We now reach the final step — the moment of decision. This is when you consider all the above factors and ultimately select the learning platform that helps you tick your boxes. Keep in mind that if you have analyzed your requirements and understood them well, the decision becomes much more straightforward than diving right into the platform-hunting process.

At this stage, you may also have a list of vendors and platform options that align with your criteria, meet your requirements, and boast a strong reputation in the market. Now is the time to keep a list of some critical questions for LXP/LMS vendors about the learning platform’s capabilities before you ultimately get the one that works for you!

Here’s a comprehensive list of LMS/LXP questions:

1. Budget?

In the final stages, it’s certainly not the best time for casual browsing. Your budget is a primary consideration when it comes to the ideal learning platform. It may be tight, and resources limited, making it understandable that looking at the pricing is crucial.

However, it is essential to recognize that learning platforms are a long-term investment. The features and capabilities enhance your L&D efforts. Hence, it is important to look at an option that need not strain your budget significantly, but should help you meet your goals, engage your learners, and supercharge your learning programs.

This is why you need to explore pricing strategies from different vendors. Invest effort in gathering additional information on the cost aspect before making your final decision.

2. Company Founder’s Background?

When picking a learning platform company, an important factor to consider is the background of the company’s founder. A founder/founders with relevant background bring industry knowledge, increasing the likelihood of creating a product tailored to user needs. Their experience should be an important consideration. Another area to focus upon is the founder’s track record for success since it impacts the company’s perceived credibility and potential for growth. Additionally, the founder’s passion and commitment can inspire a dedicated team, contributing to the overall success of the organization.

3. ‘Up and Running’ Time?

If time is not of the essence, this factor may appear less significant.

Otherwise, however, it is essential to understand the duration the vendor requires for setting up the platform, initiating reporting, and aligning with your other learning objectives.

4. Technical Expertise?

Next question to ask the vendor is do you have an in-house team specifically focused on creating online courses? If the answer is no, you might contemplate choosing a learning platform that provides additional technical and pedagogical support.

This support could be integrated directly into the platform as features or offered separately as supplementary resources and workshops, or possibly a combination of both.

5. Customer Support?

It is possible that navigating your learning platform is a bit of a challenge, especially in the beginning or even once you are set into the system. During such times, it is imperative to have a learning platform that offers solid customer support.

Pick a vendor who is known for great customer support. They should be able to assist you in troubleshooting issues and collaborate with you to find solutions. Best is to reach out to potential vendors and inquire about their approach to customer support.

6. Content?

You also need to evaluate the capability to offer curated content within a platform, how seamlessly you can integrate it with your own resources, and the user-friendliness for learners in locating that content.

Many learning platforms incorporate third-party content for learners. The key questions here is: Where are they sourcing this content, and in what manner is it presented to users?

7. Productivity?

Let’s conclude with what is likely the most evident and critical question.

Will this platform enhance the productivity of your team by saving time and automating administrative tasks? If the answer is no, it might not be the right tool for you. It is essential to gauge how much time you need to invest in the platform and identify areas where it can assist in freeing up valuable hours.

Creating an Effective Request for Information (RFI)

The next step is engaging with LXP/LMS vendors to initiate the RFI process in order to finally identify the learning platform that aligns with your requirements.

If you think starting this process is daunting, here’s a list of 10 key tips that will help you in creating an effective Request for Information (RFI).

1. Introduce your company.
2. Clearly state your LXP/LMS acquisition goals.
3. Define your organizational needs.
4. Specify desired LXP/LMS features.
5. Outline technical specifications.
6. Inquire about support and hosting options.
7. Request examples of past projects.
8. Include essential questions in the response form.
9. Ask for estimated costs per deliverable.
10. Provide a structured response outline for vendor.