LMS Implementation Plan: 7 Things You Should Know

First, congratulations on selecting a brand-new Learning Management System (LMS) for your organization! Claps We understand the relief you’re feeling after going through the process of choosing the best LMS. With your new LMS sitting on your system, ready to be put to work, the next logical question is—what’s next?

How we wish there was a guide to help you navigate through the maze of LMS implementation! Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve put together the 7 crucial things you need to know before diving into the implementation process.

1. Prioritize What Courses You’ll Migrate

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when deciding what content to move into the new LMS. However, not all courses deserve the same priority. Here’s the thing—your users won’t care if you’re using a new LMS or an old one. What matters to them is the user experience, and that experience is largely defined by the quality of your content.

Before migrating, ask yourself these important questions:

• Which courses have the most enrollments or viewership?
• Are there courses that are rarely used?
• Are your courses compatible with the new LMS?

Based on your findings, decide whether the content should be migrated now, later, or never. This strategic approach ensures that your LMS implementation is efficient and focused.

2. Prepare for Filling Out Empty Text Fields

Your LMS is a blank canvas, and as the administrator, you’ll be tasked with populating it with user data, content, and course enrollments. This can feel like a mammoth task, but fear not—tools like Paradiso LMS make the process easier. You can upload users manually, or if you have them in an Excel or CSV file, you can import them directly.

The same applies to course uploads. If your existing courses aren’t compatible with the LMS, you may need a tool like Cognispark AI to create SCORM-compliant courses. Once your users and content are set up, you’ll need to assign the courses based on user profiles.

However, keep in mind that accurate data entry is critical. Incorrect data will lead to ongoing issues and administrative headaches later on. Remember, “Garbage in, garbage out.”

3. Gather Holistic Information from Stakeholders

An LMS doesn’t just serve the learning and development (L&D) department—it impacts multiple teams across the organization. Before you set up your LMS, take the time to gather feedback from all relevant stakeholders.

For example:

• Your IT team may need a list of certificate courses in their domain.
• The sales team may require insight into employees ready for leadership roles.
• Marketing might need data on employees with strong analytical skills.

By engaging with all departments, you’ll ensure that the LMS meets the varied needs of your organization, making it more effective across the board.

4. Keep Security Roles Simple and Tight

As the LMS administrator, you hold a lot of power—access to user records, course data, and reporting functionalities. It’s crucial to keep this power under control. To reduce the risk of errors or malicious activity, limit the number of people with administrative privileges.

At most, you should have:

• A super administrator who oversees the entire LMS.
• Specific group administrators for different departments or regions.

A well-structured security model with clear roles and permissions will keep your system secure and minimize risks. Remember, too much access for too many people can lead to vulnerabilities.

5. Develop LMS Audit Requirements

LMS audits are essential for tracking changes and ensuring that your system remains compliant. Whether or not you need an external audit, you should still establish internal audit practices.

Consider these questions:

• Who can grant admin rights?
• What’s the process for requesting system changes?
• How do you track changes made to the LMS?

Establishing clear audit requirements ensures that you’re always in control of your LMS and can quickly identify any discrepancies or issues.

6. User Experience (UX) is Serious Business

Your LMS must be intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly. But user experience isn’t just about ease of use for learners—it extends to admins and managers as well. A successful LMS implementation should cater to the needs of different user groups, ensuring a seamless learning experience for all.

To improve UX:

• Consult with your learners, admins, and managers about their needs.
• Launch a beta version of the LMS and gather feedback.
• Consider hiring a UI/UX consultant to help design a clean, efficient interface.

A thoughtful and customized user interface is essential for driving adoption and improving engagement.

7. Set Up a Core LMS Implementation Team

The success of your LMS implementation depends on the strength of your team. Even if your organization is small, having dedicated roles will ensure the process runs smoothly. Consider including the following roles:

• Social Learning Specialist: To integrate social learning features and facilitate connections between learners.
• UI/UX Consultant: To refine the user interface and ensure the system is easy to use.
• Content Specialist: To create, curate, and maintain course content.
• LMS Maintenance Manager: To handle day-to-day tasks, troubleshoot issues, and resolve user queries.
• LMS Audit Expert: To ensure that policies and procedures are followed, safeguarding your LMS from data breaches or misuse.

By assembling a strong implementation team, you’ll set yourself up for a successful LMS rollout.

Conclusion

LMS implementation is a critical step towards transforming your organization’s learning experience. However, it’s not without challenges. By considering these 7 key elements—content migration, user data entry, stakeholder engagement, security, audits, UX, and a dedicated team—you can streamline the implementation process and ensure that your LMS delivers maximum value.

Remember, LMS implementation is a journey, and with the right preparation, you’ll be able to navigate it with ease. Need help with your LMS implementation? Contact us now.