Since all commercially viable Learning Management Systems basically offer the same core capabilities … namely the ability to enroll learners (in-mass or based on criteria), launch SCORM-compliant learning content, track and report on learner progress, track costs and ROI, and manage all of the communications and coordination surrounding training efforts a logical assertion is that the cost of the LMS offering is a key differentiator. However, the current price compression trend continues in the market, with ‘per learner’ pricing now generally falling in the $20-$60 range where the upper range formerly extended to $100 or more. Consequently, two other key considerations are offered here to guide informed decisions relative to the LMS selection/purchasing process:
SPEED or time-to-deliver results there is a broad range of startup cycle times between and among the dozens of good LMS platforms on the market. As analyst Bersin & Associates stated in their latest annual study of the eLearning market”.
The larger Learning Management System providers’ own marketing collateral states the typical SaaS-LMS implementation takes 4-6 weeks to go live.” Given the almost paradoxical need for businesses to be highly responsive during highly unpredictable business cycles, and that one area of responsiveness is the ability to train quickly on new skills, procedures and/or best practices, it would seem that 4-6 weeks to get an LMS up and running could be problematic. The good news is that there are a handful of LMS providers that have streamlined their offerings to allow for a full implementation – including administrator training and regulatory compliance training – to occur in one week or less – and these providers should therefore be given major consideration.
