As someone who’s been in the online learning space for years I’ve seen the landscape change dramatically.
One thing that’s become incredibly clear is the importance of customer training.
I mean think about it – 40% of customers prefer self-service options over contacting support.
That’s a huge chunk of your audience who are looking to solve their own problems and get things done quickly.
But how do you empower your customers to become self-sufficient without overwhelming them? That’s where the right customer training tools come in.
Diving Deep into the Customer Training Tool Landscape
Let’s break down the different categories of tools you can use to build a stellar customer training program.
Think of it like a toolbox – each tool has its own unique purpose and you’ll need the right ones for the job.
1. Authoring Tools: Crafting Engaging Content
First up we have authoring tools.
These are the workhorses of creating compelling eLearning content.
They’re like the digital paintbrushes you use to bring your learning vision to life.
Articulate Storyline 360
I’ve used Storyline 360 for years and it’s a true game-changer.
It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for course creation – you can build all sorts of interactive elements from quizzes and simulations to screencasts and video.
Plus it’s got that responsive design thing going so your content looks great on any device.
What really sets it apart is the AI power behind it.
It helps you create courses faster collaborate with your team seamlessly and even suggests ideas for making your content more engaging.
Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate is another power player in the authoring tool world.
It’s known for its immersive interactive experiences and the workflows are super smooth.
You can create VR experiences incorporate widgets and simulations and make sure everything looks sharp on mobile devices.
Collaboration is also a breeze with Captivate – you can easily share review and comment on projects.
iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a lifesaver if you have a ton of PowerPoint presentations.
It makes converting them into SCORM or xAPI modules super easy.
Plus it plays nicely with over 150 different LMSs so you can integrate it with whatever platform you’re using.
Lectora by ELB Learning
Lectora is known for its accessibility features.
It’s like a champion for making sure everyone can access your training content no matter their abilities.
It also offers pre-built course logic and templates mobile-responsive themes and a bunch of built-in assets.
2. Video Tools: Bringing Your Content to Life
Video is a powerful medium for customer training.
It can be more engaging than plain text and it’s great for explaining complex concepts or demonstrating how to use a product.
Camtasia
Camtasia is the go-to choice for creating instructional videos.
It’s super user-friendly and has a crystal-clear screen recording feature so you can capture everything on your screen with incredible detail.
Plus it’s got a ton of features for adding annotations transitions and even AI-powered scripts.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is the big dog of video editing software.
It’s what the pros use and it’s packed with powerful tools.
You can do multi-cam editing create motion graphics color balance your footage and even integrate with other Adobe products like After Effects.
DaVinci Resolve 19
DaVinci Resolve 19 is a fantastic option for professional-level editing.
It’s actually more user-friendly than you’d think even for beginners.
It’s got all the bells and whistles from multi-cam editing and motion graphics to color grading and audio mixing.
Animoto
Animoto is a cloud-based video creation tool that’s perfect for creating short professional-looking videos quickly.
You don’t need to be a video editing expert to use it.
Just drag and drop elements choose from templates and stock media and you’re good to go.
3. Webinar Platforms: Live & Interactive Training
Webinar platforms are essential for real-time customer training sessions.
They let you host live webinars workshops or Q&A sessions allowing you to interact with your audience in real-time.
Zoom Events and Webinars
Zoom is a household name when it comes to virtual events.
It’s super reliable easy to use and perfect for both small and large events.
It’s got all the standard features like screen sharing breakout rooms and polls making it perfect for interactive learning sessions.
GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar is another popular choice for online training.
It’s got a ton of features from customizable modes and interactive elements to powerful integrations and detailed analytics.
You can really tailor it to your needs and track how well your webinars are doing.
BigMarker
BigMarker is a comprehensive platform for webinars and virtual events.
It’s got advanced security and scalability making it a good choice for larger events.
It’s also got integrations with CRM and marketing tools so you can really streamline your event workflow.
Webex by Cisco
Webex is a solid choice for webinars and virtual training especially for enterprise environments.
It offers a ton of features including HD video screen sharing interactive whiteboards and detailed analytics.
4. In-App Guidance Tools: Onboarding Made Easy
These tools help your customers learn how to use your product or service while they’re actually using it.
It’s like having a personal trainer right there in your app guiding you through the steps.
WalkMe
WalkMe is like a digital adoption platform that knows exactly where workflows are breaking down.
It offers interactive walkthroughs and in-app guidance to help users navigate your product seamlessly.
UserGuiding
UserGuiding is super intuitive and easy to use.
You can create interactive product tours knowledge bases onboarding flows and checklists without needing any coding skills.
Pendo
Pendo combines product analytics with in-app guidance so you can see how users are interacting with your product and then tailor their onboarding experience accordingly.
Userpilot
Userpilot is all about personalizing the onboarding experience.
You can create custom onboarding flows with product tours checklists banners and tooltips so users get the most out of your product from the start.
5. The LMS Advantage: Your Customer Training Headquarters
Now we get to the big kahuna – the Learning Management System (LMS). Think of an LMS as your central command center for customer training.
It brings together everything you need to build manage and deliver a high-quality training program.
LearnWorlds: Your Go-To Customer Training Platform
LearnWorlds is my personal favorite LMS and I’ve seen it used successfully by many different businesses.
It’s packed with features from content creation and delivery to reporting and monetization.
You can build interactive courses track learner progress create certifications and even sell your courses through a built-in eCommerce platform.
Gainsight Customer Education
Gainsight Customer Education is specifically designed for creating customer education programs.
It’s user-friendly and has strong integrations making it easy to get up and running quickly.
Skilljar
Skilljar is another popular choice for customer onboarding product training and certification.
It plays nicely with CRM platforms like Salesforce and has analytics tools specifically designed for customer success teams.
TalentLMS
TalentLMS is a good option for creating and delivering customer training courses quickly.
It’s got gamification features assessments and certifications to keep your learners engaged.
Why an LMS is The Best Option: A Deeper Dive
So why should you consider using an LMS for your customer training program?
- All-In-One Solution: An LMS brings together a wide range of features from authoring tools to content delivery and reporting into a single platform. This eliminates the need to manage multiple tools and streamlines your workflow.
- Diverse Delivery Methods: Most LMSs support multiple training formats so you can offer your customers a variety of learning options. This could include live webinars on-demand courses interactive quizzes and even blended learning experiences.
- AI Power: Many LMSs now incorporate AI features which can help you automate tasks create engaging content and analyze data. AI can even help you personalize your training experience for each learner.
- Multiple School Functionality: This is a must for businesses with different customer segments or product lines. It lets you create separate learning environments for each group so you can provide customized training experiences.
- User Management and Security: An LMS gives you complete control over your training program allowing you to manage users assign roles and track progress. It also provides robust data security features to protect your information.
- Built-in Content Authoring: Many LMSs offer built-in authoring tools so you can create interactive assessments simulations and even gamified elements within your training program. This makes it easier to create engaging and effective learning experiences.
- eCommerce Integration: If you want to monetize your customer training an LMS with eCommerce features is essential. This allows you to set up pricing plans offer subscription models and even sell certifications.
- Powerful Reporting: LMSs provide detailed reports on learner performance engagement and course completion rates. This lets you see what’s working and what needs improvement so you can constantly refine your training program.
- Integrations: Many LMSs integrate with other essential business tools like CRM platforms. This allows you to sync data and gain a deeper understanding of how customer training impacts your overall business goals.
The Bottom Line: Empowering Your Customers is a Game-Changer
Customer training is an investment that pays off in spades.
It empowers your customers increases satisfaction and even drives revenue.
By using the right tools and a comprehensive LMS you can build a customer training program that’s engaging effective and helps your customers achieve their goals.