Absorb LMS includes a flexible Nudge and Notification system designed to help Learners stay informed and on track with assigned training. Nudges are automated reminders that are triggered based on enrollment timing, due dates, Start Dates, and completion status.

This article explains how Nudge settings behave in different scenarios, including how Start Dates, Completion Status, and recipient configuration affect notification delivery. It also outlines recommended best practices for configuring Learner notifications.

Nudge Behavior Based on Course Settings

Nudge behavior in Absorb LMS is driven by Course-level message settings, enrollment timing, and Start Date configuration. Certain configuration changes trigger recalculation of scheduled notifications, while others do not. Understanding these differences helps prevent missed or unintended notifications.

General Nudge Behavior

The following behaviors apply when Nudges are enabled or disabled at the Course level:

• When Nudges are enabled and a Learner enrolls in a Course, the system automatically schedules Nudges according to the configured timing.
• When Nudges are disabled, all previously scheduled Nudge jobs for currently enrolled Learners are deleted and no further notifications are sent.
• If Nudges are disabled and later re-enabled, existing enrollments are not retroactively scheduled. Only new enrollments created after Nudges are re-enabled will automatically receive scheduled notifications.

Effects of Using Start Dates

Start Dates introduce recalculation behavior that affects when Nudge schedules are created, removed, or recreated. Unlike simply enabling or disabling Nudges, changes to Start Dates trigger scheduling updates for existing enrollments.

• If a future Start Date is added while Nudges are enabled, the system creates new scheduled Nudges for existing eligible Learners, aligned to the configured Start Date timing.
• If a Start Date is removed while Nudges remain enabled, any previously scheduled start-date-based Nudge jobs are deleted. The system then recalculates and creates new Nudge jobs based on the standard configured cadence.
• If Nudges are re-enabled without adding a Start Date, existing enrolled Learners are not automatically rescheduled.

Nudge Eligibility Based on Learner Status

Nudges are only sent to Learners who have not yet completed the Course. Completion Status determines whether a Learner remains eligible to receive automated reminders.

Completion Status Rules

The following rules determine which Learners receive Nudge notifications:

• Learners with a status of Not Started or In Progress continue to receive Nudges.
• Learners with a status of Completed do not receive further Nudge notifications.

Manual Reminder Options

In situations where automated Nudges are insufficient, Administrators can manually send reminders. This option does not modify or recreate scheduled Nudge jobs.

• Manual reminders can be sent from the Course Enrollments page.
• Only Learners with a status of Not Started or In Progress are eligible to receive manual reminders.

Best Practices for Nudge Configuration

Following best practices helps ensure that Nudges remain effective, relevant, and non-disruptive.

• Test configuration changes: Validate how Nudges behave when enabling, disabling, or modifying Start Dates.
• Use manual reminders selectively: Reserve manual reminders for exceptional scenarios rather than ongoing cadence management.

By understanding how Nudge scheduling logic responds to configuration changes, Administrators can deliver timely, targeted reminders without redundancy or unintended disruption.