached your message, you can schedule when you want the message to be sent out.

The system will then automatically send your notifications by your chosen method - this could be via email, text, or in-system distribution. This ensures that your message reaches your intended audience in a timely and efficient manner, regardless of the size of the group you're communicating with.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Permissions

Posted March 03, 2023

Shift iQ has a robust role-based access control system. Users are assigned to specific roles, which can be organized into hierarchies for more complex organizational structures.

Each role can be associated with any number of Access Control Lists (ACLs). These ACLs determine the permissions granted to members of that role. This allows for a granular level of control over what each user can see and do within the system, based on their assigned role.

This setup provides a flexible and secure way to manage user permissions and ensure that each user has the appropriate level of access to the system's features and data.

If you need further assistance or have more questions about setting up roles and permissions in Shift iQ, feel free to ask.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Posted April 15, 2023

Shift iQ provides a flexible and comprehensive group management system. It allows users to create and manage a variety of group types to suit different purposes. These group types can include employers, learning cohorts, mailing lists, teams, venues, and many more.

This flexibility allows you to tailor the system to your specific needs. For example, you can create assignment groups that are distinct from permission groups or notification groups. This ensures that each group serves a specific purpose and helps to maintain clarity and organization within the system.

In terms of tracking employee training, supervisors can indeed use Shift iQ to monitor the progress of their team members. By creating a group for a team, a supervisor can easily keep track of each member's training status, progress, and achievements.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Platform

Posted September 15, 2022

Shift iQ is designed to be compliant with a wide range of industry standards to ensure seamless integration and interoperability. The list of standards that Shift iQ complies with includes:

.NET: A framework developed by Microsoft that supports a wide range of programming languages and platforms.

Azure: Microsoft's cloud computing platform, providing a range of cloud services.

JSON: A lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.

LTI: Learning Tools Interoperability, a standard created by the IMS Global Learning Consortium (now 1EdTech).

REST: Representational State Transfer, a software architectural style that defines a set of constraints to be used for creating Web services.

SQL: Structured Query Language, a standard language for managing and manipulating databases.

SAML: Security Assertion Markup Language, an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties.

XML: Extensible Markup Language, a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.

Please note that while Shift iQ is compliant with these standards, the specific capabilities and integrations may vary based on the individual needs and configurations of your organization. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, please feel free to ask!

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted November 29, 2022

Yes, Shift iQ is designed with multilingual support for a diverse range of users. This includes (but is not limited to) support for the French language. The multilingual support extends to both the data/content and the user interface. This means that you can input, store, and display data in French, and the user interface elements (menus, buttons, instructions, etc.) can also be displayed in French.

This feature ensures that users who are more comfortable with French can interact with the system in their preferred language, enhancing usability and user experience. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, please feel free to ask!

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted February 19, 2023

Shift iQ is actually a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering, not strictly a Software as a Service (SaaS). This means that while it does provide software and applications over the internet (like a SaaS), it also provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage their own applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app.

This approach provides greater flexibility and scalability, allowing you to customize and extend the platform to suit your specific needs.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Product Architecture

Posted November 25, 2022

Shift iQ is designed as a fully multitenant system, which means it can support multiple groups or "tenants" within the same instance of the software. This is particularly useful for large organizations like universities, where you might have different functional groups such as various departments, faculties, or research groups that need their own separate spaces within the system.

In addition to supporting multiple tenants, Shift iQ also supports nested sub-tenants. This allows for further partitioning within each tenant, which can be useful for creating separate spaces for different sub-groups within a larger group. For example, within a university's Faculty of Science tenant, you could have sub-tenants for the Biology Department, the Chemistry Department, and so on.

This multitenant architecture allows for a high degree of flexibility and customization, ensuring that each group can have a space that is tailored to their specific needs while still benefiting from the shared resources and infrastructure of the larger system.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted August 15, 2022

In Shift iQ, we provide multiple options for importing data into the system, including contact details. This is designed to provide flexibility and ease of use for our users.

One option is to upload data from text files in CSV (Comma Separated Values) format. This is a common format for data files and is supported by many different software applications, making it a convenient option for importing data.

Alternatively, data can also be posted to the Shift iQ API in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format. This is a powerful option that allows for more complex data structures and is particularly useful for integrating Shift iQ with other software systems.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted November 30, 2022

Absolutely, in Shift iQ, we ensure the preservation of your configurations during the upgrade process. We understand how crucial it is to maintain the integrity of your custom settings and configurations as we introduce new features and improvements.

This means that all your personalized settings, configurations, and data will remain intact and operational after an upgrade. This includes but is not limited to user settings, course structures, notification settings, and calendar configurations.

Our upgrade process is meticulously designed to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your operations. We are committed to providing you with a seamless upgrade experience, and our team is always ready to assist you during this process.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted December 12, 2022

Yes, in Shift iQ, we ensure that all your specific customizations are preserved throughout the upgrade process. We understand the importance of maintaining the unique aspects of your system setup as we introduce new features and improvements.

Our team is always ready to assist you during the upgrade process to ensure that your transition to the newest version is as seamless as possible.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted October 20, 2022

Shift iQ is equipped with a comprehensive API (Application Programming Interface) that empowers our customers and external software developers to create and customize their own applications to integrate seamlessly with our system.

This API provides a robust set of tools and functionalities that can be used to develop applications that interact with Shift iQ, enabling you to extend the capabilities of the system and integrate it with other software systems as per your requirements.

Our team is always ready to assist you in understanding and utilizing our API for your application development needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with this feature.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted January 15, 2023

Yes, Shift iQ does indeed provide a form of Configuration Management Database (CMDB). CMDBs are crucial for keeping track of the state of assets such as products, systems, software, facilities, and people as they exist at specific points in time, as well as the relationships between these assets.

In Shift iQ, all components within the system are managed as assets. Our administrative toolkits include a wide range of assets such as Accounts, Assessments, Assets, Contacts, Courses, Databases, Events, Foundations, Integrations, Issues, Logs, Messages, Records, Reports, Sales, Settings, Sites, Standards, and Surveys.

This comprehensive asset management approach allows for effective configuration management, ensuring that you have a clear and up-to-date understanding of all your assets and their states at any given time.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted November 18, 2022

Shift iQ leverages machine learning through the integration of advanced monitoring and analytics services.

Our Production, Sandbox, and Development servers utilize the Sentry event monitoring service (https://docs.sentry.io/) to provide real-time issue notifications. Sentry's reporting includes User Misery and Apdex (Application Performance Index) metrics, which are predicted from statistical models that use changing response times and user loads as model inputs. These metrics are instrumental in triaging InSite issue support.

Furthermore, our Production server logs are processed in the SmarterTools analytics engine (https://www.smartertools.com/). The analysis reports generated by this engine provide valuable input for longer-term development planning and application optimization.

This combination of real-time monitoring and in-depth analytics allows us to continuously improve and optimize Shift iQ based on user behavior and system performance.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted March 12, 2023

The capacity and capability to automate workflows in Shift iQ largely depends on the specific workflow in question.

Many workflows in Shift iQ support full and/or partial automation. For instance, notifications can be automated, generating exam forms from an exam blueprint can be automated, and validating submissions and data can also be automated.

However, it's important to note that automation may not be applicable to all workflows. For example, authoring a Course tends to be a highly variable process and may not be suitable for automation. That said, certain aspects of the process, such as aggregating course content, can indeed be automated.

Our aim is to provide as much automation as possible where it makes sense, to streamline processes and increase efficiency.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted December 08, 2022

Shift iQ provides administrators with a high degree of flexibility when it comes to configuring landing pages. This includes homepages, dashboards, learning portals, forms, and more.

Administrators have the ability to organize, configure, and publish these pages according to their specific needs and preferences. This flexibility allows for a tailored user experience that can be optimized for your organization's unique requirements.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with your configuration needs.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Reporting

Posted February 19, 2023

Shift iQ comes with a robust set of reporting capabilities right out of the box. Our goal is to provide you with the tools you need to make data-driven decisions and gain insights into your operations.

In addition, Shift iQ allows administrators to report data from, and across, each toolkit. This means you can pull together data from different areas of your operations into a single report, providing a comprehensive view of your activities.

These features are designed to give you maximum flexibility and control over your data, helping you to get the most out of Shift iQ.

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Kyle Erickson, M.Ed., D.C.

Product Manager

Posted April 18, 2023

Creating ad hoc reports in Shift iQ is designed to be as straightforward and user-friendly as possible. We understand the importance of being able to generate custom reports quickly and easily, so we've made sure that you don't need any special tools or advanced skills to do so.

In fact, if you can drag and drop data objects with a mouse, you're already an expert in creating reports with Shift iQ! Our intuitive interface allows you to select the data you're interested in, arrange it in the way that makes the most sense for your needs, and generate a report with just a few clicks.

This means you can create custom reports on the fly, without needing to rely on IT support or specialized training. It's just one of the ways that Shift iQ is designed to make your life easier.

If you have any more questions about creating reports or realted features, please don't hesitate to ask!

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted April 02, 2023

Yes, Shift iQ is designed to work seamlessly with third-party reporting tools. We understand that many organizations have existing tools that they rely on for data analysis and reporting, and we've made sure that Shift iQ can integrate with these systems.

You can easily download data from Shift iQ and then upload it to your preferred third-party reporting tool. This allows you to leverage the full capabilities of these tools, while still benefiting from the robust data collection and management features of Shift iQ.

Please note that while we don't provide a fully documented database schema for direct database access due to security and performance considerations, we do offer comprehensive APIs that allow for secure, controlled access to your data for integration purposes.

If you have any more questions about using third-party reporting tools with Shift iQ, please don't hesitate to ask!

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted June 15, 2023

Our platform features a user-friendly interface that allows administrators to easily create ad hoc reports. This is achieved by simply dragging and dropping data across an x and y axis. This intuitive approach to report generation allows for a high degree of customization and flexibility, enabling you to generate the specific insights you need.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Posted October 21, 2022

Yes, Shift iQ offers a wide range of options for exporting reports. You can download reports in various formats including PDF, Word, Excel, HTML, and PNGs. This flexibility ensures that you can easily share and utilize your data in the format that best suits your needs.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted November 15, 2022

Absolutely, Shift iQ has a feature that allows you to schedule reports to run at specific times and dates. Once these reports are generated, they can be automatically distributed to a list of contacts that you've specified. This feature is designed to keep all relevant parties informed and up-to-date with the latest data and insights.

If you have any other questions about Shift iQ's robust reporting capabilities, don't hesitate to ask!

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Posted March 20, 2023

Yes, Shift iQ is designed to handle and analyze large volumes of data efficiently. Our platform enables site administrators to quickly process and analyze significant amounts of data for reporting purposes.

If you have any other questions about Shift iQ's data analysis capabilities, feel free to ask!

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Scalability

Posted March 03, 2023

Shift iQ is designed with scalability in mind to accommodate a wide range of user loads and data volumes. We have extensive monitoring systems in place that operate 24x7, identifying and reporting any performance issues directly to our DevOps team for immediate attention.

In the unlikely event of a scalability issue, our team would address it promptly. The resolution could involve software optimization, hardware optimization, or a combination of both, depending on the specific circumstances. This approach ensures that Shift iQ can scale effectively to meet your needs, whether you're a small organization or a large enterprise.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted December 15, 2022

Shift iQ is designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. You can add or remove capacity and users as needed at any time. This means that during peak times when the volume of users increases, you can easily scale up to meet the demand. Similarly, when the demand decreases, you can scale down accordingly.

This flexibility ensures that you always have the right amount of resources to meet your needs, while also optimizing cost efficiency. It's one of the ways that Shift iQ is designed to adapt to the changing needs of your organization.

If you have any more questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to ask!

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted April 03, 2023

Shift iQ is designed with scalability in mind to accommodate growth in learners, programs, and learning resources. We understand that as your organization grows, your needs change, and our platform is ready to adapt and scale with you.

We also continuously improve Shift iQ with 8 production releases per year. These updates often include new features and functions to enhance your experience and meet evolving needs. We maintain an open dialogue with our customers, sharing our roadmap and welcoming new ideas. This ensures we capture and assess your suggestions early and often.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

Search

Posted August 20, 2022

Yes, Shift iQ is equipped with robust search functionality within each toolkit. This allows you to query and view large volumes of data using multi-select fields and filters, providing you with the flexibility to find the information you need quickly and efficiently.

If you require more advanced search capabilities, such as Elasticsearch or similar technologies, we can certainly explore integration options. Our goal is to ensure that Shift iQ meets your specific needs and provides you with the most effective tools to manage your learning environment.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with this or any other related feature.

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Allison O.

Customer Support

Posted June 30, 2023

Absolutely, Shift iQ is designed with powerful search functionality within each toolkit that allows you to query and view large volumes of data quickly and efficiently. This is facilitated through the use of multi-select fields and filters, enabling you to narrow down your search and find the specific data you need.

Moreover, all searched data can be downloaded for offline reporting purposes. This means you can easily extract the data from Shift iQ and use it in your preferred reporting tool or format, providing you with the flexibility to analyze and present your data as needed.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Security and Privacy

Posted March 14, 2024

Every password must be at least 8 characters in length, and must contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase characters, digits, and special characters. Every user is required to change their password at least once every six months. Any user session that attempts to brute-force login is locked out automatically, and their IP address is submitted to our server team for review and possible additional steps.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Yes, multi-factor authentication can be enabled (and, optionally, enforced) for your organization account.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted March 14, 2024

Your organization is assigned an administrator account with access to monitor and report on all user accounts in your system. This account has permission to disable and/or remove accounts at any time, as may be needed by your organization. In addition, the Shift iQ team periodically reviews your organization for inactive accounts, and will notify you of any accounts that appear to be candidates for deactivation.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Posted March 14, 2024

With regard to redundancy, the Shift iQ databases are mirrored to a redundant Production server every 15 minutes. All server-managed disks, database backups, and backups of uploaded files have Azure LRS (Local Redundant Storage) as a minimum requirement. A snapshot of every Production server is created every night using Azure GRS (Georedundant Storage Replication). With regard to continuity, weekly hotfix deployments and scheduled application release deployments are preceded by an explicit change-over to a standby website that presents a maintenance countdown banner. A 30-minute maintenance window is scheduled every Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM Mountain Time, but our team’s average deployment time is 3 minutes (per tenant), therefore the full 30 minute window is rarely needed. After a deployment is complete, the application is taken out of standby mode and normal application operation is resumed. With regard to recovery from a failed deployment, our redundancy measures ensure database recovery in 15 minutes. Recovery from a complete Microsoft Azure server/platform failure, snapshots and database backups allow for recovery in 2 hours. The Azure Virtual Machine replication service can be enabled if a shorter disaster recovery time is required by your organization.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Differential backups are taken every night, along with full backups every week. Transaction log backups are taken every 15 minutes (24x7). Backup of files uploaded by users is nightly.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Database transaction logs are tested and restored to a separate mirroring server every 15 minutes (24x7) with automated email alerts triggered on any restoration failure. Full database backups are tested and restored multiple times throughout every development release cycle. (At an absolute minimum, this is done twice every 7 weeks.) Backups of uploaded user files are compared nightly with production files to ensure file system backups have no missing our outdated content.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Application sessions are logged in a SQL Server database table with information that includes login failures, login successes, user identifiers, and IP addresses. Microsoft IIS provides a second level of logged security data with its logging features, which includes errors (HTTP 4xx or 5xx responses), authentication successes (HTTP 2xx). Our servers use IP Ban firewall technology for automated intrustion detection and blocking. In addition, the Shift iQ application logs the date, time, and user identity for database changes made by users; this ensure change logs have perfect fidelity for auditing purposes.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Microsoft IIS logs and IP Ban logs are retained for up to one year. Application authentication logs and database change logs are retained as long as your organization account is active.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

The IP Ban firewall sends immediate notification to the Shift iQ team when an IP address is flagged and blocked. Microsoft Azure sends immediate notification when unusual usage is detected. Shift iQ sends immediate notification when any brute-force login attempt is detected. Customers can be included as subscribers to these notifications, upon request.

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Doug Skye

DevOps Engineer

Posted March 14, 2024

Yes. Authentication logs and database change logs are available within the administration control panel. Access to Microsoft IIS logs can be configured and granted upon request.

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Daniel Miller

CTO

Support

Posted November 20, 2023

At Shift iQ, we're committed to providing you with the support you need when you need it. Here's how you can reach us:

Customer Success Manager: Each of our clients is assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager. They are available by phone and email from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

Help Portal: For additional support, we have a Help Portal that is accessible 24/7. This portal contains a wealth of resources and answers to frequently asked questions.

Remember, we're here to help you make the most of Shift iQ. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

System Availability

Posted November 22, 2022

In the event of an unplanned outage, our team at Shift iQ works diligently to respond and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. To ensure data safety, our Production server database is mirrored off-site every 15 minutes. Additionally, differential and supplementary files are securely transferred off-site on a nightly basis. This robust backup system allows us to restore services swiftly and minimize any potential data loss.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted November 18, 2022

In the event of a network connectivity failure, local processing in Shift iQ is primarily limited to localized backups. This means that while certain operations may be affected by the loss of network connectivity, your data remains secure and backed up locally. Once the network connection is restored, normal operations can resume seamlessly.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Posted April 12, 2022

In the extremely unlikely event of a complete software failure, Shift iQ has robust recovery mechanisms in place. Our system is designed to recover from a worst-case scenario of complete loss within a timeframe of 3 hours. This ensures minimal disruption to your operations and maintains the integrity and availability of your data.

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Aleksey Terzi, M.Sc.

Senior Software Engineer

Templates

Posted July 09, 2023

Shift iQ is equipped with a comprehensive library of templates that are readily available for administrators. These templates span across various categories including courses, assessments, and outcomes.

These templates are designed to be versatile and adaptable to suit a wide range of learning delivery requirements. Administrators can choose to use these templates as they are, or they can modify them to better align with their specific needs. This flexibility allows for a more personalized and effective learning experience.

Remember, our team is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the use of these templates or any other features of Shift iQ.

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Wendy F.

Customer Support Manager

Posted November 20, 2022

In Shift iQ, we prioritize flexibility and adaptability to meet the unique needs of our clients. To that end, everything within the Shift iQ environment, including the templates, can be customized according to specific client requirements.

Whether it's the course content, assessment structure, or learning outcomes, each template can be tailored to align with your specific learning delivery needs. This allows for a more personalized and effective learning experience for all users.

Our team is always ready to assist you in customizing these templates to ensure that Shift iQ is optimized for your specific use case. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with customization.

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Stefan C.

Customer Support

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