7 Tips for Those Considering a New LMS

“While many pundits claim the LMS is dead or dying, surveydata show it is still the predominant learning platform,” writes Steve Foremanin a recent Guild Research report, Trendsin Learning Technology. He found that 98 percent of largeorganizations (defined as those with more than 5,000 employees) today use anLMS product, as do 80 percent of small organizations (those with 1 – 500employees). Foreman’s research indicates that overall, 86 percent of allorganizations use an LMS product.

Learning management systems have been fixtures in the workplacesince the mid-1990s, and L&D still values them because the LMS is astalwart partner for course scheduling, delivery, and tracking. However, Foremanfound that contemporary trends such as AR/VR,microlearning,and sociallearning are motivating L&D professionals to reexamine theirexisting learning platforms. Nearly a third of respondents to Foreman’slearning platforms survey say they are either considering, or in the process ofacquiring, a new LMS.

Foreman understands that it can be difficult to sort throughthe hundreds of options currently available in the marketplace. He is the authorof TheLMS Guidebook: Learning Management Systems Demystified(Association for Talent Development, 2017), a comprehensive book that can help L&Dprofessionals navigate the complex process of selecting and implementing a newlearning management system. He offers the following tips to those consideringa new LMS.

Seven tips for those considering a new LMS

1. Bestrategic. Many organizations let technology drive the decisions, but it’sreally important to have a clearly defined and clearly communicated learningstrategy that is aligned with the larger organizational strategy. Allowthat strategy to drive the technology decisions.
2. AskIT for help indeveloping a clear set of feature and functional requirements for the solution.They are experts at defining requirements and sorting through technicalissues.
3. Get theperspectives of all the different stakeholders who will interact with theLMS, and incorporate their input into your selection process.
4. Consider how your LMS technology fits into the broader technology infrastructure inyour organization. If you will need to integrate a new LMS with other systemsor tools (such as web conferencing,) you want to make sure there iscompatibility.
5. There isno one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to learning management systems.There are many LMS products available, and each organization’s priorities andneeds are different. Organizations must determinethe best fit for their unique needs.
6. Vet theproducts that are out there, narrowing it down to a short list. A new LMSrepresents a sizeable investment. Having a few possibilities will leverage morenegotiating power with the vendor.
7. Acknowledgethe learning curve. Conducting an LMS evaluation and selection effort istime and resource-intensive and requires due diligence. Reduce risks by doingyour research and/or retaining the services of a reputable consultant.