Key Features for Selecting a Channel Partner LMS

Channel partners are a dream come true—you generate revenue off of someone else’s sale without any work.

Like all dreams, this one is often too good to be true.

The truth is that channel partners will generate more revenue if you invest in your channel partner program. And the best way to keep channel partners motivated? Give them training resources to help them do their job.

But if you want excellent training resources, then you need a learning management system (LMS) designed with channel partners in mind.

A channel partner LMS has different functionalities than an employee LMS. Below you’ll find a list of the minimum requirements you’ll need:

• White label
• eCommerce
• Mobile
• Easy-to-use design
• Secure
• 24/7 vendor support

These requirements are just the tip of the iceberg. They’ll get you started, but they won’t make your channel partner program stand out.

Key LMS Features to Help Channel Partners Drive Your Business

Channel partners can be a great revenue generating strategy. Unfortunately, channel partners sell multiple solutions. You want your solution to stand out. The right LMS training program will help you take your channel partner program to the next level.

Data analytics and Integrations

You need robust data analytics. Creating custom content for channel partners is expensive. You’ll want to see if your training program generates more leads or sales. With the right integrations, you’ll see the connection between your training program and increased sales.

The right LMS will also be able to integrate easily with multiple applications. At minimum, you want to be able to integrate into a partner’s LMS. But, it’s even better if you can integrate your training directly into your channel partners’ workflows. This might mean integrating with a CRM or Salesforce.

Certification Capabilities

You gain more sales with channel partner programs, but you give up control. Certifications build trust on both sides of the relationship. You trust your partners know your product after certifying them. Your partners trust you’ve given them the product information they need to close the deal. It’s a win-win.

Even better, certifications can generate revenue for both businesses. You can charge channel partners for training. By advertising certification, channel partners can either close more sales or charge more. The right LMS will make certifying partners easy.

🔎Related: HRCI Certification Institute Case Study: A Smoother, More Successful Certification Process

Built-in Authoring Tools

Employee centered LMSs and LXPs often include content libraries to give employees access to third-party resources. This function is completely useless for channel partner training. You’re going to be creating proprietary content on your own product.

You need an easy-to-use authoring tool to get the job done. New products can develop quickly, especially in IT as developers fix bugs. You can’t wait the months it’ll take for a full-fledged eLearning course. You need to turn around new sales updates in days or weeks. A built-in authoring tool gives you the necessary flexibility. Even better, you don’t need an instructional designer with experience using high-end software. Most built-in authoring tools are simple enough for anyone to use. Plus, you’ll even be able to automate new content creation workflows. Now, your whole team will be on the same page.

Learner Engagement Tools

Unlike employees, channel partners are voluntary learners. You need to entice them to learn. Unfortunately, click-through eLearning modules usually put learners to sleep.

An LMS with baked-in learner engagement features can help your learners master the content. For example, gamified learning experiences are one way to engage competitive sales reps. You’ll keep them motivated by offering digital badges and leaderboards.

Great training programs lead to more sales. Reps need resources they can access just-in-time on mobile to close the deal. Channel partners also love microlearning modules they can fit into their busy schedules. To keep your brand top of mind, you can also offer continuous learning opportunities.

🔎Related: Dreaming of Recurring Revenue? Engage Learners Continuously [ebook]

Automation

Managing multiple channel partners can create LMS administrative headaches. Who has the time to assign training manually to multiple teams? A channel partner LMS can automatically segment your audience. This allows you to push training to specific partners or even specific teams within partner organizations.

Sales reps will also stay more engaged with personalized learning pathways. You can automate LMS learning pathways to recognize new learners, learners promoted to new roles, or to remove old ones. This automation keeps your channel partners up-to-date with minimal hassle on your end.

If you’re generating revenue off the sale of channel partner training then you want an LMS that automatically accepts payment, enrolls learners in a new course and delivers the learning. Then, you can automate new course recommendations based on the previous courses for seamless marketing and upselling.

What are you waiting for? A channel partner program doesn’t have to be a headache. It can be a painless source of revenue. With the right channel partner LMS.

Want to discover how to identify the must-have LMS features you need for business growth? Download our free e-book, The CLO’s Handbook for Choosing Learning Technology to Grow Your Business, to learn more.