Whenever you are choosing an LMS, ensure you choose one that is the best LMS for your online training because there is no ‘one size fit all LMS’ out there.
In these articles, we have tips that will help you to choose the optimal LMS for your online training program.
Tips for choosing the LMS that’s best for your online training
1. Determine your online training objectives in advance
Firstly, you need to know why you’re using an LMS system, including your aims and objectives. With many LMS platforms out there, you need to narrow down your search to well-defined criteria.
Set goals that you want to achieve with the LMS. To do this, ask the following questions: “what are your core aims and objectives? What will I gain with the online training?
If you can answer these questions, you will have a clear idea of what you want to achieve.
2. Consider the skills of your online training team when evaluating the LMS
Assess the skills of your training team to know their strength. It will help you choose the best LMS that will suit your skillset. For example, if all your online training team doesn’t have the right expertise, you should opt for a more simplified and user-friendly LMS.
However, you can choose an LMS that will allow advanced options if you have a team of capable tech-savvy. Instead, choose LMS that will enable them to use their experience to solve problems.
3. Review your online training strategy
Review your current online training strategy to see what is working and what needs improvement. With this, you will be able to know if the LMS you are using meets up with the quality of your online training strategy.
For example, after reviewing your current online training strategy, you discover that the LMS does not support some of your training objectives.
You can opt for another LMS that can improve your online training course. Moreso, ask your online training facilitators for their honest opinion of your current online training program and LMS features.
These people will be helping your learners to utilize the most out of your training, so it’s paramount that you bring them on-board.
4. Explore the Market
You have already determined your aims and objectives and reviewed your online training program. Now, it is time to explore the market. You can start by asking friends and colleagues about the type of LMS they are using to solve specific problems.
If you are already looking to purchase an LMS and you know a person that uses it, it will be a great asset. The person will be able to tell you his/her experience of using the LMS. Review and rating sites will also help you to have an idea about different LMS systems out there.
5. Evaluate Vendors
Go through different vendors’ websites to see the LMS description. The purpose of that is to get a short-list of about 2-3 trusted vendors. Go through the LMS description to see if it has all the essential features of what you want for your training program.
Furthermore, you want to make sure that there aren’t too many features that you don’t need. Also, check how long a vendor has been in the market and their reputation.
You can find out about their customer support service. If a vendor doesn’t meet your requirement, you should drop them off your list.
6. Test the LMS
With guarantee and money-back, test the LMS of your choice to make sure it has all the features you want. Guarantees and free trials can last for 14-days. Make sure to check all the capabilities of the LMS.
Try out a few scenarios that you think you and your team could face during your online training program. Also, load the system with a host of training materials.
For example, if you are going to be using videos to train learners, load the system with as many course materials as possible – to see if it can handle it.
7. Choose an LMS
Now that you have tested 2-3 LMS, you should choose the LMS you think can serve you better. Make sure your decision is on merit. Don’t let your decision be influenced based on the vendor but only by you and your team.
For example, many vendors may want to entice you with a discount on prices or monthly payments. If you are serious about getting the best LMS for optimal use, don’t let the price be a major determinant while choosing the right LMS.
