Successful implementation of an LMS requires a strategic execution. True that deployment of LMS takes place in no time and it is done within a few hours. However, enough time has to be spent before getting into the implementation stage.
For example, checking on the features, services, trials, adaptability, compatibility, etc. has to be given well thought out in the selection procedure. Out of all these, the most important is budgeting.
The LMS should be sound in monetary terms as well. You would not want to end up paying more for an average functionality. A rational and economical LMS would be the one that is feature-rich and at the same time justifies its investment as well.
There are a few common mistakes that lead to either overbudgeting or under budgeting. Both the circumstances are not considered to be healthy for any firm.
Following are some of the mistakes that one should avoid while budgeting:
Feature List
This is one of the most important factors that can bring a significant change in the budget. Features can be categorized into essential and non-essential. There are also certain industry-specific features apart from the general requirements therefore the one-size-fits-all approach can not be applied in this process.
There are many popular LMS present in the market with every possible feature in them. It might be possible that these LMSs prove to be expensive and at the same time would be an exaggeration for your business.
It is therefore important to have a checklist. This would help you get the right LMS within your budget.
Services
You might find an LMS within your budget but what you may miss is the associated services. It would be prudent to check on the post-purchase services. For example, maintenance, version updates, troubleshooting, customer support, etc. are not included within the LMS price then you would end up spending a lot extra even after your purchase.
You would like to have a dynamic LMS that can improve and evolve with time. And for this, you would need good customer support from your vendor. This would save you a lot of money from your budget.
Pricing Models
It is the most important line of items in a budget. There are different pricing models to suit different industries. It can be a user-based, subscription-based, license-based, one-time payment, etc. Therefore it is important to figure out the best model that would be suitable for your business. Having a clear idea of your target audience would help in doing so.
Learning Curve
Switching to an LMS can be difficult if the tool is not user-friendly. Analyze the time it will take to adapt to the new system, how easy it would be for the user to learn the mechanics of the new learning platform, etc.
A trial version of the available platform can help you get these calculations. If the user is user-friendly and compatible then there would be a quick transition. It will save a lot of time and effort. It is not desirable to have a popular LMS that might not get along with your business and would appear to be complex and at the same time, you would have to pay high to get it.
Instead, it would be better to get a good system within your budget that covers all your needs and requirements to be more promising and compatible.
Keeping the above-mentioned parameter in check will help you break down the budget into different sections and then come to a cumulative cost that would be more realistic and practical in every term.
