Evaluating An LMS for Sales Reps’ Needs
Your sales team needs training, which means you need a way to get it to them. But finding an LMS for sales reps is tough because not every LMS on the market works well for sales teams. Based on our experience and what we’ve heard from sales organizations big and small, here are six things to consider as you evaluate learning platforms.
1. Easy to use
From navigation to the organization of courses and every detail in between, a simple, straightforward experience is a must. With an intuitive platform, reps can access their sales training quickly and get back to selling sooner.
2. Accessible on demand
Reps need to be able to access training, job aids, and sales and marketing content from a variety of places--the car, a client or prospect’s office or store, a Starbucks, and so on. An LMS that’s behind a firewall and only accessible onsite from one location is a roadblock. A cloud-based platform, however, is not an impediment; it’s accessible where and when a rep needs it.
3. Works on smartphones and tablets
Reps also use their LMS on different devices. As use of mobile tech grows and more organizations implement Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, it’s imperative for a learning management system to work on smartphones and tablets.
4. Learning from other reps
Sales and social learning go hand in hand. Experienced reps have a wealth of knowledge and knowhow new team members can benefit from. For example, seasoned sales reps can share their most successful closing techniques. Discussion forums and other collaboration tools enable sales teams to share and save best practices that’ll help newer (and future) reps reinforce what they’ve been learning and build their confidence and skills. Collaboration tools also add to the convenience factor. Reps have the ability to ask and answer questions asynchronously.
5. Fast access to news and updates
Reps have a lot to keep track of—company news, product updates, campaigns and promotions, changes to training, and more. An LMS with built-in communication tools can help reps stay in the know.
6. CRM integration
Reps spend many, many hours in your CRM. Meet them on their turf. By integrating your LMS with your CRM, reps have direct access to their training in a tool they already use. Plus, with Single Sign-On, reps won’t have to keep track of yet another username-password combo.
The Best LMS for Sales Teams
Ultimately, when it comes to evaluating an LMS for your sales team, the big question is this: will this platform seamlessly integrate into my reps’ workflow? The most valuable learning management system will be the one that provides fast, simple, and convenient access to content, tools, people, and news.
