How To Avoid LMS Implementation Failures

With more companies implementing Learning Management Systems (LMS), challenges related to their successful implementation and integration into existing business processes, systems, and organizational structures become more evident. Throughout this article, we’ll examine why LMS fails and give tips on how to prevent it from happening again.

Lack Of strategy

You should understand that an LMS is merely a tool. The program won’t solve every employee training challenge your company faces. Regardless of whether you choose an LMS with great reviews or a lot of features, it won’t be effective unless you have a plan for it.

Solution

Ask yourself these questions before planning your LMS strategy:

• What is your purpose? Determine which issues an LMS would help with, such as improving training efficiency and improving employee involvement.
• Who is the target audience? Consider employee competency in technology and the company’s commitment.
• If you take on the program, what management methods will be in place? You need to consider your marketing, administrative support, course participation, and ROI.

No Transition Plan

A transition plan is different from a general strategy. The transition plan is for learners to move from an instructor-led program to an online program. LMS adoption is hindered by the inability to integrate with multiple environments.

Solution

The transition to a modern LMS is more than just using traditional methods. Also, you must:

• Create digital content: Instead of just including slide shows in your eLearning course, make them digitally engaging. 
• Encourage interaction: Hold periodic online sessions where instructors and learners can interact. This will ensure they are on the same page.

A User-Unfriendly LMS

Many people discuss the need for top-of-the-line LMS monitoring that sacrifices user experience. Having a poor experience with learning technology can also adversely affect satisfaction with it. Simply put, learners are less likely to use an LMS that is hard to understand.

Solution

Make use of demos or free trials provided by LMS vendors to see how the platform may work for your business. Ask your employees for their input so you’ll know if it’s helpful to them and not just useful to managers. Read reviews as well to know for sure. For instance, look at Cloud Academy reviews to get a sense of its benefits.

Limited integration

Your LMS demo or onboarding process may have gone smoothly, but the vendor may have strictly supervised the whole process. When your company just begins using an LMS, such supervision may be of benefit. But in the long run, you might feel restricted if the vendor still controls most aspects of your LMS.

Solution

Make sure your LMS vendor gives you complete control over how you want to use it. It would be easier to implement the LMS if it could be integrated with current systems rather than having to recreate everything from scratch based on the vendor’s specifications. Among the possible supporting platforms are HR applications, content management systems, and specialized solutions.

Customer Support

An LMS implementation’s success depends largely on its after-sales service, particularly for new users. A purchase of an LMS requires consideration of two different groups of users. One is the learner, and the other is the platform administrator. An LMS’s features may not be used to their fullest capacity unless you know how to support your users.

Solution

Make sure the solution you’re considering offers great support, for both learners and administrators. Even companies without a tech team can run successful online training programs with customer support. If you pick the right LMS for your learners, it should feature multiple contact methods, resources, a help desk, multilingual support, and contact information.

Lack Of Communication

Communication is a crucial part of the initial transition to eLearning, both internally and with your LMS vendor.

Communication is key to successful implementation. You sabotage your chances of success if you fail to communicate your objectives to your vendors.

Solution

• Ensure your vendor knows your goals: If you want to succeed, you must inform the vendor about your objectives.
• Pay attention to employee input: Take the time to talk with your managers. They have a better sense of the goals you want to reach.

Unrealistic Expectations

Choosing the right LMS may not be the answer to all your business problems. A budget or staff skill limit cannot prevent it from delivering results. There is a possibility of improvement, but longer-term improvements require more investment. Do not abandon your eLearning program if you do not see a significant return on investment immediately.

Solution

You should be the one who knows the strengths and weaknesses of your company as the owner. In relation to your abilities and those of your team, set realistic expectations.

Conclusion

Preparation is key to the successful implementation of an LMS. Your eLearning program should have a clear vision, a knowledge of which LMS is most suitable, and knowledge of the organizational capabilities. Then, only you can avoid LMS failure within your company.