An LMS(Learning Management System) is a tool that is widely used by organizations and educational institutes to manage their online training more easily. So, If you, too, are offering employee training online, then you must have considered an LMS or already used one.
Choosing the LMS that can make a difference to your training method and create more engagement for the learners is very important. Every LMS has some distinctive features exclusive to them. So, it is up to the course organizers to decide what features they want.
The best way to choose is by comparing the features of different LMS and reading the reviews posted by their users and customers. In this way, you can find out what could be the ideal LMS for your organization. “eLearning Industry” is a platform where you can find hundreds of top LMS reviews. All the LMS software on their website is widely used and highly rated. You can check their website to know more.
Now, let’s discuss how to conduct an LMS evaluation.
- Define your need:
A need analysis can be a great way to get started. Before starting an evaluation for LMS vendors, ask your HR team to identify the key needs they want to address through an LMS. Ask them what gaps they want to fill with the LMS.
Few questions to answer before going for an LMS:
- Key goals to achieve at an organization level.
- What target audience will it cater to?
- What kind of budget can you spend on LMS?
Once you have answers to all these questions, you will be able to make better decisions while choosing an LMS.
2) List your requirements:
Once the need analysis is done, it is important to understand the requirements. Try to categorize your requirements into: ‘must have’, ‘nice to have, and ‘not mandatory’. This will allow you to evaluate LMS vendors based on your requirements.
Ensure the vendor you choose has most of the features in the ‘must have’ category. You can compromise a bit on the other two categories based on various parameters like cost and your requirements. This process will help you eliminate the vendors that don’t match your needs and requirements.
3) Evaluate LMS vendors:
Search for LMS vendors online and read the descriptions and features they offer. Narrow down the list that closely matches your must-have needs. Have a closer look at the vendor itself. Pay attention to how long they’ve been on the market and who their customers are. Research more about their customer service and how quickly they resolve the issues.
You can also send out requests for proposals (RFPs) to the top-ranked vendors. This proposal outlines your specifications and how the vendor meets those requirements etc.
4) Leverage free trials:
Ask for a free trial or demo to know more about the tool. Ensure that you have your evaluation sheet and RFP response with you during the demo. Once you use different tools and experience their features, you can have a better understanding of whether to move forward or request the vendors for some negotiations.
In the demo, ask as many questions as possible and involve all the important key stakeholders in the process.
Conclusion:
Choosing an LMS can be a time-consuming task. If you don’t research enough on various aspects, you will have to go through the costly trial and error process until you find the one that aligns with your organization’s goals. Hope the above-mentioned sequence of steps helps you in choosing the right LMS for you and your organization.
