Whether your current learning management system (LMS) is Bridge or you are considering them for your LMS provider, just know there are other choices. Your learning platform is a crucial component of your employee development program and you want to make the most informed decision. Here are some comments from Bridge users and reasons to consider Bridge LMS alternatives.
“Bridge doesn't offer many options for evaluation of training programs. It offers one 5-point Likert scale - which has remained since we started using Bridge three years ago.”
“No ability to organize the Learning Library- so all the courses dump into only one user screen. Limited ability to create trainings, and no ability to customize or time reminder messages."
“It's got a very corporate feel to it- which isn't bad if you are in fact a corporation.”
“Limited in the fonts sizes, highlighting and etc. for developing courses. Unable to load personnel manually while still using the CSV import. When a student is logged into Bridge and taking a course that has a sorting question it kicks you out of the program.”
“The reporting feature needs some improvement. We can usually get the information we want but not always the easiest to get to.”
What to look for in an LMS partner
Now that you know some of the reasons to consider Bridge LMS alternatives, the next step is to make the right choice for your company. Whether you are replacing an LMS or choosing one for the first time, you’ll want to ask yourself these questions to narrow down your choice.
1. What are your company's goals?
When you are looking for an LMS, you want to look over your company goals because these will dictate which LMS is right for you. For example, if your goal is to scale quickly, you’ll want a platform that can grow with you. Or if you are merging with another company, your goal may be to combine two different sets of learning curriculum. Whatever your primary goals are, make sure the new LMS providers list these as their key features.
2. What do you want your employees to learn?
This sounds like a simple one, but it depends on your company. If you have a large company, each department may need specialized learning tools. Or maybe you have a small team where the learning development goals are to all grow in the same direction. Either way, a winning LMS can translate into a more productive company. Make sure you take this into account when choosing a provider.
3. What do your course administrators need?
If you re-read the above reviews of Bridge, you’ll notice administrators noting missing elements. That’s why if you are looking at Bridge LMS alternatives you’ll want to talk to your LMS team first. Find out what features are most important to them in an LMS. Then only consider providers who will provide these needed benefits. And make sure the company you choose has superb customer support so you will be up and running quickly. And if your LMS team has questions along the way, they can easily get these addressed.
4. How is the LMS vendor’s reputation?
There are several LMS providers to choose from. Since you don’t want to overhaul your LMS vendor again in the near future, select one based on their ability to always stay relevant and up on the latest technology. Plus, you want one that is responsive. Just because an LMS is mentioned a lot does not make them the best option for your company. And if you are a small or mid-sized company, you deserve just as much attention as a larger corporation from your LMS provider. Make sure you choose a true partner.
5. Is SaaS the best option?
Many times companies choose an LMS that they install themselves. This may be more cost-effective in the beginning, but is not the best option overall and can actually be more costly in the end. You really want to opt for a SaaS version. SaaS will get you a dedicated LMS maintenance team and a company to house it all for you. Plus, set up will be a lot faster. And after all, time is money.
6. Do they offer a free trial or a demo?
Gathering a shortlist of LMS vendors is great and so is hearing about all their features. But in the end, it’s really about how well your company works with the product. That’s why it’s vital to take this process for a test drive. Choose a company that offers either a free trial period or one with a demo so you can get a good idea if this is a good vendor for you.
Bridge LMS alternatives to consider
Now that you know some of the reasons to consider Bridge LMS alternatives, what are the better LMS choices? We have pulled together five learning management systems that rival Bridge. Take a look at their key features, integrations, and what other companies are using them for their training programs.
Continu
Continu offers a versatile cloud-based interface and is one of the only LMS companies offering a blended learning tool for both online and classroom training. Their platform is easy to use, doesn’t overcomplicate the implementation process, and keeps up with changing technology.
Besides using Continu as an LMS, the platform is also a knowledge base or Intranet system which helps cut company costs and save time. Learning Tracks is how administrators create courses, facilitate onboarding flows, quizzes, and more. Continu is also an authoring tool which means companies can create training materials directly onto this platform without the aid of third parties.
Key features
Intuitive easy-to-use interface
Automated training delivers correct materials on time based on the needs of the individual user
Track assigned and completed courses
Tag content by national or international office locations
Manager dashboards, detailed reporting/analytics to track learning and engagement
Download, export and share reports
Mobile-friendly
Scalable platform
Integrations
Slack, Okta, OneLogin, HRIS (Workday, Oracle and others), SCORM, YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, Google Analytics, Open API
Noted customers
Dollar Shave Club, Eventbrite, Rue Gilt Groupe, Warner Music Group, GoPro, Slack
Cost
Subscription-based. Request a demo for more information.
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Blackboard Learn is a learning management system that is fully scalable. This learning management system features online learning, increased employee engagement, and optimizes learning for users. Some of the other key features include the ability to create knowledge, retain top employees through onboarding, and drive business to meet organizational goals through learning. Some of the newer features make managing content easier, an ability to personalize courses, better collaboration, and easier ways to connect with learners.
Key features
Streamlined tools for easy workflows
Designed for all devices including mobile
Personalized interactions that foster team learning
Easy to understand platform regardless of age or ability
Always offering advancement with no upgrades needed
Provides quizzes, assessments, and software simulations
Training can be offered outside company to partners
Can store, organize, and search training materials
Integrations
Moodle Learning Management System, Pearson LearningStudio, Sakai Collaborative and Learning Environment, BrainHoney, Desire2Learn, itsLearning, and Epsilen
Noted customers
University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army, ConocoPhillps, JiffyLube International
Cost
Contact company for pricing. Does not offer a free trial.
TalentLMS
TalentLMS is a cloud-based LMS that is SCORM and TinCan certified. Users can easily transfer presentations, videos, and other online material through their integrations. Plus, administrators can create custom domains, logos, and themes. If you have multiple locations, it can be adopted to meet complex company structures.
Key features
Course downloading when offline
Video conferencing
Advanced gamification
Analytic functionality
Collect and analyze surveys
Ability to sell courses
Available in multiple languages
Integrations
Integrates with services through Zapier. Native integrations with Shopify, Salesforce, WordPress, and GoToMeeting.
Subscription-based. Four plans dependent on number of users. Price ranges from free to $349 monthly.
Paycom
Paycom offers an all in one HR solution. Besides a learning management system, with their technology, you can hire new employees, pay your workforce, comply with regulations, and more. So Paycom streamlines the employment processes from recruiting to retirement. There LMS component is called Paycom Learning and offers a flexible app for on-the-go learning. You can also customize their software to fit the needs of your particular program.
Key features
Organizes employees in an org structure that can be used throughout the application
Enables users to create courses
Provides templates for course creation based on industry or role
Enables the design and administration of tests and quizzes
Enables for design of classes that are led by an instructor
Find important content or files using keywords, metadata, and tags
Has a centralized dashboard for users
Integrations
Integrates with Wisetail LMS and Aladtec
Noted customers
Burger King, IHOP, FCC Services, Grissoms JohnDeere, Oklahoma Blood Institute,
Cost
Call for pricing.
LearnUpon
LearnUpon is growing quickly as a viable option for learning management systems today. Why? Because customers love the easy setup, quick learning curve, and very responsive customer service. The other nice feature is its flexibility. LearnUpon can adapt to the needs of a small, medium, large or global corporation. Some of the key features are more than a dozen functions like course content creation, certifications, branding, gamification, eCommerce, mobile learning, and strong reporting.
Key features
Easy to begin creating content from scratch
Implement online exams, surveys, quizzes, and certificate programs
Can create various users groups and assign different roles for facilitators
Several reports for analysis
Great security with date backed up several times per day
Translate into several languages and also adapt messaging for each language
Support available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Integrations
Webhooks, Salesforce, QuickBooks, Shopify, Google Analytics, Stripe, LinkedIn, Twitter, PayPal, and more
LearnUpon offers several pricing tiers. The Bronze level is $399 per month, The Silver level is $799 per month, The Gold level is $1,399 per month, and the Enterprise you must call for pricing. There is also a free trial and demo with no setup charges or fees.
Setting up and using your new LMS
Now that we’ve given you five solid choices for Bridge LMS alternatives, it’s important to set your company up for success. Make sure you take these steps to ensure a smooth transition to using your new learning management system.
1. Build an LMS launch team
Who’s going to put your LMS implementation plan into action? Make sure you know who will administer and run your new LMS. You will need to build a team to manage your new LMS to ensure success. This will put a structure in place so that everything from your rollout to ongoing employee questions to system glitches can be handled seamlessly. In the early days especially, there will be a lot of questions from everyone involved.
2. Identify timeframe
It’s important to establish a timeline for your LMS rollout. In order to meet your goals and learning objectives, there need to be set timeframes for completing needed tasks. That way from the moment you choose an LMS to the time your employees are actually using it is not a lengthy process.
3. Have content ready at launch
When you launch your LMS, what will your employees be learning? Will you use pre-existing content or rely on LMS templates? If you will be rolling already existing content into this new LMS, make sure there is a point person working with your new LMS contact. Or if you will be creating new content using templates, make sure you start with a few necessary training tracks so you don’t slow down your training program during this transition.
4. Use a soft launch
Before you roll out this new LMS out to the masses, select a test group from your company for feedback. Since you have been working so closely on this project, it’s smart to get feedback from a third party of users. You can use this feedback to tweak your program before your official launch.
5. Plan LMS communications
Communication is key. You may have researched Bridge LMS alternatives and selected the best one for your company, but it means little without the buy-in from your company. Make sure you effectively communicate why you are using this new LMS, what the benefits will be for team members, and who everyone can contact for feedback and questions.
Finding and using a new LMS can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Use our guide to help you select the right partner and you’ll be on your way to taking your training program to the next level.
LMS RFP Template
Make the right choice today and get the learning platform that meets all your company's immediate learning needs!
Continu is the #1 modern learning platform built to help companies scale and consolidate learning. From training customers to employees, Continu is the only platform you need for all learning.
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