Understanding your Learning Platform and LMS requirements
Every organisation is different, so it’s critical that the learning platforms used are tailored to your organisation’s enviroment and specific needs. These are the more common types of LMS and Learning Platforms we specialise in:
Ground-up LMS Implementation
For organisations looking to build an LMS from scratch, ground-up implementation offers the highest level of customisation and control. These solutions are ideal for organisations that have specific requirements that cannot be met by Software-as-a-Service systems. A ground-up LMS implementation allows organisations to design a learning environment that precisely aligns with their unique needs, goals, and workflows. This approach includes developing custom features, integrations, and user interfaces that cater to the specific needs of the organisation and its learners.
A ground-up LMS is typically built using open-source flexible platforms like Moodle, which provide a strong foundation for customisation and scalability. Organisations can benefit from a tailored LMS that supports unique learning paths, specialised content delivery methods, and custom reporting and analytics. This level of customisation ensures that the LMS is an exact fit for the organisation’s training and development needs, providing a seamless and engaging learning experience for users.
2. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or subscription type models
SaaS-based LMS platforms are cloud-based, meaning they are hosted and maintained by the LMS provider. This eliminates the need for organisations to invest in and manage their own infrastructure, reducing the burden on IT resources.
SaaS-based LMS platforms are designed to be user-friendly and easy to implement, making them an attractive option for organisations that need a quick and efficient solution. These platforms offer a range of features, including course authoring tools, content libraries, user management, and reporting capabilities. SaaS-based LMS platforms are also highly scalable, allowing organisations to easily expand their training programs as their needs grow.
3. Existing LMS and HR systems integration
Many organisations already have an LMS in place, or need to use LMS platforms that are part of broader HR systems like Workday or SAP. Integrating an existing LMS with HR systems can be complex, but it is essential for ensuring a cohesive and efficient learning environment. Organisations that use integrated LMS and HR systems can benefit from streamlined processes, improved data accuracy, and enhanced reporting capabilities.
Integration with HR systems allows for seamless data transfer between the LMS and HR software, ensuring that learner data is accurate and up-to-date. This includes information such as employee profiles, training records, and compliance tracking. Integration also enables organisations to automate administrative tasks, such as enrolment, tracking, and reporting, reducing the burden on HR and Learning teams.
Organisations with existing LMS platforms may also need to upgrade or migrate to a new system to meet their evolving needs. Upgrading an LMS involves enhancing its functionality, performance, and user experience to align with current standards and best practices. Migrating to a new LMS platform requires careful planning and execution to ensure data integrity and minimise disruption to learners. Both processes are critical for maintaining a robust and effective learning environment.
4. Alternative content delivery solutions
Not all organisations require a full-fledged LMS. Some may prefer more cost-effective and flexible solutions for delivering training content. Alternative content delivery solutions include web-based content delivery and SharePoint integration, which provide a simple yet effective way to distribute learning materials without the need for a dedicated LMS platform.
Web-based content delivery involves creating and managing learning content on web pages, making it easily accessible to learners via the Internet. This approach is ideal for organisations that need to provide training to a broad audience, including remote and geographically-dispersed learners. Web-based content delivery allows for a wide range of multimedia content, including text, images, videos, and interactive elements, ensuring an engaging and versatile learning experience.
SharePoint integration is another alternative content delivery solution that leverages an organisation’s existing SharePoint infrastructure. SharePoint is a powerful collaboration and content management platform that many organisations already use for document management and internal communications. By integrating learning content with SharePoint, organisations can provide easy access to training resources within their existing framework. This approach is particularly beneficial for organisations that want to streamline content management and improve collaboration among learners.
Both web-based content delivery and SharePoint integration offer flexible and cost-effective solutions for organisations that do not require the comprehensive features of a full-fledged LMS. These alternatives provide a practical way to deliver training content while leveraging existing infrastructure and resources.
Our approach to Learning Platform and Learning Management System (LMS) implementation
The approach we take is also tailored to your organisations enviroment and specific needs.
A successful Learning Platform or LMS implementation is achieved through a series of well-orchestrated steps, each crucial to the overall outcome. Here’s how we ensure your LMS implementation is successful:
Defining clear objectives
A well-defined vision is the cornerstone of any successful LMS implementation. We begin by working closely with you to articulate your goals and understand precisely what you aim to achieve with the LMS. Whether your objectives include improving training efficiency, enhancing learner engagement, or streamlining administrative processes, we tailor our approach to align with your aspirations.
To capture the full scope of your needs, we conduct a thorough assessment of your organisation’s training requirements. This involves identifying the specific skills and knowledge your staff need to acquire, and determining how the LMS can facilitate effective learning experiences. We gather insights through comprehensive surveys and interviews, engaging both management and end-users. By analysing existing training materials and processes, we gain a deep understanding of the current landscape, which informs our implementation strategy.
Establishing clear objectives at the outset ensures that every subsequent step is aligned with your organisation’s mission and delivers tangible benefits. It provides a roadmap that keeps the project focused and on track, ultimately contributing to the LMS’s success.
Budget and resource allocation
Financial planning is a critical component of the implementation process. We assist you in determining a realistic budget that encompasses all associated costs, including software licensing, hardware, training, and ongoing hosting and maintenance. By outlining these expenses upfront, we help you avoid unexpected costs that could derail the project.
Our expertise enables us to optimise your resources effectively. We ensure that funds are allocated efficiently, avoiding unnecessary expenditures while investing adequately in essential areas that yield the highest return on investment. Additionally, we consider future-proofing your LMS by planning for scalability and potential enhancements. This foresight allows you to accommodate growth and technological advancements without incurring prohibitive costs down the line.
By making informed financial decisions supported by our guidance, you can proceed confidently with the implementation, knowing that it aligns with both your immediate needs and long-term goals.
Stakeholder engagement
Involving the right people at the right time is crucial for a successful LMS implementation. We help you identify key stakeholders across all levels of your organisation, from senior management to end-users who will interact with the LMS daily. Engaging these stakeholders early in the process fosters a sense of ownership and encourages buy-in, which is essential for smooth adoption.
We facilitate collaboration through meetings, workshops, and ongoing communication channels. Our approach ensures that each stakeholder’s needs and concerns are heard and addressed. By aligning expectations and incorporating diverse perspectives, we minimise resistance to change and enhance the system’s relevance to all users.
Effective stakeholder engagement also helps prevent oversights by bringing to light considerations that may not have been apparent initially. This collective input contributes to a more robust and user-friendly LMS tailored to your organisation’s specific requirements.
Establishing a realistic timeline
Time management is vital to keep the project on track and within scope. Together with your team, we develop a realistic timeline that breaks down the implementation into manageable phases. Each phase is detailed with specific tasks, milestones, and deadlines.
By segmenting the project, we can monitor progress more effectively and make adjustments as needed. This approach allows for incremental achievements, which can boost morale and maintain momentum. We factor in potential challenges and allocate buffer times to accommodate unforeseen delays, ensuring that the project stays on course.
A well-structured timeline not only aids in project management but also sets clear expectations for all involved parties. It provides a visual roadmap of the implementation journey, highlighting when key deliverables are expected and who is responsible for each task.
Risk assessment and mitigation
Every project comes with inherent risks, and anticipating potential challenges is essential for a successful implementation. We conduct a thorough risk assessment at the outset, identifying issues such as integration challenges with existing systems, potential resistance to change among staff, data security concerns, and compliance with industry regulations.
For each identified risk, we develop contingency plans that outline proactive measures to mitigate the impact should the risk materialise. This might include conducting additional training sessions to address user resistance, implementing robust data encryption protocols to enhance security, or ensuring that the LMS meets all regulatory requirements pertinent to your industry.
By taking a proactive stance on risk management, we help safeguard the project against setbacks and maintain continuity throughout the implementation process.
Training and support
Empowering your team to use the LMS effectively is crucial for maximising its potential. We provide comprehensive training programs designed to meet the needs of different user groups, including administrators, instructors, and learners. Our training sessions are interactive and practical, ensuring that participants gain hands-on experience with the system.
In addition to formal training sessions, we develop user-friendly resources such as manuals, tutorials, and FAQs to support ongoing learning. Recognising that questions and challenges may arise after the initial training, we establish a dedicated support team available to assist with troubleshooting and provide timely solutions.
Investing in thorough training and support not only enhances user proficiency but also increases confidence and satisfaction with the new system. It lays the foundation for high adoption rates and sustained engagement over time.
Delegation and team assembly
A successful implementation requires a coordinated effort from a competent team. We assist you in assembling an implementation team comprising individuals with the right skills and expertise. This team might include IT professionals, project managers, user experience designers, instructional designers, and representatives from various departments.
We clarify the responsibilities of each team member, ensuring that everyone understands their role and how it contributes to the project’s overall success. Clear communication channels are established to facilitate collaboration and information sharing. Regular team meetings and updates help maintain alignment and address any issues promptly.
Effective delegation minimises disruptions to your organisation’s regular operations and ensures that tasks are executed efficiently. It fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among team members, which is essential for meeting project milestones and achieving desired outcomes.
Evaluation and continuous improvement
Implementing an LMS is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that benefits from regular evaluation and refinement. We help you establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with your objectives, such as user adoption rates, training completion times, learner satisfaction scores, and return on investment.
By gathering feedback from users through surveys, interviews, and system analytics, we gain valuable insights into how the LMS is performing and where improvements can be made. This feedback loop allows us to make data-driven decisions to enhance system functionality, user experience, and overall effectiveness.
Continuous evaluation ensures that the LMS remains relevant and continues to meet the evolving needs of your organisation. It maximises your investment by ensuring that the system adapts and grows along with your organisation, leading to sustained success.
Why partner with Lucid for your LMS implementation?
Choosing Lucid as your LMS implementation partner means entrusting your project to seasoned professionals dedicated to your organisation’s success. Our extensive experience spans numerous successful implementations across various industries, providing us with a wealth of knowledge and best practices.
We take pride in offering customised solutions tailored to your organisation’s unique needs and challenges. Recognising that generic approaches often fall short, we invest the time to understand your specific objectives and constraints, ensuring that the LMS solution we deliver aligns perfectly with your strategic goals.
Our holistic support covers every stage of the implementation process, from initial planning and stakeholder engagement to post-launch support and continuous improvement. We are committed to excellence, prioritising quality and efficiency in everything we do. Our client-centred approach ensures that your goals become our goals, and we work collaboratively to achieve them.
Additionally, we are committed to transparency and open communication. We keep you informed at every step, providing regular updates and fostering an environment where questions and feedback are encouraged. This collaborative partnership ensures that the final product not only meets but exceeds your expectations.
Supporting organisations post-implementation
Our commitment to your organisation extends well beyond the initial implementation of your LMS. We understand that the true measure of a successful LMS lies in its long-term performance, adaptability, and the continuous support available to its users. To ensure your LMS remains effective and evolves with your needs, we provide post-implementation support and maintenance services tailored specifically to your requirements.
Our support model is tailored to your organsations needs, but will generally include multi-tiered assistance, ensuring issues are resolved promptly and efficiently.
For example, we can allocate dedicated support hours for post-deployment operations, encompassing various levels of expertise. Our Service Desk Level 1 acts as the first point of contact for all user inquiries, handling general troubleshooting and providing immediate resolutions to common issues. This team assists users with everyday questions and minor technical problems, helping to maintain smooth operations and user confidence in the system.
For more complex issues requiring advanced technical expertise, our Service Desk Level 2 focuses on escalated cases, platform optimisations, and in-depth troubleshooting. They work diligently to resolve critical problems that may impact the functionality of your LMS, ensuring the platform continues to operate at peak performance. Our DevOps support team adopts a proactive approach to maintaining your LMS infrastructure. They are responsible for continuous monitoring of the system’s performance, managing backups, and fine-tuning the platform to prevent potential issues before they arise. Their vigilant oversight safeguards your LMS against downtime and data loss, providing you with peace of mind.
Beyond technical support, we offer access to project leaders and business analysts who address stakeholder concerns, provide system updates, and gather continuous feedback to inform future enhancements. Their strategic insight ensures your LMS not only functions effectively but also aligns with your evolving organisational goals.
How does post-implementation support work in practice?
Beyond technical support, we offer access to project leaders and business analysts who address stakeholder concerns, provide system updates, and gather continuous feedback to inform future enhancements. Their strategic insight ensures your LMS not only functions effectively but also aligns with your evolving organisational goals.
Urgent issues involve situations where the entire system or a significant portion is inaccessible or severely impaired with no available workaround—for example, if the LMS is down and most users cannot access it. Urgent issues are attended to immediately upon notification, with acknowledgement and investigation commencing right away. We aim to provide a resolution timeframe within one working hour.
High-priority issues affect critical functionalities of the system without a viable workaround—for instance, significant reporting inconsistencies preventing administrators from relying on the data. Acknowledgement and investigation occur within one hour of notification, with a resolution timeframe provided within two working hours.
Medium-priority issues pertain to critical functionalities that have a temporary workaround or non-critical functionalities without a workaround, such as users being unable to rebook into sessions after cancellation. We acknowledge and begin investigating these issues within two hours, aiming to provide a resolution timeframe within four working hours.
Low-priority issues involve non-critical functionalities with an available workaround, like minor discrepancies in course expiry dates. We address these issues within four hours of notification, providing a resolution timeframe within eight working hours. The prioritisation and resolution timeframes consider factors such as the number of users affected, the impact on security or data integrity, the extent to which business operations are affected, the frequency of the issue, and your prioritisation of the problem.
Understanding that your LMS needs to evolve alongside your organisation to remain effective, we offer flexible support for LMS enhancements and improvements. Support hours can be utilised for administrative user support, additional training sessions, and addressing questions about plugins or new features. This approach ensures you have access to the expertise you need when you need it, supporting continuous improvement and user proficiency.
All LMS enhancements and improvements are carefully scoped and require your approval before development begins. This collaborative process ensures any changes align with your strategic objectives and budget considerations. We provide detailed proposals outlining the benefits, resources required, and timelines for each enhancement, enabling you to make informed decisions.
To manage varying levels of support activity efficiently, we offer LMS support packs. These packs provide estimated effort and resource allocation based on expected support activity, ensuring assistance is available when required without unnecessary expenditure. By maintaining a dedicated support model, help is always accessible, minimising downtime and user frustration. All support and maintenance activities are logged through our ticketing system, providing you with full transparency and visibility of the hours used and the nature of the support provided.
Support packs are particularly beneficial for managing activities such as participant queries, training requests, helpdesk enquiries, and meetings. By pre-allocating resources, we can respond promptly and effectively to your organisation’s needs. Importantly, bug and issue resolutions related to ongoing hosting are included as part of our standard services and do not require a support pack, ensuring that critical system functionality is maintained without additional costs.
Our comprehensive post-implementation support reflects Lucid’s commitment to your organisation’s long-term success. We strive to build lasting partnerships by providing not only technical expertise but also strategic guidance and responsive customer service. By entrusting us with the ongoing support of your LMS, you can focus on your core objectives, confident that your learning platform is in capable hands.
