The problem we know all too well
There are many learning technology suppliers out there. And we totally get it, it can be tricky to navigate and distinguish what might work for you.
We’ve all been there when an excitable sales rep introduces you to lots of shiny features described in endless jargon – and it just feels impossible to know what might work in day-to-day life.
Fundamentally, it’s all about going back to your core objectives. What does your business need from this Platform? What are your staff priorities for their learning experiences? How do you want to be supported throughout this process? And what does long-term support look like?
We believe a collaborative partnership approach is the best way to ensure you have consistent success with your Platform and you’re always using it to its full potential.
Top 10 factors to consider when looking for an adaptable Learning Platform…
We can support you with the solution!
We completely empathise with the challenges L&D teams have when choosing a Learning Platform. When we work with L&D teams, we ensure that listening is at the heart of all our discussions so that we can create a product that is truly fit for purpose. And that we prioritise providing relevant support.
- We aim to work with you to create a Platform that fits your objectives and business needs
- We support you throughout the process in the short and long-term
- We put the learner at the heart of everything with a focus on insights and impact
We are your learning partner
We don’t just provide award-winning platforms (humble brag!), we also help our customers build sustainable learning ecosystems that are designed for results. This means we provide a full well-rounded solution that has the resilience to support you through the ups and downs of running a business, all whilst supporting your staff’s training and personal development needs.
So, what are the top considerations to consider that you can’t afford to overlook when purchasing your Learning Platform?
1. What are your short-term and long-term objectives and priorities?
Sure, there are many off-the-shelf solutions that are certainly credible and may bring you some great results. However, now is the time to step up your learning and development approach and really give your staff something that works for them and feels personalised and appropriate for their needs.
We encourage you to get clarity on your short-term and long-term objectives and priorities before you undergo this process. What do you need to achieve in the next 6 months vs. the next 5 years? You need a Platform that has the capabilities to take you through this time period (and beyond). You also need a Platform that is both flexible and versatile for all your differing needs.
2. What are the needs of your learners?
Know your internal customers. It may seem obvious, but we always encourage our clients to ensure their learners are at the heart of all their learning experiences. Whilst your solution may be for the entire wider organisation, you also need to consider how individual learners interact with it. What are the needs of your learners at different levels? Do departments have contrasting needs? What are the requirements for Managers vs. entry-level professionals?
By understanding the needs of your learners you can ensure the solution is fit for purpose and delivers real value and impact.
3. Which features are a priority?
It can be all too easy to say yes to everything and to think that ‘more’ is best. However, we encourage you to think carefully about which features are a priority. Ask your provider lots of questions to work out what will be the most beneficial feature for you. Do you really need a big portfolio of features with some elements that will be neglected or ignored?
Often, a simple approach is best and can prevent overwhelm and will inevitably create a comfortable and straightforward experience for the learner.
4. How can you future-proof the Platform? Is it resilient/scalable for the future?
We realise that this is a big and broad question and a huge factor to contemplate. Considering this is a big investment, you and your stakeholders will need to ensure that the Platform you choose has the ability to advance as you grow as an organisation. With this, it will also need to have the ‘resilience’ to adapt as and when required depending on the challenges and needs you face as a business. Understanding the flexibility of your Platform of choice is paramount.
5. What do you need to measure and can the Platform do this?
This goes hand in hand with understanding your objectives from a short and long-term perspective. By understanding what you want to achieve, you can work out how you’ll measure the impact the Platform has on these achievements and generally how effective the Platform is. Does the Platform have the ability to measure the way that you need it to? What are its tracking and overall data capabilities?
6. Can your provider also be your long-term learning partner?
Ideally, we would recommend that you choose a provider that can offer you continuous support for as long as you are using your Learning Platform. A successful Learning Platform needs to evolve as your organisation does and this means you may need to improve or enhance the experience and capabilities along the way.
By having continuous support you will also ensure things are always running smoothly and you’re giving the best possible experience to your learners.
7. Can your learners have a personalised experience?
Increasingly learners are looking for an experience that works for them as an individual. For many training programmes, there won’t be a ‘one size fits all’ and you’ll need to provide multiple solutions and options for differing learner styles and needs. Does the Platform provide the opportunity to create a personalised learning experience for each learner?
8. Can the platform easily integrate with your team and culture?
This is a really important question and one that has many layers. There are many practical implications to consider here in terms of how you can onboard the new Platform and how readily staff can access it depending on where they are. But, there’s also a wider ‘culture’ question here in terms of how the Platform will integrate overall into your approach to learning as an organisation and as a business that wants to innovate and improve. A lot of this is about communication too and ensuring you have the right cheerleaders or learn-influencers to help pioneer the new Platform internally.
9. Is the platform accessible to all types of learners in their environment?
There are many accessibility requirements that you need to consider when adopting a new Platform. First and foremost, it’s essential to consider if the Platform can be accessed in different environments, across different devices and by learners with different access needs. For example, your organisation may have a mixture of desk-based staff and staff that are always on the move – so you need to ensure the Platform works for them in the same way so that everyone has an equal learning experience.
10. Is the platform flexible enough for your needs?
As touched on already, we encourage you to think about the resilience required from your Learning Platform. Of course, we can’t predict all the challenges that you might face as a L&D team or a wider organisation, but it’s important to know if the Platform has the capacity to adapt depending on the business needs. Perhaps you want to experiment with a couple of different approaches or do some internal A/B testing. Knowing your parameters and limitations is essential to future-proof your strategy and appease your (and your stakeholders’) appetite for diverse and new approaches.
Whilst it may feel like there’s a lot to consider here, we encourage you to take your time when you are going through this ‘checklist’ and to work with your provider and wider team to make sure you’re getting the most out of what you’re getting. The right Learning Platform can be truly transformative to your organisation and getting this right from the outset is hugely important.
The Learning Platform designed for results and designed for you
The Kineo Totara Talent Experience Platform is an all-in-one solution that is adaptable, scalable and an all-in-one solution for your entire talent development. Put simply, we provide one platform with multiple learning outcomes. It really is ‘The Ultimate Learning Platform’.
We know that developing, managing, and tracking training learning programmes can be overwhelming. Say goodbye to multiple elearning platforms and hello to one seamless learning and talent ecosystem. Our Talent Experience Platform is your all-in-one learning and talent experience platform, designed to get results.
Discover the game-changing potential of Totara’s Learn-Engage-Perform suite. Designed to work together seamlessly to bridge the skill gaps, revitalise your learning ecosystem, and set the stage for real growth.
Curious? Then get in touch with our team to see how we can offer you the 10 vital features you can’t afford to overlook!