Jumping Ship: When To Switch Your LMS

By: Justin Ferriman May 9, 2017
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The grass is always greener on the other side.

No where does this saying ring more true than in the world of software. It seems that as soon as you sign-up for a software service your eye starts to wander and you begin second-guessing your decision.

If you are like most people then you eventually realize that the software decision you made was made for a specific reason and you commit to your choice.

Others like to jump around from solution to solution (only to eventually realize that the “perfect” software simply doesn’t exist). Trust me, even if you were to build your own solution you would end up continually modifying it. 🙂

But when does it make sense to switch?

I have found that many of my pre-sales conversations are with people who already have a learning management solution but are looking for a better alternative. For the individuals that ultimately do come to LearnDash they often have experienced a road-block with their current provider that has demanded a change.

While every scenario is different, below are five of the more common reasons why people go through with switching their learning management system:

  1. The LMS can’t adapt quick enough. Demands for learning change a quick pace and some software solutions are just too slow to accommodate these changes. This is often the case for closed-source software. If you can’t access the code then you are unable to make modifications that benefit you and better support your needs.
  2. Overpriced for what you get. This is a major reason for people eventually making the LMS switch. They find themselves paying hundreds of dollars each month for limited functionality (see point #1). Over time it becomes evident that you could have used that money to implement an open-source solution instead of being locked into the limiting one.
  3. Lack of support. Software is great but at some point you will need support. If you have to wait 24+ hours each time you submit a question then your learning program suffers because it can’t keep up with your business.
  4. The LMS lacks intelligent direction. Feature and functionality improvements are critical for an LMS to stay relevant. What worked five years ago might not work today. If your LMS appears stagnant in its development or is developing meaningless features, then it’s time to make the switch.
  5. Difficult for learners to use. If the user experience of the LMS is lacking then your learners won’t bother with it. This decreases completion rates and reflects poorly on your content. The technology you use shouldn’t get in the way of what you are teaching. When it does, it’s time to choose another platform.

There are certainly more reasons to move to another learning management system, but these are the main ones that I have personally come across over the years.

If you find that any of these reasons resonate with your own situation, then I encourage you to tell us more about your specific needs and we can help you determine if LearnDash would be a good fit.

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter