When looking for a learning management system, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are hundreds of providers that claim to have the best system for you. You should choose someone who has worked with your industry before, but it still may not narrow down much of your options. If you’re struggling to find the right LMS platform for you, here are 9 tips to help you choose one that works perfectly for your business:
1: Understand Your Goals And Objectives
Before you start surfing through the vast sea of LMS options, you first need to know what you’re really looking for. Set clear goals and objectives for your learning management system to give you a better idea of your business needs. When implementing an LMS, what does your end goal look like? Are there any classes you need or the tracking capabilities you want? If you’re looking for a safety training LMS, you’re probably looking to reduce incidents and better understand which employees have taken certain courses. Once you’ve figured out what your ideal LMS should look like, it’s much easier to find an LMS that fits those goals, rather than just browsing through all the options available.
2: Create A List Of Key Features
Likewise, you should make a list of the key features your ideal LMS should have. Whether it’s a comprehensive catalog of security training courses or an easy-to-understand report, bringing together the features your business absolutely needs helps narrow down the shortlist of management systems. The best fit for your business just got a whole lot easier.
3: Know Your Budget
There are learning management systems that are extremely affordable, and there are systems that are incredibly expensive. Chances are your LMS budget falls somewhere between these two extremes, but you need to know exactly what you can afford before you start looking. We recommend setting two prices: the ideal price and the maximum price your business can actually get.
Next, start looking for learning management systems that fall between the two. Remember that many LMS vendors price their products differently. Some charge a per-course fee per student, while others charge a flat monthly or yearly fee. To calculate how many people will use the new LMS and your budget from there. The last thing you want is to realize that what seems like the cheapest option actually costs more in the long run, once you factor in hidden fees and extra fees for features.
4: Customization
Now that you’ve established your budget and know what features and goals you’re trying to achieve, it’s time to focus on more specific considerations about each LMS option. One of those considerations is personalization. Does the LMS offer your business customization options? Can you easily access the system to keep track of where each of your employees is in their training? Do you have the ability to create custom courses and can you manage scheduling options? It’s your LMS after all, you’ll want to make sure you have the necessary control before you buy it.
5: Room For Growth
Remember that your business is not static and neither is your LMS. Of course, the LMS you choose will likely be a good choice for your business now, but what about a few years from now? If your business grows, can an LMS grow with you? There are all sorts of options that allow you to add users and courses as needed, giving you the flexibility to scale your LMS as your business continues to grow and expand.
6: Implementation
Implementation is a big concern when purchasing a learning management system that is compatible with your business. You don’t want to waste time figuring out how to implement a new LMS with your existing software, and you don’t want to choose something that employees will have a hard time interacting with. While there is a learning curve with most LMSs, you want to choose an option that is relatively easy to set up and use. This will save your business time and money as it integrates seamlessly with your existing software.
7: Talk To Your Learning And Development Staff
If you yourself are not part of the learning and development staff, you should close before making a final purchase decision. Once you’ve got a shortlist of potential LMS options that align with your goals and objectives and provide the bulk of your primary functionality, be sure to include your learning and development staff in conversation. They have the most experience working with employees and setting up training programs, so they are likely to have useful insight into which options might work best and which ones might work best. Which choice can pose some challenges?
8: Talk To Your Short List Of Lms Providers
After you’ve narrowed down your shortlist with training staff to just three or four options, it’s finally time to call those LMS providers. Ask them what kind of support they offer and how they can help you get your LMS up and running. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: a good LMS provider will tell you about their business history, their security background, what you can expect from setting up and implementing your website, and other aspects. personalized course options they offer. serve. Most importantly, a reliable LMS provider will provide you with a dedicated contact person to call or email if you have further questions. This way, you can clarify points you are unsure about later or ask any questions that arise after that first call. Just pick up the phone and you’ll know better which supplier is best for your business.
9: Ask For A Live Demonstration Or Trial Period
Finally, before you give the go-ahead to purchase a learning management system, ask for a live demonstration or trial period. You don’t want to put money into anything if you haven’t yet seen how it works. Most quality LMS providers will either walk you through their system themselves, or they’ll give you a temporary login so you can peruse and explore the system on your own. Any LMS is going to be a major investment for your company, so there’s nothing wrong with giving it a little test drive before you take the final plunge.
