7 essential questions to assess Training Management Solutions

If you work in the training industry, Training Resource Management System is a word you might have come across. It’s also quite likely, however, that your definition of what it does differs from your colleague’s.

This is the case for many learning technologies today, as the breadth of available solutions keeps increasing. But knowing what’s out there in terms of technology, behind the catchy names, can make the difference between a software that sort of does what you were looking for, and one that perfectly matches what you were looking for.

So how do we approach an unfamiliar technology? Where to start? In this context, asking the right questions is capital. A structured approach can greatly help in your analysis and comparison, and in taking you from your need to your ideal solution.

The specific questions will of course vary depending on the type of solutions you’re looking at. However, we can think of a common backbone which flows from the more general and strategic: What does this solution do? What business problems does it solve?, to the more precise and operational: Does it integrate with other software? What key criteria should I take into account when selecting a provider?

As an example, we have created a list of 7 essential questions to understand the Training Resource Management System. You can download the full article here, which includes answers to these questions and steps for further analysis.

1. What is a Training Resource Management System and what does it do?
2. What business problems can I expect to solve with a TRMS?
3. Who typically uses it? How can I determine if it will be useful for me?
4. How is it different from a LMS?
5. Do I need to throw away my LMS, HRIS or CRM? How does a TRMS integrate with other software?
6. How can I select the best TRMS for my organization?
7. What is the ROI of a TRMS and how can I assess it?

It's important to note that these questions do not call for a simple definition. Rather, they form a roadmap to help you situate the solution you're looking at, refine your needs, and determine the fit between the two.

So, how do you approach new learning technologies? Are you asking the right questions?