8 Challenges That Can Be Tackled Using Training Management Systems

Most employee-oriented companies have a well-established Learning Management System (LMS) in place. The intention behind establishing an LMS is to offer eLearning opportunities to employees. However, with time, users and administrators found themselves performing several processes that were missing in traditional LMS and this led to the evolution of Training Management Systems (TMS).

Here’s a brief introduction to Learning Management Systems as this will help understand the function of the Training Management System better. LMS allows Training Managers to offer, track, assess and report eLearning content, both offline and online from a purposefully designed portal. Once eLearning content is uploaded, it can be accessed for use by learners or any authorized personnel anywhere, anytime.

Having understood LMS, let’s look at TMS. A training management system is also a software platform designed to offer eLearning courses but that’s where its similarities end with an LMS. A TMS covers a much wider range of functions and processes. It performs other backend tasks associated with training such as administration, running of courses, online booking for courses, sending out surveys, course analytics, etc. It can also be said that a TMS ensures the smooth running of a training program from run-up to actual delivery to after-course services.

A TMS helps overcome 8 key challenges mentioned below and is therefore considered to be an important investment for organizations.

• The need to maintain a separate LMS 

Many Training Management Systems sport a built-in LMS. This helps the Training and Development teams keep all training and learning resources in one central repository without working on a separate LMS. 

• The necessity to employ a CRM 

A good TMS also includes the functionality of a customer relationship management (CRM) system. This allows organizations to collate and derive insights for better decision-making right from within the TMS interface. It can also notify customers when courses are about to expire and point out courses that they may be interested in.

• The need to maintain intensive accounting 

A good TMS provides an accurate financial picture of training programs as it helps generate financial reports, invoicing and alerts when necessary. With the rising trend of discounts and online-only schemes, Training Management Systems also have a provision for generating and applying promo codes and vouchers.

• Spiralling cost of maintaining different softwares 

Since a good TMS includes the features of a CRM and LMS it means its much economical in comparison to maintaining multiple systems. Also, it helps generate a much higher ROI for training programs due to the same reason.

• Keeping track of Instructor-Led Training and eLearning

A TMS can help administer and manage both instructor-led training and eLearning simultaneously from the same interface. Hence, it’s the best choice for organizations that prefer to offer blended learning. A TMS offers the ability to monitor the resources and reports of both types of training separately to clearly measure training milestones.

• Limited sales of course content 

TMS can also be a sharp sales tool if used to its fullest. It can allow organizations to sell their courses online, send promotional emails to target audiences along with a direct joining link to the courses. The Training Management System also allows to showcase courses on the company website allowing users to evaluate the course before opting for one. Lastly, TMS can also have built-in functionality to sell online courses and receive payments securely.

• A drain of man hours in the training function

Since a TMS is a superset of the LMS it performs a much wider gamut of services besides administrating, monitoring and tracking eLearning and training sessions. It also streamlines communications, helps manage customer relations, send, collate and analyze survey results, manages employee records and sales. With an intuitive UI, a TMS can help  organisations effortlessly build complex schedules, assign trainers and resources, and track cost per session without spending too many hours.

• Keeping track of learning curves

An effective TMS has measurability built-in at every step. From measuring individual learner’s progress to online training certification completion rates, the reporting function of a TMS ultimately increases its utility. Not only this, but a good TMS also measures organizational learning goals. It can also provide micro-level metrics like success rate of tutors or resources. These metrics can help train and mentor learners more efficiently.

A Training Management System (TMS) is not just an eLearning platform but an end-to-end learning environment. As with all learning environments, it is a very competent tool to collate and present learning resources for learners within and without an organization. However, where it truly shines is in helping the Training Department of a company or a dedicated training services company operate it as a profit center.

With so many benefits a Training Management System is the most logical choice for eLearning companies and Training divisions of organizations. However, not all TMS are built equal. Hence, in-depth research is warranted before committing to any platform. Of the diverse platforms available today, Kitaboo can help boost engagement with remote learners by providing an intuitive and feature-rich interface while at the same time packing a punch by providing the most advanced LMS in the market.