Skillsoft unveils AI-driven Percipio skills platform

Skillsoft has launched a next-generation version of its Percipio platform, positioning the product as a skills management system that links corporate learning to workforce readiness and business performance.

The release comes as employers reassess how they track and develop workforce capability in response to rapid changes in job requirements. Skillsoft pointed to research suggesting about 40% of core workplace skills are expected to change by 2030 as AI and emerging technologies reshape work.

Large organisations have maintained heavy spending on learning programmes, yet many still struggle to quantify results. Executives often lack a consolidated view of which skills exist across the workforce, which gaps are growing, and how training activity translates into proficiency and on-the-job performance.

"Customers are telling us the challenge is bigger than simply access to learning," said Ron Hovsepian, Chief Executive Officer, Skillsoft.

"The challenge is knowing whether their workforce is ready for what's next. As work changes faster, organisations need clarity and results. They need to understand which skills matter, where they stand today, and how their talent development connects to real outcomes. That shift is driving the move toward end-to-end skills management."

Shift In Focus

Skillsoft is framing the updated Percipio platform as part of a broader market move away from content libraries alone and towards systems that map skills, track progress, and connect learning to workforce decisions. This shift reflects the pressures on HR and learning leaders as AI changes tasks, job roles, and expectations about how quickly organisations can reskill.

The company cited survey findings showing only 10% of HR and learning and development leaders said they were fully confident their workforce had the skills needed to meet business goals over the next 12 to 18 months. It also said fewer than one in four organisations reported having a consolidated view of workforce skills and capability.

That shortfall has fuelled demand for tools that treat skills as a measurable asset. In practice, this means standardising skill definitions, assessing proficiency, and using that data to prioritise development in roles that matter most to the organisation.

What Changes

Percipio combines learning delivery with skills mapping, assessment and measurement inside a single platform. Skillsoft said the objective is a consistent view of capability and gaps across roles, alongside structured learning journeys aligned to specific skills.

One element is content and experience creation. Skillsoft said its LX Design Studio and CAISY can be used to produce interactive learning experiences that relate to specific roles and skills. The company described these as faster to build than traditional course development and designed for practice over time.

Another element is skills visibility. The platform connects mapping, assessment and development so organisations can see the skills they have, identify shortages and track progress as needs change. Skillsoft is also emphasising the use of measurable signals, which it said give leaders more confidence that learning activity is translating into readiness.

Skillsoft said the platform supports decisions beyond training, including workforce planning and reskilling priorities. It also set out a position that organisations can act on gaps through development rather than relying on recruitment alone.

Customer View

NatWest is referenced as a user of Skillsoft's approach to linking learning with skills development and workforce decisions.

"Learning creates value when skills are visible and actionable across the business," said Gavin McQuillan, Head of Learning and Development, NatWest. "That means understanding the skills we have, the capabilities the work requires, and how learning can close that gap. Skillsoft helps us connect learning to skills development and workforce decisions so we can adapt as needs change."

The bank's comments reflect a wider challenge for employers with large and diverse workforces. Business units often run training in parallel, while job frameworks and competency models vary across functions. Consolidating skills data, aligning it to roles, and linking it to learning paths has become a priority for organisations that need to redeploy staff quickly as technology changes working practices.

For Skillsoft, the updated platform also reinforces its pitch as an AI-native provider in a market that includes learning management systems, learning experience platforms and specialist skills intelligence vendors. Many of these providers are pushing into adjacent areas as customers seek fewer systems and clearer measurement of workforce capability.

Skillsoft said the next-generation Percipio platform is now generally available, with an emphasis on role-relevant learning, integrated skills measurement, and reporting designed to connect development activity to readiness outcomes.