7 tips to choose the right LMS for ILT

Providing ILT on a budget

One of the reasons many organizations are investing in a new PAYE is to reduce ILT costs. They want to do away with on-site events, travel expenses and printed materials. Thus, choosing a system that does not live up to expectations and puts it over the budget defeats the purpose. How do you know which LMS will stretch resources for ILT, improve employee engagement, and ease the burden on overworked instructors? Here are some tips to invest wisely and choose the best PAYE to support ILT without upsetting the accounting department.

1. Find a tool with built-in authorship

You may think this is the right step to cut back on features. That you simply cannot afford an all-in-one LMS for your ILT program. But many organizations can not afford not to do so. A system with built-in authoring tools eliminates the need to purchase third-party development software. It already has all the assets your team needs to create effective training content. Whether it is support tools for your instructor-led sessions or online training courses that pave a self-paced path.

2. Video conferencing support reduces ILT spending

A good way to include face-to-face sessions without paying the travel bill is to find an LMS with video conferencing features. Your instructors can offer live events from anywhere in the world and still give employees real-time support, or even set up one-on-one meetings with employees who may need a little more help to bridge those cumbersome performance gaps. Another benefit of video conferencing is the ability to convert live sessions into recorded training assets. For example, adding a webinar to your training repository or breaking it into bite-sized modules for your JIT library.

3. Responsive systems facilitate remotely accessible barriers

One LMS benefit that most stakeholders gain is the ability to provide training anytime, anywhere. Employees do not have to allow their questions to accumulate until the next scheduled ILT session or continue to repeat the same on-the-job mistakes because they have not perfected performance behaviors. Look for a responsive PAYE that is cell phone friendly and breaks down barriers to accessibility. It also means that your employees can access support tools during ILT sessions to improve on-the-spot understanding. For example, they watch a video demo of a task after the instructor has explained the steps orally.

4. Distinguish must-haves from luxury items on your LMS shopping list

There are certain features and functions that you absolutely must have to justify the investment, including the built-in authoring tools I mentioned earlier. Then there are others that might be nice to have but that do not fit your budget, or the seller includes them in the basic package but you know you will not use it. So you pay for fringe benefits that you do not really need. It is important to distinguish your must-have items from LMS luxury items. Compile a shopping list of the crucial features your new system needs to help you achieve your outcomes. Then create another one for the optional selling points that serve as transaction breakers. For example, you debate between two platforms and one delivers more luxurious features.

5. Robust reporting gives instructors analytical oversight

Reporting features enable instructors to delve deeply into employee performance, completion rates, and progress. They can not only identify employees who are struggling, but also improve their resume based on engagement scores. 85% of their employees get access to the POS task demo. So, instructors might want to cover this during their next face-to-face session, as there is obviously a huge demand, which usually indicates that something is missing from the ILT sessions and employees are filling the gaps online.

6. Invite your team to try before you buy

Those who approve an LMS purchase are usually not those who use the LMS daily. It falls on the shoulders of your L&D department and students. Therefore, they should play a key role in the selection process. Invite them to test drive the tool during a free trial or demonstration. Get their feedback afterwards to see what is missing and identify hidden fringe benefits. Can your instructors use a custom report generator? Can employees access a training library, or is the UI too complex? Can your L & D staff use built-in authoring features to easily develop content, or is it missing the asset library?

7. Use an online guide to leave no LMS stone untouched

There are far too many instructor-led training LMS platforms to choose from. And you can not sign up for every free trial or demonstration. There just aren’t enough hours in the day or testers on the payroll. However, you can use an online directory to start your search and compile a shortlist of LMS options. Start with your use case and preferred pricing model. Then go to the feature filter so you can identify which systems offer the best ROI. Check out the company profile to get a feel for their experience and specialization. Request more information to see how they can meet your needs and budget. Don’t forget to look at the overall rating, UX and CX scores before making your final decision.

Closure

Many LMS solutions focus on online courses only. However, a PAYE for ILT has unique features and functions to support instructors and employees. Video conferencing tools eliminate travel costs, while built-in writers give instructors a chance to develop their own content, or ease the burden on your L&D team (and the pressure on your company pocketbook). Use this guide to find an LMS that is worthy of your ILT without venturing outside your price range.

Which LMS meets all your selection criteria and delivers on your must-have list every time? Read reviews, narrow down the search by attributes, and compare your top 3 choices. Our free online guide gives you a chance to find the best LMS for your ILT program.

Download the e-book Merge Face-to-Face With Learning Tech: How ILT and LMS can bring employees the best of both worlds to blend modern technology with instructor-led training to achieve your goals.