Deciding on any particular LMS (Learning Management System) can be a tedious job if you lack clarity. It can be a confusing and time taking process. You would want to explore the industry to find out the best option but then it would cost you your effort and resources. You might get it done through a consultancy but that would incur extra monetary costs.
However, there are ways to deal with it. The whole process can be broken down into many steps. Following are the steps that would lead you to get your right LMS:
Step 1: Analyze your needs and requirements on the training and onboarding process that your business requires.
Step 2: Filter out the feature-rich LMSs that accommodate all your needs and wants.
Step 3: Check the compatibility of the selected LMS with your current system through trials.
Step 4: Send a questionnaire/RFI to the compatible LMSs vendors.
Step 5: Select the one best offer sent by the vendors.
The first three steps can be done easily with the help of team members. However, it is the fourth step that would lead you to final success. Therefore it is important to ask your vendor such questions that would give you clarity. This can be a kind of assessment that is to be done to get the right LMS for your business.
It is important to ask specific questions about their product, services, pricing, etc. There can be many answers that you can expect from your vendor. However, there are some major questions that you should pose, such as:
What is their learning model?
The learning model should be accommodative to the hybrid working that is existing today. Where some are present at the office and the others are working remotely. Even in a normal situation, the workforce that is to be trained is mostly spread across different branches.
Therefore an ideal LMS would be the one that accommodates hybrid learning. Apart from this, there should be a feature to run parallel training in different formats that should include visuals as well. So that it serves the diversity in learning.
To what extent the platform can be customized?
Based on your preferences an LMS should be identifiable with your own business. For this, you would need customization so that you personalize the platform to make it appear as your own. One such feature that can be helpful in this is White-labeling.
How frequently do they bring the updates?
An LMS should be dynamic. As your business would grow you would need a lot more new features. Your vendor should be in a position to enrich the platform with time to serve you better.
Can they provide business-specific features?
There can be some specific features that you would want to be there in the LMS. These specific features might not be there in the LMS at the given time. But look at how willing is your vendor to serve your needs by adding the desired feature in the LMS.
What are the services that would be made available?
Look at the services that you would be getting in exchange. For example, Customer support, maintenance, updates, etc. If the services are not being provided by your vendor then you would have to hire technical experts to manage the platform and that would add to the cost. So it is always good to have post-purchase services.
What are their pricing models and what all does it include?
Check out the different pricing models, such as subscription model, user-based model, etc. Analyze all and see which would suit your industry better. Also, look for what are the things that are included in the price that is to be paid. Whether the service, updates, maintenance, etc costs are included or not. This would help you get the real cost.
Posing these questions to your vendors would get you a lot more clarity. And based on the quotes that you receive from the vendors you will be in a better position to judge and decide on the desirable LMS.
