7 Tips To Estimate The Ideal Number Of Users To Get A More Accurate LMS Consulting

7 Tips To Estimate The Ideal Number Of Users To Get A More Accurate LMS Consulting
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Summary: Before you enlist the aid of a trained LMS consultant, you need to know how many users you must accommodate. This article features 7 top tips to estimate the ideal number of users and get a more accurate LMS consulting.

How To Estimate The Ideal Number Of Users To Get A More Accurate LMS Consulting

While some LMS vendors charge a flat fee or offer multi-tiered pricing plans with different features, many LMS vendors base their pricing on a by-user basis. Thus, you must have a clear idea of how many users will be using the system now and in the near future. Especially if you plan on getting LMS consulting or an LMS quote to simplify the selection process. These 7 tips can help you get a more accurate LMS user count in order to receive a targeted consulting recommendation list.

eBook Release: LMS Vendor Selection Process Made Easy: Tips To Use Free LMS Consulting To Improve eLearning ROI
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LMS Vendor Selection Process Made Easy: Tips To Use Free LMS Consulting To Improve eLearning ROI
Download this eBook to discover the top LMS vendor selection criteria and how LMS consulting can help you achieve the best value for money.

1. Verify The LMS Vendor’s Definition Of ‘User’

Different LMS vendors have different definitions of ‘users’. While some charge for each ‘active user’, others require you to pay for every user who’s enrolled in the system. Even if they don’t access the training platform for months. For instance, a vendor or sales team who only works with your company on a periodic or seasonal basis. To get an accurate LMS consulting, you must verify what they mean by ‘user’ and get into the specifics. When an employee doesn’t log into the system for a 30-day period, are they considered inactive? Or can you expect to pay for every user who signs up, even if they don’t avail themselves of the online training resources after onboarding?

2. Assess Your Current Staffing Needs

How many people do you have on staff right now? In the case of eCommerce or private education, how many corporate learners do you expect to enroll in your online training course this month? This quarter? Take a tally of the number of users who will access the system at launch, as well as those who may join your organization in the coming weeks or months. For example, you currently have 50 employees, but there’s another 20 to onboard in preparation for the busy holiday season.

3. Plan Ahead For Future Growth

You have an idea of how many users you need to accommodate today, but what about a year from now? Where do you see your organizational staffing needs by then? Do your forecasts reflect steady growth? Have you planned ahead for hiring surges during the busiest times of the year? The LMS you choose must, ultimately, be able to handle your evolving needs and scale with your organization. Instead of stifling your growth by limiting the number of employees who can enroll in your online training program.

4. Evaluate Active Vs. Infrequent Users

I discussed active users earlier, but there’s another category of corporate learners to consider: inactive users. These are those who sign up and only use the system sporadically. Or they never return. For example, external partners who are only with your company for a short time or log in on a yearly basis to refresh their memory. It’s true, online training should be an ongoing endeavor, but certain users access the system infrequently, at best. You must differentiate active users from those who only need temporary or periodic access. This gives you a more accurate count of how many users to state in your LMS consulting evaluation. For instance, you can find an LMS that offers minimal overage fees for those infrequent users. Instead of having to pay for them every month and waste valuable resources.

5. Consider Admins And Other ‘Behind The Scenes’ Users

Admins, eLearning content developers, and other key players must also be factored into your user count. Some LMS companies have special designations for these roles, while others consider them as active users. Even if they aren’t actively using the platform to train or participate in online training activities. Have a separate estimate for your ‘behind the scenes’ users and include them in your LMS consulting form just in case. It’s better to slightly overestimate than get an inaccurate LMS quote based on misinformation.

6. Consider Your L&D Budget

Of course, your budget also comes into play when estimating the ideal number of users in preparation for an LMS consulting. Let’s use the example above regarding the infrequent users who only access the platform once every quarter to renew their certifications. If you’re working with limited resources, it may be more cost effective to simply remove them from your user estimate. Rather than setting aside a large chunk of your already small budget for unnecessary active user fees, opt for an LMS that provides more flexible pricing and charges nominal ‘added user’ fees. However, if the LMS vendor does charge ‘exorbitant’ amounts for infrequent users, you may want to include them in your estimate up front.

7. Evaluate LMS Vendor Pricing Packages

Most LMS companies offer different tiers or packages depending on the number of users. For instance, the first package might include between 1-50 active users, including LMS admins and HR managers. For this reason, it’s important to evaluate the various pricing plans available to get an idea of their brackets. This gives you a better indication of how many users to include in your estimate and round off the figures. For example, you know that you have some leeway, if there are currently 20 employees on-staff and you expect to hire another 10 this quarter. Even if you expand your staffing size in the coming months, your LMS user count still falls below the 50-user cap.

Unfortunately, estimating the ideal number of users isn’t quite as simple as reviewing your current staff size and finding an LMS vendor that accommodates your needs. You must gaze into the future to find a product that scales with your organization, as well as verify the LMS provider’s policies and pricing options to find the best deal. This allows you to get the most from your LMS consulting suggestions and invest more wisely.

Are you ready to get your personalized recommendation list? In just 4 simple steps, you can receive your free LMS consultation to find a system that offers the best value for money.

There is still a lot to do to select the perfect LMS, but free LMS consulting can make the process a lot easier for you. Download our free eBook LMS Vendor Selection Process Made Easy: Tips To Use Free LMS Consulting To Improve eLearning ROI to discover all the secrets to successful LMS vendor selection, including tell-tale signs that it’s time to seek LMS consulting services and tips to vet LMS vendors after your LMS consultation.