The 10-Step LMS Implementation Plan for TaaS Organizations

Discover a comprehensive 10-step LMS implementation plan tailored for organizations selling training. Streamline your learning management system setup, ensure smooth integration, and enhance training efficiency with expert guidance.

January 5, 2025

Preparing for the rollout of a new learning management system (LMS) might seem a bit overwhelming without the right roadmap. If you want to make sure your team hits the ground running, it’s essential to have a solid plan in place for implementing the LMS.
 
An LMS implementation plan is a strategic process with its own set of considerations, challenges, and opportunities. But when done right, it sets up your new learning solution to smoothly blend into your organization’s setup. This, in turn, results in your clients and users easily jumping in and enjoying the newly upgraded system.
 
Below, we’ll walk you through the essential checkpoints of an LMS implementation tailored specifically for Training as a Service companies. So if you’re monetizing content, training partners, vendors, customers or others keep reading! This checklist serves as your practical guide to navigating a successful LMS implementation.

1. Create a Tailored Plan for Your LMS Implementation

Taking the time to prepare a tailored plan is like having a GPS for your LMS implementation journey—a guide your team uses to navigate key milestones and contingencies. It’s not just about keeping an eye on dates but crafting a plan that can flex and adapt to changing needs and unexpected hiccups.
 
While we’d all prefer a smooth ride without surprises, having a flexible plan ensures we can navigate bumps in the road with ease.

2. Establish Effective Communication Channels

Ever wonder what can throw a project off track? Bad communication. So, before you start, identify your go-to people, whether they’re the tech gurus, HR heroes, or leaders steering the ship. Let everyone in on who these MVPs are. If you’re working with an external partner, you should clearly know who those main contacts are on their side.
 
Now, think about how your team talks. Are you using a dedicated collaboration channel, juggling project management software, hopping on regular meetings, or maybe a combination? Figure out what clicks for your team and stick to the plan. Remember, it’s better to communicate too much than too little.
 
Oh, and don’t forget the golden rule here: document, document, document! Every move should get jotted down in one standardized location so the whole group stays in sync.

3. Infrastructure Setup

Setting the stage for success means ensuring your infrastructure is primed for seamless scaling as you onboard new clients.
 
Start by carefully evaluating your infrastructure requirements. Pinpoint the anticipated number of clients and end-users, estimate the storage needs for your LMS content, etc.
 
Next up, decide where your LMS will call home—whether that’s on-premise or in the cloud. For Training as a Service companies, we highly recommend cloud hosting. It’s not only more scalable but often proves to be a cost-effective choice.
 
Engage your DevOps team early for this step. Pay special consideration to security, scalability, and monitoring. Create policies and expectations ahead of time so that the proper environments can be provisioned. These measures ensure that your system can adapt swiftly to changes in traffic and demand, maintain optimal performance, and keep costs in check. With the right policies in place, you can ensure that your LMS remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of your users.

4. Envisioned Client Experience

Before you start the implementation process, you should have clearly outlined the requirements and envisioned experience. Requirements are used to map out clear user journeys. These serve as your go-to guides for this step because you want to ensure the features and functionality that are being developed for your LMS are in line with your requirements and ultimately the envisioned user experience.

If you’re teaming up with an external partner, it’s important to ensure that their chosen development methodology aligns well with your company’s needs and preferences. While agile methodology is commonly utilized for its adaptability and iterative approach, it’s crucial to acknowledge that other methodologies can also lead to successful projects.

Ask for case studies representing similar solutions. Each vertical has pitfalls you and your partner need to be aware of. Document these and have contingency plans for them before starting the build-out. Make sure both parties are working jointly toward the same goal and are comfortable with the risks.

5. eLearning Content

Crafting a winning strategy for top-notch e-learning content is key because that’s exactly what your customers are after. Now, content can mean different things to different organizations.
 
Maybe you’re providing a straightforward approach to completing mandatory training courses, while others are selling a more immersive, engaging learning experience. Maybe you have multiple offerings to cater to both audiences, which is great! Just make sure it’s very clear how the new LMS will assist in creating and managing your content.
 
If you’re working with a stellar content development team, your LMS should be their trusty sidekick, geared to simplify their workflow and make their lives easier. This lets them focus on producing high-quality content, no matter the type, while spending less time on administrative tasks.

6. Data Migration

If you’re making the jump from another LMS or juggling data from different corners, it’s crucial to guarantee a smooth and secure transfer of vital information. You’ll need to take a good look at what data you have and what needs to move to the new system. Here are some conversation starters to get your team thinking about what you might need to migrate over:
 
  • Users: Do you want to convert data only from active users or both inactive and active? How do you distinguish between active and inactive users?
  • Completions: How many years of completed content do you want to transfer over? Are you going to convert learning that is in progress or have learners start over?
  • Compliance and Regulatory: Do any compliance rules mandate how long you need to hold onto data?
Opting for solutions that play nice with both SCORM and xAPI offers the flexibility and compatibility you need when migrating diverse learning content and resources from various systems during LMS implementation. Don’t forget to implement checks to verify that the data being transferred is not only accurate but also complete and reliable. This process can get complicated, so make sure you work closely with your LMS partner to ensure that the right checks are in place.

7. Integration Capabilities

To ensure a seamless training journey, compile a comprehensive list of essential business-critical apps and anticipate the integrations your clients will likely request.
 
For example, a vital integration for Training as a Service companies is the seamless integration of e-commerce platforms within the LMS, such as Shopify. These integrations help provide flexible payment methods, improve the user experience, and drive more efficient sales management processes.
 
Having these integrations ready to roll will make it simple for your LMS to become the center of your learning ecosystem for your clients and end-users. It’s important that they easily immerse themselves in your training ecosystem, ensuring the adoption of the platform.

8. Feedback Loops

A lot of different people will be utilizing your system so it’s important to provide easy ways for them to provide feedback on the services and training content—this will help you continuously improve and refine your offering.
 
Internally, create special support spots just for your clients. Think of it as their go-to place for tech hiccups, important questions, and those customization requests.
 
Smooth, well-thought-out service—it’s the name of the game.

9. Testing and QA

Before taking your system live, final run-throughs of testing and quality assurance are non-negotiable. This phase allows you to meticulously comb through the system, pinpointing and resolving any issues before it reaches the hands of clients or end-users.
 
Reflect on step 5: Does the actual experience match the envisioned journey for your users on the platform? You should know exactly how your clients (administrators, content creators, etc.) and their end-users will travel through your training platform. From the first hello to support, and everything in between, it should all align with expectations. Any deviation from this should be addressed promptly.

10. Testing and QA

Finally, gear your clients up for success! Develop a smooth onboarding process to guide new clients while setting up their accounts and mastering the ins and outs of the LMS. This could involve hands-on training sessions or a curated playlist of ‘how-to’ videos.
 
Above all, ensure their initial interaction with the platform leaves a positive impression.
 
Arm your clients with marketing materials and additional onboarding resources to champion the system and your services among their end-users. This proactive approach will help foster widespread adoption of the platform.

How Can We Help You Find Your Best-Fit eLearning Technology?

We understand the importance of aligning technology and learning management solutions with your unique learner and business requirements. That’s why we offer consultation and partnership to determine the solution for your organization. Give us a call or schedule a meeting with us so we can discuss the specific needs of your organization and help you find your best-fit eLearning technology.
 
Above all, ensure their initial interaction with the platform leaves a positive impression.
 
Arm your clients with marketing materials and additional onboarding resources to champion the system and your services among their end-users. This proactive approach will help foster widespread adoption of the platform.

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