Something new has arrived this March.
Ever feel like your Cornerstone platform is sitting on a goldmine of data… but everyone’s still digging through spreadsheets? Over nine years of Cornerstone projects across industries and continents, that’s the conversation we keep having with HR and L&D teams.
The platform holds a huge amount of data. Training records. Certifications. Compliance status. Team structures. Learning histories. Everything is there.
But turning that into daily wins? Often trickier than it should be. Managers export reports just to spot overdue training. Compliance teams juggle spreadsheet deadlines. HR builds reports only the experts can decode.
The system stores it all. But does it show it the way you need it? Not always. That’s the gap MicroApps fill. If you’re curious how they work inside the platform, you can explore the Cornerstone MicroApps product page for more details.
Welcome to March MicroApp Month. (Rob’s already buzzing about the demos!)
Move over golden M.
Make space for the green M.
Not fast food. Fast apps that help keep your organisation healthy. 🐙
What Are Cornerstone MicroApps?
Cornerstone MicroApps are modular applications that run directly inside your Cornerstone platform. They connect to real-time data through Cornerstone APIs and present that information in focused views designed for specific tasks.
Instead of navigating reports or exporting data, employees and managers see exactly what matters to them the moment they log in. Managers can see their team’s training progress instantly. Employees can see their personal tasks and deadlines in one clear place. HR teams gain visibility without waiting for scheduled reports.
Everything happens inside Cornerstone. No additional tools. No extra logins. No exports. MicroApps unlock the information that already exists in your platform and make it usable in everyday work.
Want to see what MicroApps look like in practice? Take a look at the Cornerstone MicroApps page for examples and details.
MicroApps turn Cornerstone from a system of record into a system of action.
MicroApps. Major Impact.
MicroApps might be small, but they solve challenges many HR teams run into every day. One of the biggest frustrations we hear about is reporting. Cornerstone Reporting 2.0 is powerful, but it has technical limits when dealing with very large data sets. There is a row limit that can quickly become a challenge for large organizations with thousands of records.
MicroApps take a different approach. Instead of exporting large reports, they connect directly to the Cornerstone API and retrieve the data in real time. This removes the reporting limitations and makes the experience significantly faster.
But performance is only one part of the story. Because MicroApps are built as applications rather than static reports, they unlock possibilities that were previously difficult or impossible to implement. Managers can instantly see which team members still have required training pending and send reminders directly. Employees can view their own required training and upcoming deadlines in a clear overview.
Assigned learning. Immediate reminders. Clear progress tracking. And once the MicroApp structure is in place, new features and use cases can easily be added over time. (Our team’s ideas are overflowing!)
Traditional Customization vs. Cornerstone MicroApps
Many Cornerstone projects involve customization. Branding updates, new page layouts, and additional components can significantly improve the user experience. MicroApps go one step further.
They are not just visual adjustments. They are functional applications that work directly with live data inside the platform.
Traditional Customization
- Visual layer changes such as CSS, HTML, and branding
- Static content and layout adjustments
- Limited to what Cornerstone displays by default
- Manual updates required when underlying data changes
- Same experience for every user regardless of role
Cornerstone MicroApps
- Fully functional applications with logic and data access
- Real time data pulled directly from Cornerstone APIs
- Role aware views that adapt to employees and managers
- Interactive experiences with search, filters, exports, and actions
- Modular setup where organizations can start small and expand over time
Customization improves how the platform looks. MicroApps expand what the platform can do.
Data trapped in Cornerstone? MicroApps set it free.
MicroApps Inside Your Cornerstone Experience
Each MicroApp focuses on a specific need inside the platform. Some support managers, others help employees stay on top of their learning, and some give HR and L&D teams better visibility across the organization.
Over the coming weeks we will introduce several MicroApps in more detail. Here is a quick preview of what is coming.
Meet the starter pack
One mission:
Make Cornerstone work your way.
The Team Progress App
A manager's command center for team training. See completion rates, overdue items, and team progress in one clear dashboard.
MyTodos
A personal task overview that shows employees exactly what learning or compliance tasks need attention.
MyTodo for Managers
An extended manager view that helps leaders keep track of team responsibilities and quickly send reminders when needed.
Engagement Dashboard
A visual overview that shows how employees interact with learning content across the organization.
Making Cornerstone Work Harder for You
Cornerstone already holds the information organizations need to manage learning, compliance, and development. MicroApps make that information easier to use.
Managers gain instant visibility into their teams. Employees see what requires attention. HR and L&D teams get insights without waiting for complex reports. Instead of digging through data, people can focus on taking action.
That shift might sound small, but the impact can be huge. And this is only the beginning.
We are incredibly excited about the possibilities MicroApps unlock inside Cornerstone. Our brains are in overdrive with all the ideas the team keeps throwing around for new apps. The roadmap is growing fast, and the examples we are sharing now are really just the tip of the iceberg.
Because MicroApps are modular, new functionality can be added quickly. Organizations can start with one use case and expand step by step as new needs emerge. And often the best ideas come directly from our clients or during a brainstorm together.
If there is a specific challenge you would like to solve inside your Cornerstone platform, MicroApps give us the flexibility to build experiences tailored exactly to those needs.
If you want a deeper look at how MicroApps work, you can also visit the Cornerstone MicroApps product page.
Let's Talk 👋
Over the coming weeks we will share more about each MicroApp and how they work inside real Cornerstone environments. If you would like to see them already, we would be happy to show you a live demo running inside a real Cornerstone platform.
No slides. Just the real thing. 🐙
Get in touch, send an email, or book a meeting. We would love to explore what we can create together.
