Learn More About Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
How to Buy Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
When gathering requirements for an LXP, buyers should consider their organization’s learning goals and how an LXP will help them meet those objectives. Buyers must evaluate which features are essential and which are nice-to-have. If an organization is looking for stronger learner engagement, for example, they would want to focus on LXPs that prioritize the user experience and on recommending the most relevant content for users.
Compare Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) Products
Create a long list
An initial list of potential time tracking solutions should include any LXPs that meet the company’s basic feature requirements. At this point, buyers should be aiming to get a sense of the features of potential solutions, such as recommendation engines, intuitive user interfaces, and analytics reports. Buyers should also determine their must-have features, which for LXPs, are likely to involve how the LXP sources and presents content for employees.
Create a short list
After a long list has been created, it’s time to look at each product in more detail to determine if it will meet the company’s needs and deserves to be put on their short list. This should include evaluating additional features of each product beyond the ones identified as essential to determine if that additional functionality would bring additional benefits to the company’s training programs.
Conduct demos
By the time the company is ready to conduct demos, buyers should have a sense of the features that products on the short list offer and be ready to evaluate how effectively those features meet the organization’s needs. Sellers should walk buyers through how the LXP sources content and show an example of how content will be personalized for each user. Buyers should consider the user interface and whether it appears easy to use, since a cumbersome interface might discourage employees from using the platform. Demos are also a good time to look at examples of analytics reports that LXPs generate on learning activities to determine whether the data is easy to understand and will provide a basis for making decisions about the company’s learning strategy.
Selection of Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
Choose a selection team
The selection team should include any stakeholders who might be using the product, including employee learners and managers who will analyze learning data.
Negotiation
After narrowing in on a preferred product, it’s time to negotiate a pricing package. Buyers must consider the pricing model of the software, such as whether the seller charges a flat monthly fee or, more commonly, charges a fee based on how many employees will be using the product. LXPs are often priced based on different tiers of functionality, so buyers should consider whether they can negotiate to add certain features in a higher-priced package. Multi-year commitments also create room for negotiating discounts.
Final decision
Since LXPs are likely to be rolled out across an entire organization, company leaders should have a hand in deciding which LXP will ultimately best meet the company’s needs. But the process should also incorporate feedback from other stakeholders who are likely to use the product, including employees and managers.
