Training new hires on company policies is often among the responsibilities of human resources (HR) professionals. Additionally, when onboarding new employeesa process that requires quite a bit of paperwork to be tracked and filed in a companys personnel tracking and benefits administration systemeach department within an organization may require new employees to complete specific training modules or certifications.

Learning is part of starting any new job, but for managers, creating a training curriculum from scratch can be challengingnot to mention time-consuming. Trainers must ensure trainees have all the materials needed to complete their assignments, while also continually following up to ensure that trainings have been completed. Add to this that many companies use a combination of paper, online and in-person trainings, and organizing the entire process can become overwhelming.

Online employee training software can help businesses better manage employees initial and ongoing training. However, navigating this software market can be overwhelming, with hundreds of choices available. To help you understand the market, weve put together this buyers guide. Heres what well cover:

Benefits of Employee Training Software

Online employee training software is Web-based, and thus, is easily accessible through any device with an Internet connection. This allows companies the flexibility to train employees who may be located in multiple locations, while also allowing trainers to collaborate on training materials in real-time.

The online nature of employee training software can lead to several other benefits for businesses, including:

• Standardization and organization of content. By housing all of a companys training materials in an online repository, trainers across departments in any location can view available resources and reduce duplications. This also standardizes filing conventions and ensures all employees have access to the same information.
• Better employee/trainer communication. Many online training solutions offer the option of discussion boards and trainer-employee messaging, making it easy for employees to contact their instructors from anywhere.
• Easier employee-progress tracking. Most employee training software allows trainers to view employee progress through assigned courses in real-time.
• Ability to train more employees. Since online training software can be accessed through devices with an Internet connection, that means training can easily be scaled up to include more employees than would be feasible using traditional, in-person training.
• Reduced training costs. Training software often includes teleconferencing functionality and the ability to upload videos, thereby reducing the amount of travel time if trainers need to train employees at multiple locations, and saving time by reusing lecture materials.

Common Features of Employee Training Software

In order to provide these benefits, online employee training software solutions offer all or most of the following functionality:

Content creation Allows users to design and deliver courses and assignments using tools included in the software, such as the ability to upload documents or videos. Certification management Users can track and manage certification programs for industries that require employee certification to perform specific job functions. Virtual classrooms Using built-in teleconferencing features, trainers and trainees no longer need to be in the same location; classes can be held virtually, through a Web browser. On-demand e-learning Content is easily accessible via the Web to employees with login credentials, and training can be completed at the individuals own pace. Advanced reporting Employers can use built-in reporting capabilities to discover how popular certain courses are, which employees have completed each course or even to track progress for entire teams or departments. Mobile learning Learners can access crucial content to complete trainings through their phones or tablets, such as course materials, quizzes or messages from their trainer.

Employee Training Software Pricing Structure

Online training software is usually priced based on two factors: the number of users, and the features you wish to include. The more people you have using the system and the more fully featured it is, the higher the price.