Choosing a Learning Management System (LMS) that meets the required features within budget can prove to be a challenging task for both learning and IT departments. Today, an LMS provides all the functionality mandatory for academic institutions, businesses, and organizations to offer online training opportunities, accessible to users 24/7.
Every organization must adopt and use a bleeding-edge LMS which can enable them to quickly customize content for individual learners, along with helping the organization reduce associated labor and infrastructure costs.
Feeling stuck on the action plan that you need to do before you take the plunge? With a myriad range of products on the market, it’s obvious to get overwhelmed in selecting the right learning platform workplace that offers the right balance of features, functions, and versatility.
Here is a 3-step guide that will help you to choose a high-impact learning platform that will meet your organization’s requirements.
#Step 1 – Determine Your Organization’s Needs & Audience
With around 500+ learning platforms to select from, it is important to begin with well-defined search criteria. Needless to say, whether you are an LMS newbie or want to switch from your traditional Intranet to something new, it is crucial to understand exactly what the organization needs from an LMS, and how it will contribute in reaching learning goals and business objectives. To define your learning strategy requirements for an LMS, it is vital to analyze your user base and determine which devices & browsers that should be accounted for in your organization.
#Step 2 – Focusing on relevant features
Narrowing down the list of functions and key features needed will help create a shortlist of candidate platforms to choose from.
As part of this process, specifically how the system will ultimately benefit the audience from specific LMS features should be taken into consideration while looking into factors such as administration, and collaboration.
Customizable Interface – A tailored interface allows you to alter the appearance of the dashboard where end-users can access information, training materials, and tests. Customizing LMS can ease learner and admin engagement and deliver a better user experience.
Track, Assess, and Report – LMS reporting enables the learner to easily track their progression, the completion rate and score exam results with accuracy and as well aid the managers to access the employee’s performance score to check for gaps in understanding and conduct a corrective review thus contributing to a collaborative future-proof digital workplace.
Integration – Another useful feature is the seamless integration of the LMS with other important and related platforms like ERP systems, and user management systems This allows for scalable user experience, platform flexibility, and magnifies efficiency on the whole.
User-friendly – A platform that’s easy to use ensures saves time and energy for the various participants in the platform — such as trainers, learners, and administrators, thereby improving efficiency and making the whole process of using the LMS a positive experience.
Content Compliance Integration – To make sure the organization is using the best practices available, it is necessary to ensure that the LMS supports compliance with Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) and Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee (AICC) content and integrations which allows for porting of content and rules from other platforms, and keeps the cost of creation and usage manageable.
Channel Agnostic – The LMS should offer users continuous access to the courses irrespective of channel or device in use. For example, a user should start a course on a smartphone, and pick up the same on a desktop, without losing the continuity.
#Step 3 – Evaluating & Finalizing the LMS
Choosing the right LMS is not run-of-the-mill software which can be purchased from a vendor and then integrate all ties. Hence, after shortlisting the potential LMS service providers; it is best to go through their testimonials to understand the bigger picture of the pros and cons of your new LMS tool.
Once you’re satisfied with the due diligence with the company’s reviews, and support services, do sign yourself up for a demo to see the LMS in action and to understand how the system meets your audience and feature requirements.
Finally…
Choosing an LMS is indeed a complicated undertaking that requires a great deal of investigation, planning, and proactive change management & communication. However, when done right, it can help you better serve your audiences, promote your brand, and increase operational efficiency.
Remember, an LMS will only be worth the investment if you would be taking full advantage of its functions & features. Therefore, a successful LMS plan can lead to a paradigm shift!
