Learning management systems have come a long way, and today, there are hundreds of choices. With so many options, how do you find the right system that works for you? There’s no single option that fits all. You need to find the best-fitting LMS that suits your specific needs and budget.
Here, in this post, you can find a step-by-step guide to help you choose the right online course management system that works best for you. Let’s get started.
The Research Phase
Step 1 – Review your Current Tools
Before you start evaluating different LMS systems, you need to take a hard look at what you are using right now.
What are the tools that you currently use? Do they meet your specific needs? What are the challenges? What are the limitations?
Understanding your current tools and their limitations help you make the right choices.
Step 2 – Define your Goals
You need to ask yourself why you are planning to purchase an LMS. Do you want to cut down on manual training costs? Do you want to sell eLearning courses online? Do you want to ensure compliance? Do you want to improve the efficiency of your employee training programs?
Identifying your goals makes it easier to choose the right LMS that helps you achieve these goals.
Step 3 – Transferability of your eLearning Assets
You would have built content over the years. Creating well-made content is expensive and time-consuming. While choosing an LMS, you need to ensure that all your content and other eAssets can be readily transferred.
Look for an online CMS that makes it easy to integrate your existing content like – videos, webinars, PPT presentations, and more.
The Vendor Evaluation and Selection Phase
Step 4 – Evaluate Features
Visit the website of your shortlisted vendors. Check the features of their learning management system software. See if it matches your specific needs. Don’t look for an LMS with plenty of features. Instead, look for the right one that has the features that you need.
Step 5 – Check the Customer Service of the Vendor
An LMS is a long-time investment. You need to choose a trusted vendor who will act as your supported partner for years to come. Get in touch with the vendor and request a demo. This is a great opportunity to ask your questions and evaluate that overall service levels of the vendor. You must get the confidence that the vendor is able to understand your specific needs.
Step 6 – Customization
Even if you purchase off-the-shelf LMS software, you will have to customize it to suit your specific needs. Check if the vendor offers customization of the software to meet your goals and objectives.
Step 7 – Reports
Most LMS software offer reports evaluating the success/failure of your training programs. While some software offers automated reports, others require manual report creation. Check if the reports can be exported via Excel, PDF, and CSV. Also, see if it’s possible to customize reports based on different data fields.
Step 8 – Pricing Considerations
While pricing plays a crucial factor in your decisions, you should not look at pricing alone. Instead, evaluate the features of the course management system, the support you are receiving from the vendor to decide whether it offers you the most value.
The Purchase Phase
Step 9 – Do a Test Run
Most LMS software vendors offer a free trial period. This helps you get a clear idea of the actual working of the software. You can get your team members to use it and decide whether it’s the right choice for your business.
While testing it, make sure to load different sample courses on the software to see whether all features work as promised. This helps you identify if there are any issues with the content, UI, and other integrations. If you spot an error, get it clarified with the vendor. While testing, you are not just testing the online CMS, but are also testing the timeliness and efficiency of the vendor is responding to inquiries.
Step 10 – Deciding the Implementation Strategy
By now, you would have decided on your preferred LMS. The next step is to work with your vendor to decide the implementation strategy – you have to figure out the in-house tasks and other tasks that need to be taken care of.
It’s Ok to Take Extra Time
On average, it takes around two to six months to evaluate and choose the right LMS. Spending more time during the pre-selection phase will help you avoid frustrations and disappointments down the line. Make sure to consider all the steps listed above to select the best LMS for all your current and future needs.