Your workforce plays a key role in the success of your enterprise. At a time when technology is constantly evolving, it pays to invest in continuous employee training to ensure that they are well-equipped to hold ground in an increasingly competitive environment. With this in mind, organizations across the world are investing in online training software to enable their employees to upgrade their skills and knowledge and increase their efficiency and productivity. 

Today, there is a plethora of online training software. But what makes one online training software more successful than the other? While the one you select will depend on your unique requirements, there are some best features that all online training software should have. 

In this article, we look at some of the features of online training software that are crucial to support your learning and development efforts.

1. Assessment methods and tools

Learning is different between adults and children. The latter may be prompted by fear – the fear of disappointing their teachers or being reprimanded by their parents. Adults, on the other hand, are more driven by rewards, or in other words, what’s in it for them. So they would want to review their progress in their learning journey. The online training software should have self-assessment methods and tools that allow your employees to test themselves and review their progress. 

Assessment tools also allow L&D managers to conduct internal surveys and interviews to collect feedback on the success of the training. And once the training is complete, they can use the tools to understand if the employees are able to meet customer needs successfully. So, select an online training software that provides a range of assessment tools and question templates, for instance, branching scenarios and simulations that allow learners to experience real-world situations, while also learning from their mistakes in a safe setting.

2. Reporting tools

To ensure that your L&D initiatives are effective, you need to quantify employee knowledge and performance at both the individual and the team levels. For this, you will need to identify the knowledge gaps and then align your online training initiatives to bridge them. To achieve this, the online training software you choose should include robust reporting tools that allow you to collect, collate, analyze, and finally visualize data. This will help you evaluate the final picture or derive insights.

You should also be able to monitor and review progress regularly. Some online training software, such as the learning management systems (LMSs) include automated reporting features that collect and analyze data based on predefined metrics to generate automated reports and send them directly into your mailbox. You can use these reports to track employee progress, compliance and certifications.

3. Scalability

Unlike classroom sessions that are both difficult and expensive to scale, online training software allows you to grow as you expand operations. Make sure that the training software is scalable and enables your employees to collaborate across geographical boundaries. The training program can be available on the cloud or mobile apps. When you choose scalable software, you will not have to worry about replacing it when your organization expands. You will also be saved from the troubles of going through the whole vendor selection and software implementation processes again when your training needs change.

4. Accessibility

It is not just important to create high-quality training material – you also have to ensure that your learners have ready access to the online learning courses at all times. Ensure that the online training software offers a centralized repository that your employees can access on the device of their choice, including their mobile phones so that they can brush up their skills and solidify their knowledge as and when the need arises.