Engage

3 Must-Have Ingredients for Franchisee Engagement

Franchising is a proven way to scale your business by distributing the risk and the reward across a community of franchisees. Yet, most franchisors struggle with engaging their franchisees, who are often the lifeblood of their growth and success. No matter how big or small you are as a company–you can’t afford to have franchisees struggle because they don’t have enough engagement with their parent brand.

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What is SAAS LMS?

SaaS LMS is an acronym for Software-as-a-Service Learning Management System. Quite the mouthful!

At the most basic level, a SaaS LMS is a cloud-based learning management system that is hosted online instead of being installed on your device.

So you can access content on your browser from any device, at any time.

Think of it as using a reference book in the library. You’re not allowed to check it out of the library but you can read it as much as you like.

Here’s the best part of using a SaaS LMS:

You leave the complex and often intimidating process of installation and maintenance to the experts.

If you encounter a glitch, the LMS vendor will avail IT staff to fix the system at no additional cost to you.

And they show you how to use the LMS effectively, reducing your learning curve.

You probably know what a learning management system is.

Learning and development enthusiasts like yourself are already using an LMS to create and deliver courses to enrolled employees.

An LMS not only facilitates learning, but it also enables you to track learners’ progress to find areas of improvement.

LMS deployment can be in-house or web-based (SaaS) and understanding how this is done is crucial.

Accurate information will guide you when you go shopping for the perfect LMS.

venturebeat iaas paas saas — Simplified chart for the three main layers of cloud computing by Venture Beat

What is SaaS?

TechTarget defines SaaS as:

A software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the internet.

SaaS software can only be delivered to approved end-users, who gain access through a login and password.

It would be fitting to label Facebook, Instagram, and Google as SaaS products.

SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS – What’s the Difference?

SaaS, PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) are the three layers of cloud computing.

Train Employees

IaaS is the most basic layer; PaaS is in the middle, and SaaS sits on top.

Software as a Service: A vendor has already built the software, and you pay a monthly or annual fee to use it. The vendor handles maintenance, upgrades, and any other software-related issues. Think of it as using a passenger train. All you have to do is enjoy the service; schedules, routes, maintenance, and fees are determined by the vendor.

Common example: Google Apps

Platform as a Service: The vendor develops and deploys virtual servers, OS, applications, storage, and security, which saves you time and resources. To use the vehicle analogy, this would be like hailing a cab. The cab driver keeps the car running and takes you wherever you want to go. You must inform him of your destination and the best route to take.

Demo FranConnect’s World Manager

Common example: Google App Engine

Infrastructure as a Service: Instead of buying servers and expensive hardware, you can rent them from a vendor. Storage, networking, and offsite servers can then be accessed over the internet whenever you want. Think of it as leasing a car. All you have to do is fuel the car (install an OS and apps, in this case); maintenance is the vendor’s responsibility.

Common example: Google Compute Engine

History of SaaS

Here’s a brief history of how SaaS came to be:

The 1960s: Computers are huge and too expensive for educational institutions or small- to medium-sized businesses. Instead of owning a computer, people rent power and space from a vendor through time sharing. Every user has a specific time-share in which they can access the computer system.

eecis udel ibm — This is the IBM Model 360/67 at the University of Michigan in 1969, which allowed for timesharing.

1987: Pat Sullivan and Mike Muhney released ACT!, the first customer relationship management (CRM) software. It allows businesses to gather and store customer contacts.

Early to mid-90s: Computers become cheaper and employees can now have computers at their desks. Applications are now stored on in-house machines. Data is stored on a central server. IT departments are staffed to manage and ensure the smooth running of this Local Area Network. Hard drive space fills up pretty fast and getting a new one like the one shown in the ad below proves too costly.

buzzfeed 15mb hdd — **15-Megabyte Hard Disk Drive** holds less than four MP3 songs today.

Late 90s: Businesses start to explore cost-effective data storage solutions as the internet becomes widely accessible. Businesses store data offsite and access it over the internet through an Application Service Provider (ASP). The client must wait for the vendor to manually input his login credentials from his end. It’s not long before ASPs are replaced by a self-service solution.

1999: Salesforce introduces multiple products and services that are delivered over the internet. They include CRM software, sales cloud, and service cloud. Businesses are attracted to this model, as they no longer have to deal with long-term contracts and licensing. A $50 monthly subscription fee is enough to enjoy the perks.

The 2000s: Concur, which previously sold packaged software in computer stores, becomes a fully SaaS company. Writing software in disks, packaging, and shipping had become too costly. Concur sells software licenses to businesses directly until 2001, when they go SaaS. As a result, Concur’s gross margins grow to 72%. Soon, Oracle and Sage start to deliver a SaaS version of their products. There’s no turning back.

History of the SaaS LMS

The history of the SaaS LMS can be traced back to 2008 when Eucalyptus software was introduced.

Eucalyptus was open-source, meaning that developers could modify the code.

It was compatible with the Amazon Web Services (AWS) application program interface (API), meaning it would operate with other AWS-based services.

This enabled users to deploy private and hybrid clouds.

As an IaaS, Eucalyptus allowed learning and development professionals to deploy their LMS entirely online. No installation was required.

Today, you’ll come across leading SaaS LMSs such as:

World Manager
Open edX
ScholarLMS

Why is SaaS LMS so Popular?

Businesses are fast adopting SaaS LMS because of these obvious reasons:

It’s fast and easy to deploy
It’s cost-effective

Let’s look at other not-so-obvious reasons that have contributed to the rise of SaaS LMS:

Automatic Upgrades

A SaaS LMS is upgraded centrally, ensuring everyone is using the latest version.

Upgrades happen fast, without interrupting ongoing processes.

If you get an advanced LMS such as World Manager, you’ll enjoy free upgrades for the life of your agreement.

Security

Your data is safe because it’s stored in a central location.

All your content is organized so you can find materials easily when creating courses.

That’s a huge time saver.

A credible SaaS LMS comes with user authentication, data encryption, and other safety protocols.

Your employees won’t worry about privacy infringement when they’re logged in.

Scalability

With a SaaS LMS, you can install add-ons or enroll more users as you see fit.

A SaaS LMS evolves according to your business needs. You can start small and add to the breadth of your LMS as you onboard more staff.

If you don’t want to pay for extra features, you can downgrade to a cheaper plan at any time.

How Can I Get a SaaS LMS for My Business?

SaaS is fast replacing on-premise software in modern businesses.

Train your staff with an LMS that allows for self-authored eLearning, policy sign-offs, and real-time reporting.

Request A Demo

The World Manager LMS is exactly what a growing business like yours needs to gain a competitive edge.

Reap the benefits of a leading SaaS LMS by booking a customized demo today.

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•LMS

What is an LMS?

What Is an LMS-1

Today’s LMS is not your grandparents’ LMS. With an array of rich, robust features and benefits, LMS has evolved into a must-have training delivery system for universities, government institutions, and companies of all sizes. (more…)

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•employee training, LMS

5 Most Popular Employee Training Methods

Written by Kelsey Smith

It’s a truth universally acknowledged: Well-trained employees are more satisfied and more productive than those who are not. Given how important training can be for an employee’s day-to-day success, managers must take care when designing training courses and modules. There are many exciting training options for learners to explore – it’s hard not to get caught up in the latest trends and technologies.Different training methods have different strengths and drawbacks, of course. By understanding the options available to your and your team, you can begin considering the best fit for your needs. Here are five of the most popular employee training methods – and why you should consider implementing each one.

1. Classroom Learning

There’s a reason why traditional instructor-led training is such a classic: the method allows for constant back and forth between trainers and trainees. Questions are addressed that might go unanswered in other types of employee training, and participants can bounce ideas and concepts off of one another. So long as energy remains high, learners stay engaged throughout the entire process. While other forms of training might be more technologically advanced, there’s something to be said for the magic of in-person, collaborative learning opportunities.

Train Employees

Of course, classroom learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some learners may find traditional sit-and-get style training boring. There’s also the matter of venues, travel, and catering. Classroom learning can become expensive, and fast. Still, this classic form of staff training is unlikely to lose popularity any time soon – the benefits simply outweigh most of the drawbacks.

2. eLearning

Virtual learning has become more prevalent in recent years, for obvious reasons. We’re all constantly on our devices anyway, so this employee training method is a natural extension of our daily habits. This kind of learning style is ideal for self-paced training; without an in-person facilitator guiding learners through each session, employees can take their time with the material. The real benefit to eLearning is its scalability, though. Any number of people can take online workplace training at once, making it easy to roll out content for an entire company’s workforce.

eLearning doesn’t come without its share of challenges. The graphics and visuals that make up computer-based training can age quickly, so keeping things updated is critical. And since most eLearning training is completed without supervision, it can be hard to know how engaged with the content employees really are. You may want to supplement eLearning with surveys, quizzes, or additional evaluation tools to gauge its impact and drive completion.

3. Hands-On Training

Some people learn best by doing. Hands-on training allows learners to jump straight into the practical skills necessary for a given role. It’s an ideal way to train someone for a new position or to prepare them for new responsibilities. By participating in theoretical activities and applying them to their current role, learners can develop the muscle memory necessary for all kinds of duties and responsibilities.

Hands-on staff training can be overwhelming for some individuals, so it’s important to keep an eye on the progress of your learners. It may be worthwhile to pair more experienced employees with newer folks, allowing newbies to gain important context before diving into an activity on their own. Shadowing can be beneficial for the more experienced partner, too – there’s no better way to reinforce ideas and procedures than by showing others how it’s done.

4. Mentorship

Structured forms of the curriculum will always have their place in the world of employee training, but alternative methods are gaining in popularity. Mentorship programs can do wonders in supporting and training new employees. By pairing them with a more senior staff member, you’ll help foster relationships while also making them feel supported and welcomed. It’s ideal for employees who may not feel comfortable speaking up and asking questions in traditional classroom settings.

The one drawback of mentorship programs? They take a lot of time to implement the right way. Mentoring can be incredibly costly in terms of employee hours, and if your more senior staff are reluctant to take on more responsibility, the relationship may feel forced. So long as there’s buy-in from both mentor and mentee, though, this form of workplace training can prove successful.

5. Role-playing

Acting out potential work scenarios is another effective training method for employees. Role-playing provides a controlled setting for new and experienced staff members alike to practice handling difficult situations. Especially useful for those in customer-facing roles, role-playing activities give people the opportunity to think on their feet while examining different perspectives.

Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention, even in role-playing scenarios. While the practice may seem low-key to some, the idea of acting out a scene with colleagues is enough to send some learners cowering in the back of the classroom. Play to the strengths of your team and never force someone’s participation. Doing so could backfire and cause negative associations with that particular aspect of training.

MG-5-Most-Popular-Employee-Training-Methods-01

Choosing The Right Training for Your Team

At FranConnect, we know no single employee training method will work for all learners. For organizations to truly thrive, management must constantly work to develop the talents and skills of their employees. This often depends on finding the right training method – or a blend of several. If you’re eager to explore your options and want a learning management system to help you manage your training methods in one place, World Manager is the answer. Reach out today for a demo!

•LMS

What Was the First LMS Platform?

The world’s first LMS, called FirstClass, was introduced by Soft Arc in 1990. The LMS is now part of the FirstClass software suite developed by OpenText.The FirstClass LMS couldn’t have emerged at a better time; the beginning of the Information Age.It was the perfect moment for the new LMS to experience rapid improvements in its underlying technology and functionality.

Before the First LMS

Before the FirstClass LMS appeared on the screens of learners and instructors in the late 20th century, the concept of an LMS – or Learning Management System – was a little more nebulous.

Learning by instruction from a teacher – or training – had of course been undertaken for countless millennia, and instructors had been able to administer training and assess students’ progress by correspondence for more than 250 years before FirstClass came along with the first LMS platform.

But What Is an LMS?

An LMS, or learning management system, is a software application that streamlines, automates, and transforms how your organization delivers employee training. LMS platforms give companies the tools and technology to efficiently deploy and manage online training courses. Within the LMS, they can create an assortment of training courses and materials that are customized to the specific needs of each employee. They can administer, track, report on, and assess company-wide training using one simple web-based interface. Trainers can create, upload, and manage course content, use quizzes and exams to measure subject matter comprehension, develop waiting lists, rosters, and course registration, and communicate with employees using instant messaging, email, and forums.

Companies must grow. It’s what they do. While expansion creates new opportunities, it also presents challenges. Companies must onboard and train new employees who may be dispersed across different buildings, cities, and countries. It also presents potential communication, collaboration, employee engagement, and branding challenges. These challenges can easily be intensified as more companies adopt flex-work policies and allow employees to work from home.

Development of FirstClass LMS

The FirstClass LMS came into being when a worker at the Scarborough Board of Education asked Soft Arc to find a credible email system.

This email system needed to be Macintosh-based, with the following features:

LAN support
Modem support
GUI interface
Private email
Discussion forums

How an Alternative to AppleLink Helped Define the First LMS

Soft Arc considered using AppleLink, a user-facing online service. Unlike other systems that used a command-line interface, AppleLink used a Mac-style GUI (Graphical User Interface) – an ideal user-friendly interface for what would become the first learning management system or LMS.

Its purpose was to provide online support to Apple dealers and distributors to lower the cost of paper documents, phone calls, and other customer care services, but like anything truly useful, it was adopted by others, including Apple employees who used it as an email system. Apple eventually joined forces with a small computing services firm, Quantum (which went on to become America Online or AOL) to develop the ill-fated AppleLink Personal Edition in 1988.

Macintosh Portable

In 1991, astronauts sent the first email from space from a Macintosh Portable using specially configured AppleLink software.

Unfortunately for Soft Arc, AppleLink was expensive and only worked on Apple computers, such as the Macintosh Portable.

They had to find a viable alternative with the same user-friendly features a future LMS would require to succeed, so they developed Hypercard.

LMS Precursor – HyperCard System

The HyperCard prototype was rolled out in 1987 and is now regarded as the inspiration behind the World Wide Web.

HyperCard allowed users to build interactive software even if they didn’t have programming experience.

Each program on HyperCard was made up of a stack of interconnecting cards.

A card would contain images, text, menus, checkboxes, buttons, and other GUI elements (all elements that developers of an early LMS would have been looking for). Think of the virtual cards as different webpages and the stack as a website in today’s terms.

HyperCard is an application and a programming tool for Apple Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers.

A GUI for LMS Students and Teachers

With HyperCard, you could easily make training software (part of a learning management system) – all you needed to do was place educational content in the cards to form a stack.

HyperCard Bird

The Scarborough Board liked HyperCard because it ran on personal computers, so both mainframe and home desktop users could implement it.

It supported discussion forums and private emails, which allowed students to ask clarifying questions on topics presented in the cards.

The First eLearning Platform

They bought the first FirstClass system and named it ScriBE after the Scarborough Board of Education. They made ScriBE accessible to teachers, students, and parents and in 1997, it was successfully connected to the Internet.

LMS Communications – FirstClass Protocol

FirstClass LMS used the FCP (FirstClass Protocol) in its communications. This transport networking protocol ensured flawless communication and file transfers between LMS users.

Users had the freedom to access the same server, whether they were at home or at the office.

FCP used the sliding window protocol, which allowed a user to send multiple packets at a time. Each packet would be assigned a number identifier that generated a virtual link for every task requested by a user. Thus a user could upload and download files while simultaneously writing or reading an email.

World Manager proudly supports some of the biggest communications companies in the world with online learning management.

Pre-Internet LMS – The BBS Era

A Bulletin Board System (BBS) is software that allows users to connect to the computer system through a terminal program.

Users can perform tasks such as:

Uploading and downloading files
Reading news bulletins
Sending messages on chat or public message boards
Playing text-based games

Before the World Wide Web, BBSs were the primary form of an online community. Any user with a computer and modem could access the system and communicate with other users within the same area code.

The computer was always turned on. When the phone rang, it would answer and allow the calling computer to perform different tasks, such as reading a message left by another user.

Unfortunately, a BBS could only support one connection at a time and ran on non-multitasking operating systems, such as DOS and Apple Pro DOS.

It wasn’t long before BBSs were replaced by low-cost dial-up internet services, which provided users with better access.

The First LMS Network

In the early 1990s, a worker at Apple Canada created the first BBS for FirstClass called MAGIC (Macintosh Awareness Group In Canada).

MAGIC became one of the largest BBSs serving Toronto, closely followed by the Boston Computer Society (BCS), and the Great Lakes Free-Net.

FirstClass software allowed users to share conference content and private emails through dial-up connections. It only transitioned to internet connectivity when OneNet was formed.

By 1994, FirstClass had become an internal email system, already competing in the groupware market.

As a result, the United Kingdom’s Open University started using FirstClass to administer online learning all over Europe.

The Journey Towards an Open-Source LMS

Shortly after FirstClass emerged, the concept of the LMS really took hold. In 1991, the Norwegian Knowledge Institute released the EKKO LMS. Several LMSs followed as the 1990s drew to a close, including Training Partner LMS, BlackBoard LMS, and Asaph LMS.

In 2002, the first open-source LMS, Moodle, was released. Users could start learning on Moodle LMS as soon as they downloaded the software to their home PC.

The Evolution to a Cloud-Based LMS

Eucalyptus, the first cloud-based LMS, was produced in 2008; it allowed users to log in from their home computers. Cloud-based LMSs had enhanced data security and were cheaper to deploy than in-house LMSs.

Over time, the early BBS-based, in-house LMS has evolved into a versatile tool, allowing for social and collaborative learning.

The Modern LMS – Today’s Learning Management Systems

As LMS history has shown us, LMSs have adapted to modern needs quite a bit! In order to consider today’s learning management systems, we must determine what a learning content management system (LCMS) is – and in order to even consider that, we must first determine what a content management system is!

A content management system is a platform for creating and organizing content – WordPress and Drupal are examples. A learning content management system (LCMS) is the best of both worlds. It includes everything you need conveniently integrated into one system, from author/content creation capabilities to tools for disseminating and delivering training in real-time, to reporting and analytics, and much more. With everything you need “under one roof,” an LCMS makes it easy for employees to collaborate and communicate even if they are working remotely, and it helps ensure that training is delivered consistently at all levels of the company.

The modern LMS is focused on the learner and comes with remarkable features such as:

Groups: You can segment your trainees according to modules and job roles so that they can collaborate with the right people at each stage of learning. Employees will enjoy learning from each other and even passive learners will feel comfortable enough to participate in discussions.
Rewards and recognition: The modern LMS incentivizes learning by acknowledging the trainee’s progress. World Manager LMS has an exciting Achievements Award Tool that automatically rewards your employees for the milestones they’ve accomplished throughout their employment. For instance, one employee may be rewarded for being the employee of the month and another celebrated for having the most forum posts during the course.
Surveys: Modern LMSs allow you to receive feedback from your trainees. Surveys help you to assess the impact of your training efforts by giving you valuable insights. You can use learner feedback to fine-tune your LMS training program for future success.
Live Chat: Employees can elicit feedback from their enrolled peers in real time. They don’t have to wait for someone to see their message or post before getting a response.

How LCMS Became Synonymous with LMS

As outlined above, the first LMS could organize and structure content but didn’t include content creation tools built into the software. Content had to be created outside of the LMS, then integrated into the system. Today, that’s considered old school.

Fueled by advances in technology, LMS platforms evolved into a powerhouse system that incorporates LCMS. Modern LMSs now have content creation capabilities. Trainers can author content and instructional designers can enhance it – all within the LMS.

For all intents and purposes, the LCMS/LMS distinction has disappeared and the two terms are synonymous. What is clear is that today’s LMS platforms are not your grandparents’ LMS. With a rich array of robust features and benefits, an LMS is a must-have training delivery system for companies and organizations of all sizes.

The Mobile-First LMS

Are you wondering how you can leverage the benefits of the modern LMS to drive engagement and knowledge retention in your training program?

You need a mobile-first LMS so that your employees can access courses at their convenience and learn at their own pace.

The Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device Learning Management System

You need an LMS that will make it easy for your administrators to create engaging courses and interactive tests.

That’s not all – you need to track your employees’ progress in real time so you can have the insight you need to develop your team and grow your business.

The good news is that, as an LMS provider, World Manager has created an elegant and easy-to-use software-based solution that supercharges your company’s training and collaboration capabilities. With World Manager’s suite of user-friendly tools and technologies, your company can build a foundation of highly trained employees who are able to get more done in less time. You can automate and standardize training so it is executed consistently across the enterprise, like clockwork. World Manager’s clients see an increase in productivity and profit margins. When your company is firing on all cylinders, there’s nothing it can’t achieve.

Find out how easy it is to create a training program with a truly modern LMS.

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•Franchise Development, Franchise Operations

The New C-Suite Position Franchisors Don’t Know They Need

Written by Keith Gerson, CFE – Gerson Advisory Services

As a franchisor, it can feel awkward to refer to your franchisees as customers, right? But by and large – they really are. As the franchisor, you can control the things that are defined in your franchise agreement, but at the end of the day these franchisees are not your employees. Thus, influencing what they do daily and dictating how they run their business is entirely up to them.

(more…)