Corporate learning platforms are vital to growing organizations, driven by increasing demands for employee development as well as client education and onboarding.
The average corporate employee receives 57-64 hours of training per year. Small company averages are up to 94 hours annually. Training Magazine.
Training efficacy has a direct effect on performance and employee retention.
Companies with strong learning cultures experience a 30-50% increase in retention rates because training contributes to job satisfaction and engagement.
Evaluating learning platforms requires a structured approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your organization’s strategic goals and workforce needs:
1. Assess Organizational Learning Needs
- Assess compliance and regulatory demands: For many companies compliance is critical. Ensure the platform can track certifications and completion of mandatory training.
- Define key learning outcomes: Clarify what you want employees to achieve through training (e.g., compliance, leadership development, sales skills, product knowledge, technical skills, etc.).
- Consider learning preferences and formats: Identify if your workforce prefers in-person training, self-paced eLearning, blended learning, live virtual sessions, or hybrids?
- Audience: Is the audience national, regional, or global? Are they internal, external, or both?
2. Set Evaluation Criteria
- User experience (UX): The platform should be intuitive and accessible for all employees, from entry-level to senior leaders.
- Scalability: Ensure the platform can grow with your company and meet future needs as the organization expands or changes.
- Integrations: Check if the platform integrates with existing HR systems (HRIS, performance management, etc.) and tools for analytics and reporting.
- Mobile compatibility: As more workers are on the go or remote, a platform that supports mobile learning is essential.
- Compliance and certifications: The ability to track and report learning outcomes for compliance purposes should be a key feature.
- Analytics and reporting: The platform should offer robust analytics to track engagement and completion, identify learning gaps, and determine efficacy.
- Security and privacy: Ensure the platform meets the company’s security standards, especially if it handles sensitive or proprietary data.
- Engagement: Does the platform employ passive or active learning methods?
- Innovation: Does the platform accommodate important technical innovations?
- AI powered personalization
- Microlearning
- Game-based learning
- Scoring, challenges badges, and challenges
3. Research and Shortlist Vendors
- Identify potential platforms: Research platforms known for meeting the needs of businesses of similar size and complexity.
- Request demos and trials: Reach out to vendors for product demos, ask for access to trial versions, and evaluate the platforms’ performance firsthand.
- Check reviews and references: Look for reviews from other companies, especially in your industry. Contact references to understand their experience with implementation and support.
4. Engage Key Stakeholders
- Collaborate with the IT department: Ensure the platform meets all technical and security requirements.
- Consult with department heads: Get input from leaders across the company to understand their training needs going forward.
5. Pilot Program
- Run a pilot program: Test the top 1–2 platforms with a select group of employees or departments. Track participation, completion, and user satisfaction.
- Evaluate pilot results: Assess engagement levels, ease of use, and training outcomes from the pilot.
6. Make a Decision
- Weigh pros and cons: Compare the platforms based on the defined criteria, employee feedback, and pilot program results.
- Finalize budget: Confirm the total cost of ownership and ensure it fits within your department’s budget.
7. Implementation and Rollout
- Plan for smooth rollout: Develop a phased implementation plan that includes staff training and communications about the new platform.
- Monitor and review: After the platform is implemented, track its performance and user adoption. Make adjustments based on usage data and ongoing feedback.
This methodical approach provides the basis for a thorough, data-driven evaluation that aligns the learning platform with your company’s strategic goals and workforce needs.
Download our Learning Platform Features Checklist and Learning Platform Evaluation to help with your evaluation.