It’s easy to feel stretched thin when your customers need guidance on how to use your product, but finding the right tool to support that training seems like another challenge on your already full plate.
The truth is, without the right system in place, customer training can quickly turn into a process that leaves both you and your customers frustrated.
Customer education is critical, not only for onboarding but for building long-term success. A well-trained customer is more likely to stick around, understand the value of your product, and minimize the need for constant support.
But as your customer base grows, so does the complexity of delivering consistent, high-quality training. That’s where a reliable Learning Management System (LMS) comes in. It streamlines customer education, helping you manage courses, track progress, and improve retention – all without adding more to your to-do list.
In this blog, we'll explore what makes a good LMS for customer training, the key features you should look for, and how the right choice can reduce churn and make your job as a CSM a little easier.
We’ll also recommend some of the top LMS platforms to consider and how they can be integrated into your overall customer success strategy.
Key features to look for in a customer training LMS
When choosing a Learning Management System for customer training, it’s essential to find one that not only addresses your current needs but can also grow with your business.
The right LMS can help reduce the workload on Customer Success Managers (CSMs) while ensuring customers get the most out of the product. Below are some of the key features to consider when selecting an LMS for your team.
1. Scalability and flexibility
As your customer base expands, the LMS should be able to scale without adding complexity. You don’t want to constantly switch systems as your needs grow, so finding a solution that can handle larger groups of customers while offering flexible learning paths for different segments is key.
The LMS should be adaptable enough to cater to the unique needs of each customer group, whether that’s offering advanced training for experienced users or beginner-level content for new customers.
2. Integration with existing tools
A good LMS doesn’t work in isolation. It should integrate smoothly with your existing Customer Success software, CRM, and other tools. This ensures seamless data flow between platforms, allowing you to have a full picture of how well your customers are doing in their training without having to switch between systems.
For example, using a platform like Velaris, you can unite data from sales, marketing, and onboarding teams. This allows you to track training progress while keeping an eye on customer health scores, which can give you insights into whether a customer is fully understanding the product or struggling during the process.
3. User-friendly design
No one wants to waste time navigating a complicated system. The LMS should have a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy for both administrators and customers to use. A drag-and-drop builder for creating training modules can simplify the process for CSMs, allowing them to develop content quickly without needing technical expertise.
For end users, it should offer a smooth experience with simple navigation, ensuring they can easily find and complete their training modules.
4. Progress tracking and reporting
Tracking customer progress is essential to understanding how effective your training program is. A strong LMS should provide detailed reporting and analytics, allowing you to see which customers are completing their courses, which ones are falling behind, and where improvements can be made.
You can take this one step further by using software like Velaris to track additional metrics, such as customer health scores and engagement levels, which can give you a clearer picture of how training is impacting overall customer success.
5. Tailored learning paths
Not all customers need the same training experience. Tailored learning paths allow you to customize the training journey based on the individual customer’s role, use case, or product experience.
This personalized approach prevents customers from being overwhelmed by irrelevant content and keeps them focused on what’s most important.
With tools like Velaris, you can also customize the broader customer journey by delivering the right training materials at each stage.
Whether it’s onboarding new customers or helping long-term users discover advanced features, having a customized approach ensures everyone gets the most relevant training.
6. Branding and white-labeling
Customer training is an extension of your brand, and it’s important that the LMS supports this. Look for platforms that allow you to fully customize the branding, so your customers experience a cohesive brand message from the moment they begin their training.
White-labeling options ensure that all training materials reflect your company’s identity, which enhances trust and engagement during the learning process.
Selecting the right features is only the first step. Next, we’ll look at why implementing an LMS can make a significant difference in your customer training program and how it can help you improve customer retention, reduce onboarding time, and drive engagement.
An LMS is more than just a tool for organizing training materials – it’s a way to ensure that your customers are equipped with the knowledge they need to use your product effectively.
In the next section, we’ll explore the key benefits of implementing an LMS and how it can directly impact your Customer Success strategy.
Top benefits of using an LMS for customer training
Choosing the right Learning Management System for your customers doesn’t just improve their understanding of your product – it directly impacts your Customer Success strategy.
When customers receive consistent, high-quality training, they’re more likely to engage with your product long-term, reducing the need for frequent support. Let’s break down some of the key benefits that an LMS can bring to your customer training process:
1. Reduces onboarding time
Onboarding is one of the most critical phases of the customer journey. A well-structured LMS can streamline the onboarding process by offering organized and easily accessible training materials. This ensures that customers can get up to speed with the product quickly and efficiently.
2. Improves customer retention
One of the most effective ways to reduce churn is through proper training. When customers are confident in their ability to use your product, they’re more likely to stay with you over the long term. A comprehensive LMS ensures that customers have access to the resources they need to succeed, leading to higher satisfaction and lower churn rates.
3. Enhances engagement
Keeping customers engaged during training is essential for ensuring they retain the information and feel invested in the learning process. Many LMS platforms offer gamification features, such as quizzes, badges, or rewards, to keep customers motivated and involved. These elements make the learning process more interactive and enjoyable.
Using an LMS for customer training can significantly improve both the customer experience and your overall success strategy. But with so many platforms available, it can be tough to know which LMS will meet your needs.
In the next section, we’ll explore some of the best LMS platforms for customer training, highlighting their features and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
Best LMS platforms for customer training
With so many Learning Management System platforms on the market, it’s important to find the one that fits your specific needs as a Customer Success Manager.
Whether you’re working with a small team or a larger enterprise, the right LMS can make a significant difference in how efficiently you train your customers. Below are three top LMS platforms that are highly regarded for their usability, scalability, and unique features.
1. TalentLMS
G2 Star Rating: 4.6/5
TalentLMS is known for being simple and user-friendly, offering a straightforward interface that makes it easy to design, manage, and deliver training courses. Its scalability options make it ideal for companies expecting growth, allowing you to expand your training program without significant effort.
Key features: TalentLMS allows for customizable courses, supports automation for repetitive tasks, and provides excellent customer support to ensure smooth usage. It also integrates with other software, helping teams manage learning paths more efficiently.
Best for: TalentLMS is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized companies that need flexibility in their training programs without sacrificing ease of use.
2. Docebo
G2 Star Rating: 4.3/5
Docebo stands out as an AI-powered LMS that offers extensive integration options, making it a popular choice for larger organizations. It’s packed with advanced features that allow businesses to create personalized learning paths and generate detailed reports on customer progress.
Key features: Docebo includes personalized learning paths, robust automation features, and AI-based insights that help refine training programs. Its reporting capabilities are especially beneficial for tracking learner performance across multiple customer segments.
Best for: Larger enterprises that require a feature-rich platform with deep integration options and AI-enhanced capabilities will benefit from Docebo.
3. LearnUpon
G2 Star Rating: 4.6/5
LearnUpon is known for delivering scalable and easy-to-use learning experiences. It prioritizes strong integrations and reporting tools that give teams full visibility into their customer training programs. The platform focuses on providing a seamless learning journey for both administrators and end users.
Key features: LearnUpon offers powerful course customization, robust reporting tools, and integrations with popular software. This makes it easier for teams to create, monitor, and optimize their training content.
Best for: Mid-sized to large enterprises that want a scalable LMS with a focus on seamless and efficient customer learning experiences will find LearnUpon a great fit.
Choosing the right LMS platform depends on your company’s size, goals, and specific training needs.
However, the process doesn’t end with selecting the right tool – you’ll also need to consider how the platform fits into your overall Customer Success strategy.
In the next section, we’ll discuss some key factors to consider when selecting the right LMS for your team, ensuring that it meets both your immediate and long-term needs.
How to select the right LMS for your team
Choosing the right LMS for your team is an important decision that goes beyond just picking a tool with good reviews. It’s about finding a platform that aligns with both your current training needs and your future goals. Here are a few factors to consider when making your decision.
1. Assess your current and future needs
Start by evaluating your current customer training requirements. How many customers do you need to train, and what type of content will be most effective?
Next, think about how these needs might change in the future. Will you be expanding into new markets, or do you anticipate more complex training needs down the road? The LMS you choose should be able to scale as your business grows.
2. Prioritize ease of integration
One of the most critical factors to consider when selecting an LMS is how well it integrates with your existing tools. Whether you’re using a CRM, support software, or a Customer Success platform, seamless integration is essential for reducing friction and keeping all teams aligned.
When your LMS integrates well with the tools your team already uses, it reduces manual work, ensures consistent data across platforms, and helps everyone stay on the same page.
For example, if your Customer Success team is already using Velaris to track customer health scores, your LMS should be able to pull in that data to give a more holistic view of customer engagement and training progress.
3. Evaluate support and training resources
No matter how user-friendly an LMS may seem, there will always be a learning curve. That’s why it’s important to choose a platform that offers strong customer support and training resources.
Whether it’s a robust knowledge base, live chat support, or dedicated training sessions, having access to reliable support ensures that your team can fully leverage the LMS and resolve any issues quickly.
Make sure to assess what kind of ongoing training and assistance the LMS provider offers to help you get the most out of their platform. This will help you avoid disruptions and ensure that your training program runs smoothly.
By taking the time to assess your needs, prioritize integration, and evaluate support options, you can choose an LMS that not only fits your team’s immediate requirements but also supports your long-term Customer Success strategy. Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to implement the best LMS for your team’s success.
Conclusion
Selecting the right LMS for customer training isn’t just about making life easier for your team – it’s about driving long-term customer success.
The right platform helps you onboard customers quickly, ensuring they understand your product and feel confident using it. Over time, this not only improves customer retention but also enhances engagement, leading to more satisfied, loyal customers who get real value from your product.
An LMS that integrates well with your existing tools and offers features like progress tracking, personalization, and scalability will streamline the training process and give you deeper insights into customer behavior.
By investing in a solution that aligns with your current needs and future growth, you set both your team and your customers up for success.
Ultimately, a well-chosen LMS can make a significant difference in reducing churn, improving customer satisfaction, and helping your business thrive in a competitive landscape.
Take the time to assess your options, and choose a platform that will grow with your business while making it easier to deliver consistent, high-quality training to your customers.
If you want to learn more about Customer Success, check out our other articles.