The latest training management software (TMS) solutions are advanced platforms capable of managing the day-to-day running of your business. We’ve been in the game for more than 30 years and the technology has advanced immensely during this time. However, new advances also bring new challenges and some TMS providers have coped with these better than others.
The demands of training management companies are more intense than ever so the need for a software solution that streamlines business management has never been more important. You need a platform that solves problems day-to-day problems without getting in the way and replacing old challenges with new ones. In this article, we look at some of the most common problems you’ll encounter with training management software – and how to avoid them.
#1: Complex setups & technical issues
As software platforms become more advanced, they also tend to become more complex and this results in difficult onboarding and setup processes. Some training management systems can take weeks or months to set up, especially if you have to create or adapt your on-site infrastructure in any way. This isn’t so bad if the onboarding process runs smoothly but complex systems are more susceptible to technical problems – not only during the setup stage, but also the day-to-day use of your software.
With training management software being such a competitive space, a lot of TMS providers spend too much time competing with each other on new features when the overall quality of the product and customers service are more important.
How to avoid this problem
Choose a TMS provider that prioritises onboarding and customer support because it’s in their interest to ensure the setup process runs as smoothly as possible and any technical issues are dealt with swiftly.
#2: Lack of customisation/flexibility
This is a common problem with any large software solution, including a training management system. In fairness, customisation options and flexibility are challenging to design, develop and implement for software providers and here’s the real kicker: the more flexible a system is, the longer it normally takes to set up.
A lot of software providers try to minimise development and implementation costs as a profit-driving strategy and this isn’t necessarily a problem for simple software products. However, for a system that sits at the heart of a business (such as a training management platform), that doesn’t fit your organisation any less than 100%.
How to avoid this problem
Work with a software provider that has experience in the training industry and provides customisation services to ensure your TMS suits the needs of your business. Keep in mind that a lot of software providers have little or no experience in this field; they’re simply software companies that spot profitable market gaps.
#3: Poor usability
Training management software is a day-to-day tool that becomes the centre of business operations. Your team uses this system all day, every day – so you can’t have usability problems taking up valuable seconds or minutes on every single task. The whole point of a TMS is to make your company more efficient and you’re never going to maximise productivity if your software solution is too slow, cumbersome or unreliable.
How to avoid this problem
Pay attention to usability while using free trials or demos, looking at the speed of software, the number of clicks required to access key features/tools and the overall ease of use. If you’re struggling to find features or figure out how to perform essential tasks by the end of a 14-day trial, you have to question the intuitiveness of the software.
#4: Pricing pains – expense, complexity & hidden fees
Pricing is always a contentious point with subscription software but the golden rule (of thumb) is that a business software tool should provide 10X the value you’re paying for it. So, if you’re spending £1,000/month on a software product, it should save/generate at least £10,000/month in revenue for your business.
So, in a sense, as long as you’re making enough money in return, the monthly software fees aren’t too much of an issue.
Expense isn’t the only problem you’ll face with TMS pricing, though. You’ll find a lot of companies run complex pricing models across several plans and many lock you into contracts with cancellation penalties and other hidden fees.
How to avoid this problem
Choose a software provider with a simple pricing model and look out for no-contract options if you’re worried about getting locked into annual contracts and cancellation fees. Above, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into before you sign up and never let sales reps pressure you into anything.
#5: The master of nothing effect
With so many training management systems on the market now, you would think there’s an option for every type of business in the industry. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and many training businesses are poorly represented in this field – for example, there aren’t many quality options for smaller training providers (more on this in the next section).
There are many reasons for this lack of flexibility across the board but a key contributor is that many software companies (not only TMS providers) feel forced to try and dominate the market. In other words, they believe they have to become the top training management software provider and fight off any competition that poses a threat.
As a result, these companies naturally try to please everyone and create platforms that can kind of do everything, but actually don’t do anything particularly well.
How to avoid this problem
Choose training management software that meets the needs of your business and keep an eye out for providers that try to offer everything. Be sceptical of companies that use vague language and fail to specify the business challenges their software solves and the types of businesses it’s designed for.
#6: Lack of options for SMEs
As we touched on in the previous section, while there are plenty of training management systems designed for larger companies, there’s a lack of options for new or smaller training providers. For larger companies, a TMS primarily acts as a streamlining tool to make the business more efficient and sustain incremental growth. However, new and smaller training businesses need a platform that not only streamlines processes but also drives a faster rate of growth and scales with the company as you win more customers.
This growth role is crucial for smaller training providers looking to establish themselves as a key name in the industry. So you need a platform that streamlines operations, provides tools to grow your business and continues to meet your needs as your business grows – all rolled into one solution with an affordable starter plan and reasonable price increases.
How to avoid this problem
Choose a TMS system that places just as much emphasis on growth tools (automation, online booking, email marketing, accounts and finance, etc.) as streamlining operations. Look for a platform that strikes the right balance between pricing and features for an SME and check that the platform will offer enough features to continue meeting your needs in the future, as your business grows.
Is Dante the perfect training management software for your business?
Contact Dante Systems to find out more about our training management system and discover how we can help you drive more revenue and business growth by increasing the productivity of your workflow. Request your free trial with no obligation or credit card details required. Telephone: 0117 405 8158. Email: enquiries@dante.co.uk.