Questions To Ask A Potential Extended Enterprise LMS Vendor
Tie-breakers are a common part of the LMS selection process. There are a few top contenders on your list, and you need to decide which vendor is the best investment. It’s time to ask the tough questions and find a platform that surpasses expectations, questions that cover all the essentials, from ongoing support to pricing options. There are a number of ways to broach these topics, such as including them in your RFP or scheduling a one-on-one video conferencing meeting. Just make sure you bring this list to vet prospective extended enterprise LMS vendors and find the perfect match.
8 Questions For Vetting Prospective Extended Enterprise LMS Vendors
1. Does The Vendor Specialize In Your Niche?
LMS vendors cater to specific industries and training requirements. Is this platform intended for external partner training? Does it align with your use case? Though many systems are flexible enough to cover the basics, only a select few offer all the essentials. For example, advanced certificate management and reporting features help you track sales team performance. The vendor understands your industry's unique objectives and challenges because you are their target audience. They created the tool with your needs in mind and have carved out a niche space in the market.
2. Do Their Customer Support Services Meet Your Needs?
While some extended enterprise LMS vendors offer toll-free phone support with a trained specialist and 24/7 live chat, others provide more basic services, such as online FAQs and a limited training library. However, your team may not need advanced support options because they’re more experienced, or you already have a tech team who knows the ropes. Evaluate your team’s level of expertise to determine the ideal vendor support options. Then look for extended enterprise solutions that meet your requirements without unnecessary charges. Another option to consider is user forums to get tips and tricks from fellow LMS owners.
3. Are There Flexible Pricing Options?
Does the enterprise Learning Management System vendor have different membership levels or subscriptions? Flexible pricing allows you to choose the package that fits into your budget and project scope. For example, they offer a base SaaS price and charge extra for add-ons/upgrades to improve functionality. Bear in mind that free isn’t always better. Open-source systems may be free-of-charge, but you need a team of trained specialists to customize the coding. Meet with the vendor to discuss all the fees to avoid surprises. You can also craft an RFP to get a detailed estimate and decide which option is best for your budget.
4. Is There A Long Learning Curve Involved?
There’s always a learning curve when setting up a new extended enterprise LMS. However, it shouldn’t take a degree in rocket science to master the new features and functions. Does the new platform have an intuitive UI that’s easy to use? Can your team customize their dashboards? Are there vendor tutorials and video demos to help you acclimate quickly and maximize functionality? It’s usually a balancing act between feature-rich and user-friendly. The tool must have all the key selling points and align with your team’s skill sets.
5. Do They Offer LMS Integrations?
Combability obstacles can be costly. This is why you need an extended enterprise LMS that fits seamlessly into your software infrastructure. Does the system feature integrations so that you can pair it with go-to CRM and HR software? Can you blend it with PM and video conferencing platforms already in your toolbox? One of the most popular integrations for external partner training is SalesForce LMS.
6. What Are The Deployment Options?
Do you access the enterprise Learning Management System on the Cloud to streamline collaboration? Is it locally installed and self-hosted? Does the vendor feature a native app? You must also address the issue of remote accessibility. Can external partners download content and/or view it offline? Is it responsive so that partners can get the JIT support they need on any device?
7. Is There A Free Trial Or Demo?
Many extended enterprise LMS vendors have free trials so that you can test the tool prior to purchase. Others provide demos that feature all the key functions and give you a feel for the UI. At the very least, you should be able to view screenshots and video clips of the product in action. Ratings and reviews are other helpful tools to dive deeper into the user-friendless of the software.
8. How Does Their Product Stack Up Against The Competition?
Every extended enterprise system vendor should be able to point out their key selling points as they pertain to your business objectives to distinguish their platform from the others on the market. Specifically, software that caters to the same industry and use case. So, what sets their software apart? Why does it deliver the best value for money? How can it help you address existing gaps? This is more than just a sales pitch. They must be able to articulate the personalized benefits for your organization and its bottom line.
Conclusion
This isn’t a complete list of questions to vet prospective extended enterprise LMS vendors. Feel free to expand based on your training requirements, budget, and business objectives. You should also gather feedback from your team to pinpoint existing gaps and narrow your list of must-have features. Lastly, set up a follow-up meeting after the free trial to address any new questions that crop up during the test drive.
Invest wisely in an extended enterprise LMS with the help of our online directory. It has the leading platforms in your price range. You can even filter listings by use case, deployment option, and other key criteria.
