Best virtual training platforms in 2023
Executive Summary: Virtual training platforms have become an essential tool for corporate training in recent years. With the increase in remote working culture and diversified workforce, it has become challenging for businesses to meet their training needs. Besides, partners and customers also require training to understand and use digital products better. A good virtual training platform can help alleviate all these issues. In this blog, we will provide details about some of the best virtual training platforms available in the market. The blog will focus on the likes and dislikes of current users to help readers find the appropriate tool for their use.
Introduction
Virtual training platforms are a method of delivering training and education through digital means, such as online courses or webinars. As a leader responsible for training workforces, one might face various challenges. These challenges range from finding the correct courses and formats of learning to picking the best tools for the same. There are dozens of options in the market when it comes to training platforms. Moreover, each of them has unique functionalities and features. Fret not! We have done hundreds of hours of research to gather, analyze, and summarize what you need to know about the best virtual training platforms for 2023. First, let’s take a look at why use virtual training platforms?
Virtual training platform benefits
Virtual training platforms provide an interactive learning experience. Video and audio casts, quizzes, and other interactive features, such as microlearning, can keep learners engaged and improve retention of knowledge. The training programs are scalable to deliver simultaneously to several employees, regardless of their location. These help train employees in different time zones or languages. Many virtual training platforms include tools to allow managers to track employee progress and completion. This helps identify skill gaps and areas where additional training may be needed.
Some virtual training platforms are also tailored to specific industries or job roles, such as retail, automotive, healthcare, finance, or technology. This feature allows companies to find a platform that is a good fit for their specific training needs. At RapL, we have worked with industry leaders to provide custom learning solutions for their specific needs. Read more about them here.
Now let’s look at some popular virtual training platforms currently available. We have compiled this information. sifting through widely accepted review sites, such as G2, GetApp, and many more.
Virtual training platform #1 - RapL
RapL is a mobile-first adaptive learning platform in the market. It is AI-driven and can be personalized to each user’s learning requirements and progress. By combining microlearning and adaptive learning, RapL creates a flexible and engaging learning environment aimed at elevating workforces.
RapL, as a virtual training platform, also includes spaced repetition for training. RapL analyzes the areas where a learner is struggling, and allows them to continuously practice those specific areas. For example, if an employee has difficulty with one particular scenario on sales technique, RapL’s platform will display the question to the employee over time until they master it with high confidence. The engine never repeats the questions fast enough, and hence reduces the recency bias. Also using spaced repetition, RapL helps solve the forgetting curve. This ensures high knowledge retention, and makes employees confident about what they are learning.
People forget nearly 90% of what they have learnt within just 7 days, unless the concepts are reinforced. That’s why employees swamped with documents, presentations, and classroom sessions are not likely to learn much.
However, time constraints make it difficult to reinforce vast concepts.
What can you do instead? Arm your employees with one concept at a time. Studies show the human attention span is only 8.25 seconds, so keep your training concise.
RapL is your software for that.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
The gamification technique motivates employees and results in high engagement. | RapL currently only allows ‘role/group’ wise assignment of content and tests. However, adding individual level assignments is on the roadmap. |
RapL is user friendly, and its UI is constantly upgraded to enhance the experience of the learners as well as the trainers. | Options to change the look of the app are limited, but they are constantly updated to provide more functionality. |
RapL has many exciting features, such as the pocket-sized content sent to the users. It uses repetitive reinforcement techniques to improve retention. | The RapL app is expanding its reporting capabilities with continuous updates. |
Core Features:
- RapL provides a flipped learning model where individuals can focus on mastering the information they have forgotten or unfamiliar with.
- Learner engagement is improved through gamified learning with leaderboards and badges. This encourages competition and makes learning more social and connected across teams.
- RapL provides a comprehensive analytics dashboard that illustrates employee usage and knowledge gaps.
- RapL provides different languages and different learning paths to deliver personalized and relatable content to individual learner’s needs.
- RapL focuses on repetitive reinforcement of key concepts based on individual knowledge gaps through spaced repetition.
Pricing and Models: Rapl is provided through a subscription model customized to a business’s use case. Administrators and trainers can also avail a free trial to experience the platform, and go through expertly created sample topics. Contact us here for a demo or custom built plan based on your needs.
Integrations: RapL has multiple ready to use integrations. It also provides custom integrations based on requirements. Currently, RapL offers Single Sign-on (SSO) integration enabled via OpenID Connect (OIDC), which allows it to integrate with multiple IDPs such as Azure AD, SAP and more.
Content delivery services: RapL allows users to choose from thousands of ready-to-use scenarios to build the perfect learning path. It also helps create what you need from scratch. Content delivery through the app can be in the following formats:
- Videos
- Audio
- Images and infographics
- Documents
- Presentations
- Surveys
- Assignments/Polls
- Tests
- Microlearning with scenarios
RapL also provides a comprehensive analytics dashboard. This dashboard provides insight into usage, topic completion, and knowledge gaps. Learning paths can be monitored at individual levels, allowing L&D managers to identify employees who are proficient and employees requiring assistance. Learn more about analytics here.
From a security standpoint, RapL is ISO and SOC Type-II certified. It is field-tested in 70+ countries. It includes native support for 23 languages, showcasing its multilingual capabilities in app and content. RapL also has a customer success team that is highly appreciated by its customers for quick resolution of issues, if any.
Virtual training platform #2 - Tovuti LMS
Tovuti LMS is an efficient and straightforward system that provides engaging online learning experiences. It provides a people-first, adaptive solution that integrates technology, data, and content. It helps organizations level up their learning and development experience by delivering the content from anywhere. With Tovuti as their virtual training platform, businesses are able to accelerate talent, career mobility, and improve skills across the organization. Tovuti is operational and serves customers and students worldwide.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Tovuti has a great UI that makes the tool and functions user friendly. | Integrations on Tovuti require some help from the support team, which is time consuming. |
The help center is robust and helps users solve their issues. | The system does not provide many drag-and-drop functions for easy usage. |
Tovuti has interesting features, like milestones and checklists, to track virtual training. | Pricing is high for small scale businesses. |
Core Features:
- Built-in course authoring tools allow the user to create interactive content.
- Custom report builder and analytics dashboard provide better reporting and insights.
- Milestones help segregate employees on the basis of their growth.
Pricing and Models: Tovuti LMS has 5 pricing editions. A free trial of Tovuti LMS is also available. Tovuti Pro is sold for US $775.00 / month (billed annually) for up to 50 users with a setup fee of US $2.5k. There are other plans as well.
Content delivery services: Tovuti has inbuilt authoring tools, third party content, and provides content delivery in the following formats –
- Interactive Video
- Image Hotspots
- 360 Virtual Tour with Interactions
- Memory Matching Games
- Drag and Drop Images
- Interactive Slideshows
- Branching Scenarios
Virtual training platform #3 - 360 Learning
360 learning is a collaborative learning platform. It uses AI and collaborative features to turn in-house experts into L&D collaborators. It helps businesses upskill quickly and continuously, and focuses on resources from within the organization. It is a multilingual virtual training platform that allows businesses to transform L&D into a strategic function. This helps them achieve their goals for onboarding, sales enablement, customer training, and much more.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
360 Learning provides updates every three weeks to keep the tool relevant and offer new features. | The design of 360 Learning platform is complex for senior staff and admins. |
The tool provides all resources, from the engagement academy to blogs and more. It can also be integrated with tools for content creation. | The desktop version of the app is challenging to use. |
Tracking user statistics is very easy, as it can be done through the dashboard or by exporting the data. | The tool lacks automation options, which leads to issues in daily processes. For e.g. it is a cumbersome process to duplicate modules and courses. |
Core Features:
- Inbuilt authoring tool for collaborative course creation and editing.
- AI powered customizations and customized news-feeds for learner engagement.
- Dashboards for users and managers at all levels for better reporting.
- Smart recommendations and personalized learning experiences.
Pricing and Models: 360 Learning provides solutions and services for teams, enterprises and businesses. Prices begin at US $8 per user per month.
Content delivery services: 360 Learning has inbuilt collaborative authoring tools, third party integrations, and allows live training too. Written content is delivered to learners in the following formats –
- True/false
- Single selection
- Multiple choice
- Fill-in-the-blank
- Pick-a-point
- Open-ended questions
- Opinion questions
- Video pitch
- Screencast demo
Virtual training platform #4 - Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS is a virtual training platform that helps organizations achieve their training goals through meaningful learning experiences. Its learner experience allows learners to complete more courses and stay engaged in the learning journey. This helps the LMS produce tangible results. Absorb LMS delivers consistent, on-brand training irrespective of location, language, or learning requirements.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Absorb LMS has a great support team that is highly responsive and helpful. | Absorb support and training portal is challenging to navigate and has lots of outdated information. |
App is intuitive, and it is easy to add a course, make edits/changes and share with employees. | Lack of tools and well developed features, such as search and error flagging in content. |
Absorb LMS provides the convenience of switching between Admin role and Learner role to design better content and see it in real time. | Difficulties in updating SCORM objects. |
Core Features:
- Absorb LMS is an engaging learner platform. It supports multimedia content formats, responsive design, social learning, branded interfaces, and more.
- Absorb LMS provides reliable support 24/7/365 from anywhere.
- Provides ROI for your learning program with flexible and out-of-the-box reporting.
Pricing and Models: Absorb LMS has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service.
Content delivery services: To simplify employee training, Absorb LMS provides a turn-key content library filled with smartly-curated courses. Through Absorb Amplify, users can fuel learner engagement with interactive questions. They can also utilize expert-designed, video-based microlearning courses to secure knowledge retention.
Virtual training platform #5 - Litmos LMS
Litmos is a virtual training platform that provides extensive learning management and a comprehensive learning content library. Litmos has worked with multiple businesses to create, curate, and connect learning content to employees, customers, and partners. Currently, Litmos is used in 150 countries and in more than 30 languages.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Litmos is much easier to implement than open source LMS. | Some functions and features on the Litmos LMS are outdated and need redesign. |
Features such as the Content Author tool and the ability to export SCORM files make it easy for beginners to use the tool. | Litmos currently has no way to clone modules/courses, as well as learning paths. |
Litmos has a clean and intuitive UX/UI and offers multiple integrations. | Litmos’s prices and fees are per user, making it excessively expensive. |
Core Features:
- Litmos provides inbuilt video conferencing, video management and virtual classroom features to make it a proper virtual training platform.
- Litmos provides options for both instructor-led training and in-built content authoring for quizzes and gamified content.
- Litmos has a robust library of off-the-shelf learning content that ranges from personal development to professional courses such as HR management, leadership development and more.
Pricing and Models: Litmos LMS has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service. On sharing your needs on their website, you can consult with their experts.
Content delivery services: Litmos LMS has in-built content authoring tools for creating relevant quizzes and assessments. Besides, Limtos also provides an ever-growing library of relevant training courses. This includes video based courses and short, engaging written content to cover course material. Litmos also provides supplemental materials (e.g. workbooks, handouts, etc.)
Virtual training platform #6 - LearnUpon LMS
LearnUpon is a virtual training platform that unifies, coordinates, and streamlines training delivery across enterprises. This makes it a business’s one-stop for learning needs, such as course creation, checking progress and reporting. LearnUpon combines user-focused technology and industry-leading expertise to deliver effective training. This helps businesses adapt to the learning needs of employees, and partners with minimal efforts.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
LearnUpon makes it easy for users to upload SCORM files or create content using their native software. | LearnUpon provides limited integrations and automations, making day-to-day tasks challenging. |
LearnUpon has easy upload features for users to create new courses. | Challenges in bulk-actions. For e.g. when removing learners, an entire group cannot be removed. |
LearnUpon has good customer support and success management teams that connect with users frequently. | LearnUpon struggles with the balance of thoroughly testing new features versus getting the update into users’ hands. |
Core Features:
- LearnUpon provides templates for course creation based on industry or role. It also provides tools to create training materials for instructor-led and self-led courses.
- LearnUpon provides a self-paced option for users to start, pause and resume courses according to their preference.
- Training courses can be offered outside organizations to customers and partners. LearnUpon can include e-Commerce functionality for customers to purchase training courses.
Pricing and Models: LearnUpon LMS has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service.
Content delivery services: LearnUpon LMS offers a range of interactive content options, including webinar and instructor-led training, SCORM and xAPI files, documents, and videos.
Virtual training platform #7 - Docebo
Docebo is a virtual training platform that brings employees, customers and partners to one platform. With Docebo’s multi-product learning suite, businesses around the world are equipped to tackle any learning challenge. It is designed to create a true learning culture within an organization. Docebo helps understand the business impact of their learning experiences through its Learning Suite.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Docebo gives its users the ability to sell online courses to multiple external audiences. It is designed to help customers in all steps of their life-cycle, providing strong partner channels. | Docebo’s price is relatively high to set up. There is no free trial available, which makes it challenging to understand the software before purchasing. |
Docebo’s Discover, Coach, and Share products are highly innovative, allowing learners to connect around shared interests and build a learning community. | There is no ability to control visibility of courses. It must be managed by course catalogs. |
It has a potent configuration engine tool that helps a user create audience-specific pages. | Docebo lacks customization options for the course interface. Because of the limited design options, it is difficult to match the course player to the company’s branding. |
Core Features:
- Docebo’s Shape and Content features help build courses with easy uploads, as well as existing content libraries.
- Docebo integrates with 3rd-party systems like Salesforce, Workday, and Zendesk to show how programs influence business KPIs.
- Docebo provides free and paid native integrations to connect commonly used tools for more flexibility.
Pricing and Models: Docebo LMS has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service.
Content delivery services: Docebo offers a range of interactive content options from its library. It also provides a simple functionality for users to upload content in video, text, document, as well as SCORM file formats.
Virtual training platform #8 - Northpass
Northpass provides an intuitive software that simplifies the creation of effective and engaging training content. This virtual training platform enables learning where and when required by users. Currently. Northpass handles more than 350 businesses. The product is used to train 4M+ learners across their customers, partners, and workforces.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Creating a course or certification is very easy on Northpass. | Northpass has limited functionality for content creation. Reporting is also not extensive. |
Northpass is user friendly and provides the ability to design custom courses, learning paths, and live training. | It has limited integrations for automation, such as enrollment, certificate awarding and billing. |
Northpass is highly customizable and allows users to make changes to content, display and much more. | It is challenging to make your own academy the way you want, unless you code your own templates. |
Core Features:
- Northpass helps streamline and scale onboarding. With an onboarding program that delivers relevant and timely resources, it improves efficiency and mitigates churn.
- With a focus on customer education, Northpass helps create content for customers. This helps increase product adoption and sales.
Pricing and Models: Northpass has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service.
Content delivery services: Northpass allows you to upload existing content (e.g. videos, presentations, images and more). This content can be in the form of video, audio, survey, presentation, quiz and more.
Virtual training platform #9 - LMS365
With users in 60+ countries globally, LMS365 is the only cloud-based learning platform built into Microsoft 365. As a virtual training platform, it provides seamless integration with the host of Microsoft’s modern workplace tools. HR, IT, and C-Suite executives from a variety of industries leverage the platform to deliver training, learning, and onboarding to remote employees using Microsoft 365.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
Seamless compatibility with Office365 products makes it easier to integrate seamlessly into Microsoft Teams and Outlook calendars. | Bulk management is challenging on LMS365. This includes enrolling a bulk of learners and assigning them different learning paths. |
It is easy to add learners, create certifications, or add graphics for an engaging learner experience. | The reporting function on LMS365 can be simpler and easier to configure. The reporting currently lacks graphs. |
It is relatively easy to add different media formats on LMS365. | LMS365 requires improvements with uploads and document storage. |
Core Features:
- LMS365 is the only learning platform built directly into Microsoft 365. It delivers seamless functionality and high ease of use for both administrators and learners using Microsoft products.
- LMS365 is intuitive and helps learners find the tailored courses they need. It supports managers in identifying appropriate training demands, and ensures that learning takes place in a secure and engaging digital environment.
Pricing and Models: LMS365 has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service. However, they have a freemium package for users to check functionalities. LMS365 can be availed through a subscription model as well. More details can be found on their website.
Content delivery services: LMS365 allows you to bring content from third-party providers through SCORM packages. There are also many excellent third-party content authoring tools LMS365 supports, which allows users to delegate power points, word documents, videos, and much more to learners.
Virtual training platform #10 - D2L
D2L is a virtual training platform used equally by educators and businesses. Through two of its main products, D2L helps businesses make training and learning easier. D2L Brightspace, a learning innovation platform, is built to create highly personalized experiences to unlock learner potential at scale. D2L Wave streamlines workplace talent development, making it easier to build skills, ignite engagement, and empower growth.
Product likes | Product dislikes |
D2L provides educators and trainers to customize the assignments according to the learning levels and needs of students and trainees. | The product has UX issues, as simple operations often take too many clicks. Simple adjustments can be confusing to execute and time consuming. |
D2L provides release conditions that allow the instructor to pace the course and automatically reward the learners. | Aligning learning outcomes is complicated, and at times users do not get the final content as intended. |
D2L’s support team provides plenty of online support. | D2L has limited documentation. This can be challenging for users to find their own solutions. |
Core Features:
- D2L helps implement personalized learning experiences easily and at scale. It helps learning and development by automating tasks, and improves learner engagement through interactive content.
- The D2L wave product helps users find content that aligns best with their needs. It provides core e-learning features, mobile accessibility, granular personalization, and analytics insights.
Pricing and Models: D2L has not publicly provided pricing information for its product or service.
Content delivery services: D2L allows you to bring content from third-party providers through various integrations. It also provides many pre-built courses through its Wave product.
Conclusion
We have gone through multiple solutions that might fit the training needs of your business. However, it is essential to understand the needs of your employees before narrowing down on the perfect virtual training platform. If your team is new to virtual training platforms, RapL can help them adapt to a digital form of training easily. It is easy for users to imbibe the course content and improve their skills. Our customers love RapL due to its personalization and specificity. Log on to getrapl.com to learn more about how to train your employees better and elevate your workforce.
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