Picking employee training and development software in 2024

Believe it or not, you can keep 94% of talent and boost your profit margin by 24% by training your employees well¹. That’s why finding the right employee training and development software is so essential.

Unfortunately, traditional Learning Management Systems (LMS) and employee training programs often fall short. These systems provide a one-size-fits-all approach to technical skills training. This is where Fingerprint for Success (F4S) steps in to assist.

F4S uses advanced AI technology to offer personalized soft skills training. This caters to the individual needs of your employees. The motivational assessment enables you to understand your employees' strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. This allows you to tailor their training programs and set achievable goals.

In this review, you’ll discover the best employee training and development software solution for your needs. Let’s start at the top.

What is employee training software?

Employee training software is a tool that lets you create, manage, and deliver training materials to your employees.

But it doesn't end there. The right software goes beyond content delivery. A good employee training platform or software solution allows you to track your employees’ progress, ensuring they are making strides in their development. These platforms will also show you what is working and what needs improvement in your training.

Types of online employee training software

There are various types of employee training and development software. These include:

1. Learning management systems

A learning management system is an online learning platform that allows you to organize, manage, and deliver training content to your employees. It is a virtual learning environment where you can create various online training courses, modules, and resources for your workforce and optimize the learning process.

Key features

• Built-in course library

• Content delivery

• Progress tracking

• Assessments and certifications

• User management

• Comprehensive reports and analytics

• Collaboration and discussion forum

Key benefits

• Streamlined training management and delivery

• Improved accessibility of learning materials

• Enhanced tracking of employee progress

• Standardization and consistency in training programs

• Cost and time efficiency in training administration

What kind of businesses use it?

Businesses that need consistent and structured training courses. They can be used to onboard new employees, provide compliance training, or upskill existing staff.

2. Knowledge management systems

Knowledge management systems (KMS) capture, organize, and share knowledge within an organization. These systems help businesses manage their intellectual assets. That covers everything from your documents and manuals to procedures.

Key features

• Knowledge repository and content library

• Search and retrieval

• Collaboration tools

• Version control

• Analytics features

Key benefits

• Efficient knowledge sharing and transfer across the organization

• Enhanced productivity by reducing time spent searching for information

• Preservation of institutional knowledge and expertise

• Supports employee onboarding and training

What kind of businesses use it?

Organizations that rely on knowledge assets, such as technology companies, use KMS. Professional service providers such as consulting and law firms, educational instructors, or research organizations can also benefit from KMS.

3. Digital adoption platforms

A digital adoption platform is a digital assistant that helps employees learn how to use a wide range of systems and tools.

Key features

• Onboarding and training

• In-app support

• Task automation

• Analytics and insights

• Personalization

Key benefits

• Accelerated user adoption of digital tools and systems

• Increased employee productivity and efficiency

• Reduced training and support costs

• Minimized errors and improved data accuracy

• Improved user satisfaction and engagement

What kind of businesses use it?

Any business undergoing digital transformations, implementing new software systems, or introducing complex tools.

4. Content authoring software

Content authoring software helps you create and design interactive training materials and courses. It lets you develop engaging content with multimedia elements, quizzes, and assessments.

Key features

• Multimedia integration

• Templates and themes with branding options

• Interactivity and assessments

• Responsive design

• Collaborative workflow

Key benefits

• Enables the creation of customized and engaging training content

• Enhances learner interactivity and knowledge retention

• Provides flexibility in content design and layout

• Supports assessment and evaluation of learner progress

• Streamlines content development processes through collaboration and templates

What kind of businesses use it?

Businesses and organizations that develop their own e-learning courses and training materials find content authoring software useful.

5. Learning experience platforms (LXPs)

LXPs are platforms that create engaging and personalized learning experiences for employees. These systems focus on user-centric content. Plus, they offer a more interactive approach to training.

Key features

• Content curation

• Personalized learning paths

• Social learning capabilities

• Skill assessments

• AI-powered recommendations

Key benefits

• Provides a dynamic and interactive learning environment

• Personalized learner experiences based on individual goals and preferences

• Fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional growth

• Enables businesses to respond to changing training needs and market demands

What kind of businesses use it?

Businesses that focus on employee development, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing use learning experience platforms.

6. Virtual classroom software

Virtual classroom software enables remote and online learning experiences. This software simulates a traditional classroom environment through a digital platform.

Key features

• Live video conferencing

• Interactive whiteboards and screen sharing

• Collaborative learning activities

• Recording and playback of video lectures

• Built-in analytics tools

Key benefits

• Enables remote learning

• Provides real-time interaction and engagement between employees and trainers

• Allows for flexible scheduling and on-demand access to recorded sessions

• Offers cost savings by eliminating movement expenses for training sessions

What kind of businesses use it?

Organizations with remote employees find virtual classroom software invaluable.

7. Microlearning platforms

Microlearning platforms deliver training content in bite-sized and consumable modules. This content aims to address specific learning objectives or skills.

Key features

• Short and targeted lessons, ranging from a few minutes to 10-15 minutes.

• Mobile-friendly

• Engaging and interactive content

• Personalized learning paths

Key benefits

• Enables quick and efficient knowledge acquisition

• Supports flexible and on-the-go learning

• Facilitates targeted skill development

• Fits in well with busy schedules and short attention spans

What kind of businesses use it?

Businesses that focus on continuous learning and skill development. Also, those who seek to provide training in a concise and accessible format.

The importance of employee hard and soft skill development

Hard skills are the foundation of job competence. They ensure employees have the necessary skills to perform their roles well. These skills are directly related to the technical requirements of a particular job.

But without soft skills, employees cannot apply their technical prowess in the best possible way.

Employees with strong soft skills can communicate clearly, collaborate efficiently, and solve problems creatively. These lead to improved job performance.

Soft skills also play a critical role in leadership development. Effective team leaders have strong emotional quotient, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. Developing these skills in employees contributes to individual growth. It also cultivates potential team builders and leaders within the organization.

Learn more about the importance of both skills in our article on Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills.

How Fingerprint for Success can enhance your employee training software

Traditional learning management systems (LMS) provide a one-size-fits-all approach to training. In essence, they lack insight into individual motivations and growth potential. F4S goes above and beyond, helping you understand the individual motivations of each employee.

The AI coaching and people analytics platform feature a revolutionary motivational assessment backed by more than 20 years of research. This assessment measures 48 different motivations of managers and team members with more than 90% accuracy.

F4S dashboard

In other words, F4S uncovers what truly drives your employees. Then, it helps you align your training programs and leadership style with their intrinsic motivations.

F4S also lets you set individual and team goals based on the assessment insights. You can track and compare your employees' progress with industry benchmarks. This reveals how they develop over time.

Additionally, it gives you access to the AI coaching program. Did we mention it’s free?

The AI coach, Marlee, delivers personalized soft-skills coaching and recommendations to employees. This supports their growth and development. With Marlee, you’ll nurture a workforce brimming with team leaders in no time.

You’ll also find out the preferred learning methods of your employees, which will help you learn how to present your technical skill courses best moving forward.

Where do you begin? Invite your team to take the free motivation assessment. It takes just 15 to 20 minutes. Insights from this assessment will help you identify the courses your employees need for development.

How to create a training program for your business

Creating training programs involves several key steps.

1. Start with a needs assessment

Identify areas where skills gaps exist in your workforce. This helps you determine the training goals you want to achieve. You can ask your employees to take an F4S motivation assessment to find out where the gaps lie.

You can also conduct surveys, interviews, and performance evaluations to identify gaps.

1. Define training objectives

Your training objectives should align with the needs and goals you identified before. Ideally, you want these objectives to meet the SMART criteria.

Soft skills are a priority for 84% of employees and hard skills for 89%. So, consider both skills to ensure well-rounded and effective training².

F4S automates your training objectives for you with AI. After the assessment, use the insights feature to see which skills your employee scores well at and where they need improvement.

Then, prepare the courses to fill the necessary gaps.

1. Design the training content

Develop a comprehensive curriculum. This should cover the necessary topics and align with the identified needs. Structure the training content in a logical sequence. It’s also a good idea to use a range of instructional methods and materials.

Additionally, consider the learning preferences of your employees. For instance, 58% of employees want to learn at their own pace³. So, you may want to avoid strict deadlines in your course structure.

Results from F4S assessments will also reveal the learning preferences of your employees.

Speaking of which, you don’t have to worry about designing training content with F4S. You’ll find more than 10 free AI coaching programs to help employees do everything from enhancing their emotional intelligence to setting and achieving goals.

1. Choose employee training software for the launch

Next, choose appropriate employee training and development software based on the content. Say the training content is short videos; you can consider micro-learning ETS to deliver learning in quick and easily consumable chunks.

1. Promote the program

Communicate the benefits and value of the training program to your staff. This helps you generate excitement.

Also, consider offering incentives to employees who take part in the training program. This could be gift cards, a day off, or even just a company-wide shout-out.

1. Engage learners

Use interactive elements such as quizzes, group activities, and discussions in the program. These elements make the learning experience more dynamic and engaging.

1. Track progress and success

Keep track of completion rates, performance improvements, and skill development. Make sure your employees keep taking F4S motivational assessments at intervals:

This tells you whether the training is filling those soft skill gaps or not.

1. Gather employee feedback

Keep seeking feedback from employees to gauge their satisfaction with the training program. Then use it to improve future initiatives. This could be via surveys or feedback sessions.

Benefits of implementing a training program

Here are some key benefits to consider:

1. Personal and professional development. A development program gives employees the skills they need to excel. This will support their performance and may also promote employee retention.
2. Personalize the training experience. You can make the training pace and delivery align with your workers' learning styles and skills. This personalized approach enhances engagement, knowledge retention, and training effectiveness.

For instance, you can personalize the training experience based on 48 work motivations with F4S. You’ll find insights that are more than 90% accurate to help you target employees with training that aligns with their unique motivations.

3. Boost employee performance. Online training programs improve employees’ skills, knowledge, and confidence⁴.
4. Adapt to changing market and employee needs. Training programs allow employees to acquire new skills and stay in line with trends in the industry.
5. Keep and develop employees. Training programs show that you care about your employees’ development. This increases their satisfaction and loyalty, prompting 94% of them to stick with you¹.
6. Watch and track progress. Training programs offer monitoring and tracking capabilities. These allow you to assess how your team progresses over time.

What are the best employee training software tools?

There are several outstanding employee training and development software tools. Let's explore 10 of them.

1. Fingerprint for Success (F4S)

F4S is a personalized employee development platform. It helps businesses understand individual motivations and strengths to unlock employees’ full potential.

With F4S, you can access employee motivation, set goals, and take part in free AI coaching programs. All these work to enhance both personal and professional growth.

2. Schoox

Schoox is learning management software with an intuitive interface and course-creation tools. It lets organizations create engaging multimedia courses, track progress, and provide certifications. Plus, it offers social learning features for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

3. WhatFix

WhatFix is a digital adoption platform. It guides users through new software applications and processes. It has interactive walkthroughs and tooltips. These features help you introduce new training initiatives or software updates.

4. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is a versatile learning management system suitable for organizations of all sizes. It offers robust features, including content creation, assessments, and reporting. The notable strength of this online training software lies in customer support. This ensures that organizations receive help throughout their training journey.

5. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a cloud-based LMS with a simple interface for managing employee training. It offers features such as custom course creation, gamification, and advanced reporting. Its mobile app and blended learning capabilities make it easy to use for individual learners.

6. Adobe Captivate Prime LMS

Adobe Captivate Prime is a feature-rich content authoring tool. It helps organizations create interactive and engaging training content. It offers several interesting features, such as a responsive design for mobile learning and gamification options. The platform also has robust analytics to track learner progress and engagement.

7. Litmos

Litmos is a scalable learning management system for organizations of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features, including online course creation, assessments, and certifications. It's extensive integrations and custom reports also make it easier to track training initiatives.

8. Bridge

Bridge combines employee learning, performance management, and career development in one platform. Its standout features include skill and competency tracking and peer learning. Plus, it has collaboration tools and personalized learning pathways. These features foster continuous growth and development.

9. Connecteam

Connecteam is a mobile-first employee management platform with powerful training features. It has a straightforward interface and customizable training materials. These make this mobile app an ideal choice for seamless training and employee engagement.

10. Moodle

Moodle is a popular open-source learning management system. It is well known for its flexibility and extensive customization options. Moodle provides a wide array of features. These include course creation, quizzes, discussion forums, and more.

How to choose the right employee training software for your business

Consider the following criteria when choosing employee training and development software:

1. Core functionality needs
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   The right employee training software solution for you should align with your business needs. For instance, let's say you’re planning to introduce a new technology. In this case, the right ETS would be a digital adoption platform.
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2. Key features
   
   Check if your chosen ETS provider has the key features to bring your business needs to life. Say you choose a knowledge management system. You’d expect the tool to include features such as a knowledge repository, version control, collaboration tools, and analytics.
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3. User interface preferences
   
   A user-friendly interface contributes to a positive learning experience. So, always go with an online training platform with an intuitive design and easy navigation.
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4. Usability across platforms
   
   Be sure that the software is compatible with the devices and systems your employees use. This ensures seamless access and flexibility
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5. Software integrations
   
   Go for an employee training tool that blends with your existing systems. These include project management platforms, HR software, and communication tools.
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6. Value for price
   
   Compare the features, pricing plans, and support provided by different mobile apps, platforms, and training software solutions. This will ensure you get the best value for your investment.

Frequently asked questions

What tools are used for training employees?

Common tools for training employees include Learning Management Systems (LMS), assessment and feedback tools, gamification platforms, simulation and virtual reality, virtual classrooms, mobile learning apps, and performance support tools.

What is an L&D tool?

An L&D tool is software or an application that supports learning and development in an organization. It can include various training software, content creation tools, and performance management systems.

What are the key pillars of L&D?

The key pillars for L&D are needs analysis, curriculum design, training delivery, assessment, and evaluation.

What are the best tools to create training and development courses?

The best employee training and development tools help you deliver courses based on your employees' individual learning styles. F4S ticks all the boxes and what you discover can be integrated into a suitable learning management system for your organization.