How To Evaluate Corporate Training Solutions Providers And Find The Right Corporate LMS
In Malcolm Gladwell’s 'Blink', he talks about the power of that instinctive, split-second decision. He covers case studies where it worked and tries to explain how that ‘gut assessment’ is developed. And while you can’t justify that thousand-dollar purchase by saying ‘it just felt right’, you can certainly apply those principles. In this instance, your criteria would involve tangible, observable factors. It can whittle down your list from hundreds to a mere ten, which you can further validate with free trials and deeper exploration. So, what are some of these ‘low hanging’ assessment checkpoints? Here are 6 ways to quickly evaluate corporate training solutions providers and find the right corporate LMS.
1. Industry Recognition
Almost every sector has its own internal awards these days. It’s a way of ‘game recognizing game’ and it raises overall industry standards. Some of these accolades are commercial, e.g. best-selling LMS or widest global reach. Some are more personal, such as best customer service or fasted implementation process. It could even be a metric such as the highest number of successful compliance candidates. Look through award listings and explore the LMS mentioned. There might be hundreds of these trophies, so you could zone into the aspect that is key for you. Do you value mobile access over sales volumes? Or attrition over franchising? Pick your priorities after which you can make your selection.
2. Online Reviews And Ratings
Ratings and reviews give you a general overview of what the vendor can provide and how they’ve lived up to expectations. Or where they’re lacking. As such, you can use these online recommendations, or warnings, to determine which corporate training solutions provider is a good fit for your organization. For example, you might think twice about a vendor with a low customer satisfaction score. Especially if you value CX and prioritize vendor support.
3. Language Access
I’ve already mentioned franchises but there are lots of other instances where language can be a barrier. You could be a global organization with lots of international branches. Maybe you’re launching a new market where the primary language isn’t English. This automatically excludes any corporate LMS that doesn’t have multiple language options. Again, the lingual format could be a factor. Do you want automated Google Translate type features? Or do you want LMS that has every section transliterated, including voice clips and audio by different voice-over artists? And are you willing to pay premium prices for the latter? That could dictate your choice of corporate training solutions providers.
4. Take Α Τest Drive Or Demo
One of the best ways to quickly vet the corporate LMS is to give it a test drive. Many offer free trials or demos that allow you to try out the tool before making your decision. Make a list of key features and criteria so that you know what to look for. Then invite your team to use the platform to develop a test project. This gives you a clear idea of whether the platform aligns with their skills and experience. If you have any questions at the end, set up a meeting with the vendor to discuss the issues and relieve any possible anxieties.
5. Assess Τheir Αssessment Οptions
For the most part, online training is an individual activity. Employees receive their training materials, then go through the course on their own. They dictate their personal pace and effort. However, when you’re training via a corporate LMS, there’s a little more oversight. The content expert may be in-house, so they can be approached with comprehension challenges. Or maybe the training is blended, now that you’re all in one physical space. Based on that, what methods are used to assess knowledge transfer? Do you want an LMS that has options for essay questions, or customized tests? Would you rather examine trainees in person, or via webcam? Whichever evaluation style you prefer, check your LMS has the tools to enable it so that you can monitor performance. That’s the only way you’ll be able to estimate if your online training program, and your corporate training solutions provider, is a success.
6. Scalability Οptions
Some LMS vendors who provide their services on the Cloud allow you ‘Up to 20 users at $$$.’ So, what happens when, over time, you accumulate 120 users? Can you get a discount if your employees are fewer than 10? If, at a later point, you require some functionality added or removed, how much more would it cost? Is it easier to just buy new LMS altogether? A well-run organization has a five-year or even ten-year perspective. Thus, if you plan to have a new outlet every year, look past LMS that have tightly managed user bases. It may be affordable now but will be a cash drain over time.
There are decisions you can mull over, like picking the right college. Then there are others that can be made more easily such as your lunch order. Of course, these quick-draw decisions can cost millions too so you need the right criteria. And the smart thing is to use them to narrow down your options, rather than applying them to your final decision. In terms of LMS, use factors like industrial awards and foreign language tools to trim your shopping list. You should also find out about scalability, and how knowledge is tested. With these four fields, you can narrow down your prospects. Then get even more specific as you trim it down to one.
Getting new hires into the flow of your work-place is an essential corporate undertaking. How can you be sure you get it right? Download our eBook Making The Case For Corporate Training Software: How To Choose And Implement A New Corporate LMS For A Healthier Bottom Line and discover all you need to know so you can choose and implement a new corporate LMS.
