Is investing in an LMS the best option for your organisation? Can you really recoup the cost and achieve your training objectives? In this article, I’ll explore the top LMS use cases and the benefits a new Learning Management System brings to each.
Is An LMS Worth The Investment? 9 Top LMS Use Cases To Consider
Many organisations are reluctant to make the switch from traditional to online training because they aren’t sure if it will deliver maximum ROI. Finding an LMS that allows them to develop, deliver, and monitor their L&D initiatives requires a significant amount of research and resources.
However, there are more applications for Learning Management Systems that you may not have even considered. Applications that can help you make a better business case for stakeholders and emphasise the benefits that a new system can provide.
Here are 9 top LMS use cases that you may want to consider when deciding whether an LMS is worth the investment.
1. Academic
The world of Academia often uses LMS solutions to implement blended learning strategies. Students attend live ILT sessions, followed by online self-studies such as participating in virtual simulations or branching scenarios that show them how the subject matter ties into real-world applications.
An LMS also gives online learners the power to brush up on skills and expand their knowledge on their own time instead of waiting until the next classroom session to bridge gaps.
2. Channel Training
A Learning Management System allows you to deploy training to external sales channels and other partners who represent your brand.
Thereby, improving their satisfaction and increasing your organisation’s profits. For example, you can provide product knowledge online training resources so that your sales team knows the features and benefits. Then your sales employees pass this information along to consumers so that they can make a better-informed buying decision.
3. Extended Enterprise
Sales teams aren’t the only ones who benefit from Learning Management Systems. Franchisees, vendors, and consumers can also access online training resources to build brand awareness.
For instance, customers are able to watch demo videos when they’re on the fence about purchasing your latest product while franchisees can access crucial compliance resources to avoid penalties and accurately reflect your brand image.
4. Compliance Training
Rules, regulations, and company policies are a vital part of your online training strategy. Employees need to stay up to date with the latest compliance protocols in order to avoid costly fines and ensure everyone’s safety.
An LMS can help you deploy compliance online training courses for your worldwide workforce, as well as keep accurate records in case you’re ever audited.
5. Customer Training
There’s a subsection of extended enterprise LMS platforms that are specifically designed for customer training. They may even feature gamification support so that you can launch a loyalty rewards program.
For example, customers earn special bonuses when they complete your product knowledge online training course. Providing ongoing support resources to your consumer base increases the likelihood of repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising.
6. Continuing Education
Whether it be college, trade school, or one-off workshops, an LMS can help you provide continuing education to online learners. You have the ability to track individual/group performance, send out automatic notifications, and create personalised paths.
All of which helps you provide more effective eLearning experiences to your global audience. In the case of eCommerce continuing education, an LMS can have a significant impact on your bottom line as you’re able to provide immediate access to online training resources, which boosts sign-ups.
And you can monitor every aspect of your online training program to pinpoint areas for improvement that may be hindering your sales stats.
7. Employee Training
Employee training and professional development are two of the most popular use cases for Learning Management Systems.
Organisations large and small have the ability to develop and deploy online training resources for their geographically dispersed staff. This leads to better on-the-job performance, increased employee satisfaction, and better retention rates.
As such, they get more from their online training investment and hold on their top performers instead of having to invest more resources into finding and training their replacements.
8. Franchise/Dealer Training
Another off-shoot of the extended enterprise LMS, franchisee or dealer training systems allow you to deliver product knowledge and company policy courses. In many respects, these partners are the face of your organisation.
Inadequate skills or knowledge reflects poorly on your image. Thus, you need to ensure that they have all the resources they require. An LMS enables you to deploy training across the board and launch online training certification programs. For example, compliance certificates that ensure your franchisees operate according to industry regulations and local laws.
9. Training Companies
Some organisations choose to outsource their training to third parties who handle everything from development to reporting. And these training companies need a reliable LMS that can handle multiple projects/initiatives simultaneously.
For example, a platform that allows them to assign distinct user groups so that only authorised stakeholders have access to their respective dashboards. As a result, everyone’s user data stays safe and sensitive information is protected from prying eyes.
Investing in a Learning Management System may take a bit out of your L&D budget. However, it gives you the opportunity to deliver training to a worldwide workforce and eliminate virtually all costs associated with traditional training.
No more printed materials, instructor travel fees, or site rentals. Your employees have the power to access online training resources whenever wherever, while your organisation maximises workplace performance and improves ROI. Everybody wins!
Are you having trouble finding the ideal extended enterprise Learning Management System for your business? What’s involved in a successful extended enterprise LMS launch? Who can benefit from your new extended enterprise LMS? How do you find an extended enterprise LMS that falls within your price range and at the same time achieves the desired results?
Download the free eBook External Training 101: Everything You Need To Know BEFORE Buying Your Next Extended Enterprise LMS to find out how to choose the right extended enterprise LMS for your organisation, the available deployment options to consider, and how to get external partners excited and monitor their performance with an extended enterprise LMS
About Christopher Pappas
Christopher Pappas is founder of The eLearning Industry’s Network, which is the largest online community of professionals involved in the eLearning Industry. Christopher holds an MBA, and an MEd (Learning Design) from BGSU.
eLearning Blogger | EduTechpreneur | eLearning Analyst | Speaker | Social Media Addict
