Home » Training Software » What to Look for in SaaS Training Programs
These days, just about every software program you can buy is SaaS, software as a service. You don’t just buy Photoshop anymore; you rent it by a monthly subscription. The same is true for a lot of other popular programs, and the tide is turning across the industry. If you are looking for a good training program for your employees, you can expect that many of the top options will have SaaS models.
But just because something is offered as a subscription doesn’t mean it’s worth the monthly or quarterly cost. You need to do your due diligence with these programs just like you would anything else. Here are some of the top things you should be looking for in a SaaS training program:
Ease of Use for Fast Adoption by All Employees
Think about the last time you downloaded a new software program or even a new app. If it wasn’t immediately obvious to you how to use it, what did you do? Chances are that you got frustrated at a minimum and maybe even deleted the app or canceled your subscription to the program.
If you want your employees to feel good about the SaaS training program you have selected, it needs to be easy to use right from the start. They’ll feel more comfortable about what can already be an anxiety-inducing change process, and they’ll feel better about what’s to come.
Being able to easily start using a software program will also make your employees feel more confident and empowered, which will make them feel better about the work they are doing. Whereas if they feel insecure and incapable when they start using the program, they will be more apprehensive and negative about their work.
Always request a demo of any software program you are considering getting and test it out for yourself. You may even consider asking a few people to try out the program and give their opinions before you commit.
Ongoing Support and Regular Updates
Technology changes so fast that it can become obsolete almost as soon as you buy it. When you are trying to train your employees on new concepts, you can’t rely on outdated software. You need SaaS training software that is regularly updated to remain relevant.
Not only should the updates ensure that the software continues to work properly and remain secure, but they should also continue to refresh the information provided in the software. The latest concepts and strategies should be updated within the software so that your employees are always getting up to date training, no matter when they join the team or work on upgrading their skills.
Updates should be consistent, and they should be comprehensive.
Software should also provide ongoing support. If the updates are lacking in some way, a support team should be available to help troubleshoot or correct the problem.
Support should also be available to answer you and your team’s questions about how to use the software or get the most out of it. You should be able to reach a support person at any time and through a variety of methods, such as email, chat, or phone.
Flexibility Training Modules that Can be Taught in a Class or Used for Self-Guided Instruction
Everyone learns differently, and the best SaaS training software will be designed with this in mind, as well as the different needs of different companies. The software should have training materials or modules that can either be taught by an instructor in a group setting or that the employees can access on their own for self-guided instruction.
With this flexibility, you will be able to meet the needs of employees who have different learning styles or who are at different stages of their training. For example, you might lead group sessions when you are introducing changes, but then offer individual sessions when new employees are hired later. Or you might offer the individual sessions for those who were on vacation or had other conflicts with the group sessions.
Any software you choose should have this kind of flexibility. Ask for a demo, if possible, so you can see exactly what options are offered and how they play out in real time.
Ability to Add the Features and Materials that You Like to Meet Your Company’s Needs
You should have the ability to customize any SaaS training software you choose so that it suits your needs.
Primarily, you should be able to add the materials you think that your employees will need. You might want to upload manuals, training videos, glossaries, or other items that can be used as ongoing resources. You should have the ability to upload these items, as well as to determine where they will be located and who can access them.
You should also have the ability to add features to your software, such as webinars that you created for group sessions or slideshows. You should be able to host online “office hours” or provide other ways to contact you.
The more customization that the software offers, the better. You should be able to get exactly the features you need, and customization improves the chances that you will.
Variety of Plans to Ensure that You Get the Service and Pricing You Need
With SaaS training software, you do get the advantage of choosing the experience you want. Instead of buying a software program and just getting what you get, you usually have the option to choose a plan that best suits your needs.
Just make sure you are signing up for a program that has a variety of options.
Look for programs that offer plans that vary the number of users, the platforms it can be used on, the features (such as email users, cloud hosting, and more), the amount of support that’s offered, and more.
You will notice that the more features that are offered, the higher the price will be. However, you might be able to negotiate a custom plan that includes just the features you need for a price that better fits your budget. Always explore all of the options presented and then ask about custom options if you don’t see exactly what you need.
Use Your Training Software in Conjunction with Your Change Management Software
Training employees on new or improved processes can help your company grow and reach its next level of success. But you need to offer this training within a change management process that is designed to meet specific goals.
Using the right SaaS training program in conjunction with the right change management software will help you get the most out of your training so that you can easily meet the goals you have set for your company.
WalkMe is the best change management software in the industry, and it helps companies of all types and sizes implement change processes and meet their goals. WalkMe provides the flexibility and customization you need to manage your change process the way that works for your team.
