Buying guide
Choosing a learning management system: questions worth asking
Feature lists all look similar. These are the questions that actually separate one platform from another.
· 7 min read
Who is going to use it every day?
The person who suffers most from a bad LMS is usually a line manager, not the buyer. Ask to see the manager view in the demo, not just the administrator view.
If a busy manager cannot see their team's outstanding training in one screen, the system will not be used.
What happens on day one?
Ask specifically how your existing people, historic training and certificates get in. Migration is where implementations stall.
Ask who does that work — you, or the supplier.
Can it produce the report you actually need?
Bring a real report you have had to produce, and ask to see the platform produce something equivalent during the demo. Not a screenshot: the live product.
How does it behave on a phone?
If a meaningful part of your workforce does not sit at a desk, mobile is not a nice-to-have. Test it on a phone during the demo.
What does support look like after go-live?
Ask who you contact in month six, what hours they work and how quickly they typically respond. Get the answer in writing.