Employee training LMS maximization: 7 tips

7 Secrets to Maximize Your Employee Training LMS Trial Experience

From a vendor’s perspective, free trials are a premium marketing technique. In theory, they are high-quality and solid. Software companies know that customers tend to rush through the last three days of the trial period. Then, to relieve their guilt, they will buy the product anyway. Suppliers can see all this in their statistics. So how can you as a potential buyer avoid this homemade pitfall and get the most out of your LMS test drive? What can you do to insure your employee? training software trial period highlights the product flaws and emphasizes the profit-increasing benefits?

1. Use your list of features

While you were shopping, you probably had specific features in mind. Some were mandatory, others would just be nice to have. Use that list during your trial period. Give it to your free trial testers, by assigning them one relevant characteristic each. For example, you might be interested in ease of use, learning curve, reporting tools or asset management. Each tester should write (and present) a clear report on their findings. Contact your testers daily or weekly to avoid the last minute rush. That kind of procrastination wastes everyone’s time (and money).

2. Choose the right team

Some employees will use your training software more often than others. And each department will use a different part of the course. Their personal path depends on their job description or duties in the workplace. Provide at least two testers in each relevant area. And make sure the tester is familiar with their testing niche. For example, customer service and technical support agents can test call recording tools. L&D can test mobile content creation features. Accountants can test for invoicing, quotation and payroll. Warehouse workers, salespeople, and delivery teams can test for offline accessibility.

3. Reserve enough time

This may seem redundant as free trials are time-barred. It can be 14 days or 3 months. However, your testers have other office tasks to complete. So, for the duration of the trial, clear their schedules. Reassign their workload or reserve specific test hours. You can let them explore your training software after hours, paying overtime for the privilege. Or you can ask them to do it at home while you test the time tracking. (To make sure how long they were actually on the workout app.)

4. Keep lines of communication open

You want to stay in touch with your testers and with your supplier, so be reachable. Be an intermediary as the person in charge of the free trial. You can pass on the concerns of your employees to your supplier. You can include questions from non-testers and include them in the trial assessment. And by actively communicating, you’re also testing the software’s feedback loop, a pretty essential feature for any training product. Also ensure consistent communication. Follow up on questions and actively ask questions from employees, if they don’t arise organically. You might even consider making an appointment with the supplier after training your employees LMS Trial address concerns.

5. Cut across devices

Unless your organization releases universal phones and computers, you are likely to run into compatibility issues. So, as part of your test setup, discover the different types of devices actively used by your staff. Then test the new software on each – or at least a representative from each class. This can include operating systems (for mobile and desktop), phone brands, computer brands, and screen configurations. You can go the extra mile and test its suitability for users with different disabilities, less tech-savvy trainees, or unusual first languages.

6. Test against existing software

This part of your software assessment consists of two components. First, you want to see how it compares to your previous training software. Does it have all the features you need? Have important elements been omitted? Does it work faster, better, longer or cheaper? Is it an objective improvement over what you have now? Then the second level of testing is how well it plays with others. Will it fit into the additional non-training software you use in the office? Can they be merged into one system or is it comprehensive enough to merge software roles?

7. Make a list of questions for your free demo

Employee training software demos work a little differently. Usually you will meet a supplier representative who will show off the product and answer your questions. But you need to be prepared so that you make the most of your time (and respect theirs). Meet with your team to identify their current LMS pain points and what they expect from the new system. Questions should also focus on price (what’s included) and support services. As well as how the system is going to help you achieve your goals.

Improving your LMS software experience

Getting a free trial is a buyer’s dream. It convinces you that you made the right decision because the sellers let you play before you pay. But too many of us take that trial period for granted. We forget it, neglect it, and rush to finish it. How can this be avoided and a thorough, more rounded testing experience ensured? Choose testers in the department and assign each of them a relevant test section. Designate test time on their work day. Communicate openly and consistently – both with your supplier and with your testers. Check compatibility between gadgets, operating systems and tandem software within the company.

Find out which LMS vendors for employee training offer free trials and demos. Then evaluate user reviews to see how they perform in corporate training settings. U.S online address book includes the best employee training software solutions and highlights their pricing options. You can also sort results by satisfaction scores and see if they appear in the top 20 lists for UX and CX.

Download the eBook Is it time for new employee training software? Your guide to finding the right LMS match to make a strong business case for new employee training software and choose the best solution.