We are steadily shifting to a nation of predominantly mobile users and it is refusing to slow down. More than 7 times the amount of mobile devices than PC’s are expected to be purchased this year. So why not utilise this in your learning strategy?

It’s been just over a year since I made the transition from a role in Sales and Account Management to Customer Success Manager, setting up a new department and championing our vision to work with customers and assisting them to utilise their training management software to drive success.

When introducing a new process, system or solution into a business it is imperative that all members of the organisation buy in to the chosen method. Priorities differ from role to role making it important to understand individual and departmental needs. It is also key to identify what the benefits would be to yourself and your team. The first in the series, this blog will be taking a look at advantages of an automated system for the Finance department.  

According to a recent Microsoft survey the average human’s attention span is 8 seconds. That’s 1 second shorter than that of a goldfish! People now expect the ‘Amazon experience’; the ability to search for and choose a product or service quickly, pay in an instant and have 24/7 access. Advancing technology has created the opportunity to facilitate this. When seeking to implement an online booking system, here are 3 key advantages.

A training management system is an extremely versatile piece of a software. From running events and handling driver offences to providing a platform to manage exams and stay on top of employee compliance. This 10 part series looks at the varied ways a course management system can be utilised. The first in the series focuses on how Musgrave use a system to support 55,000 employees' Learning & Development across Europe. 

When exploring a new topic or looking to make a new purchase, research is key. That is why we have just added a dedicated, easy to browse area where all of our resources can be found! The aim of the Resource Centre is to facilitate individuals looking to further their knowledge in the field of training management and also to support the process of researching, selecting and purchasing an automated system.   

Being a training provider, it can be easy to expect customers to come to you when they have a requirement. But it is crucial to understand that there are probably many other providers that offer exactly what you do. However if you do happen to be the only one in a 500 mile radius, do consumers know what it is that you provide and see you as a trusted, knowledgeable supplier?  

As a software house, we feel that our levels of customer service and support really do set us apart from the crowd. Software suppliers are sometimes seen as too machinelike and as not having enough of a human touch. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that this month (September 2015) we gained the Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Award. 

It can get frustrating constantly being asked to take part in surveys. This week alone, I have been offered a card or a code by two retailers to provide feedback. However, as a Marketer I am fully aware of how important it is to gather information and the value that it can add for the consumer. 

Purchasing software to run your business is no easy feat and not one to be taken on lightly. Choosing an automated solution that affects every part of your business requires a clear understanding of your requirements, in-depth research of your options and commitment to the purchasing process. This blog offers some key areas to explore when comparing training management software and learning management systems.

Today marks the last day of National Customer Service Week (#NCSW). I thought that this made it the ideal opportunity to question whether customer service really is a key driver when purchasing software and to gain some feedback from individuals who have invested in software systems.  

The process of introducing a new software system or way of working can be challenging and often met with opposition. That is why it’s important to ensure that all departments as well as individuals within an organisation are satisfied, even thrilled, by the selection. This series looks at different priorities within key departments with this blog focusing on the HR department.

Did you know that this week (19th - 25th October) is Get Safe Online Week which aims to highlight the importance of protecting your personal information online.  With the number of businesses opting for online booking and web integration as part of their course management system it’s really important to us that everyone is aware of eCommerce best practice and the simple things that can help protect identities online.    

When booking a holiday or ordering a new pair of shoes, where is the first place you would look? A large proportion of us would answer online. Even food shopping has moved on to the web! So why should training and education be any different? Online course booking allows potential customers to search for and register on to training quickly and hassle free.   

Implementation costs can be a huge deterrent for companies when purchasing software. But why? Successful implementation is crucial. One statistic claims that 63% of CRM installations fail due to poor implementation. That’s over half! Thus demonstrating the great importance in getting it right first time.

When a company reaches a certain size, properly administering training can emerge as a growing concern. Targeting, enrolling, monitoring, recording and reporting on training becomes an issue for someone to solve - a very time consuming issue. And, when it comes to business, you cannot discuss Time without its companion Money.

We are extremely pleased to announce that we have been chosen as a finalist in the Institute of Customer Service Customer Satisfaction Awards category of Morrison Utility Services Customer Focus Award - SME. This follows continuous work and development to ensure that the customer is the focus of everything that we do at accessplanit. 

In the world of software, support is key. From asking a simple question to wanting to learn about a piece of functionality that you have never used before. But how can you make sure that you are getting the best support that you can? This blog looks at 3 key easy steps to get better support from your software supplier.

What is a report? Given the recent controversy surrounding Oxford Dictionaries I thought it only suitable to get a definition straight from there. Oxford Dictionaries defines a report as to ‘give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated’. As businesses we all do it. But how do we know that we are doing it effectively and that we are using the information for maximum benefit?

Continuing our series looking at how versatile a training management system can be, I wanted to share with you how global consultant and construction company, Mace incorporated QR codes into their processes to speed up record verification across their supply chain partners. 

We are very pleased to have been awarded a place on the G-Cloud framework for the supply of our training management software. G-Cloud 7 allows public sector organisations to purchase directly from the framework, vastly simplifying the procurement process. It also gives the purchaser confidence as all suppliers on the framework have been verified by a government service with G-Cloud 7 being the most up to date version.  

The process of introducing a new software system or way of working can often be met with opposition within an organisation. This makes it key to ensure that all individuals are satisfied with the selection. This series looks at different priorities within key areas of your business however this addition has a slight twist focusing on your course delegates rather than internal stakeholders.

As you know, I’m passionate about helping you to make employees, teams and organizations great by to retaining, creating and hiring top talent. One key component of this is how you ensure new starters (hopefully A-players) hit the ground running. So I’m really pleased to feature this guest post by Sat Sindhar, Managing Director of Human Resources Software company People HR. Enjoy! — Alexis Do your new starters race ahead on day one? Or do they sit back for the first few weeks, adjusting to their new environment and learning the ins and outs of their new job? There’s nothing inherently wrong with taking a while to settle in… but wouldn’t it be nice if we could speed up that process, if only just a little? Each new starter is different. But if you follow the five steps below with each of your new starters, you should find an overall improvement in terms of the time it takes them to start doing their ‘thing’. Step One: Try Before You Buy Before you even make your first hire, you should - if you’re able - offer candidates the chance to spend a day, or even a couple of hours, in the job role they’re applying for. Not only does this help you to assess their abilities beyond the black and white of their resume, but it also helps them to get a feel for the job they’re applying for before they actually start. You shouldn’t base your hiring decision on this trial run alone, of course - but you can certainly use it as a piece of evidence, along with any other work samples you’ve requested, or interviews you’ve conducted. Step Two: List Their Responsibilities On a new starter’s very first day, you should make sure they receive a task list / list of responsibilities, which covers all the goals you expect them to accomplish within their first three months. This can really help your new starter’s confidence by giving them a clear set of objectives to work towards, and it’s a great way to make sure they’re doing the right thing from day one! You might even consider offering a reward or bonus once this initial set of tasks/goals has been completed. Step Three: Pair Them Up  A common issue for new starters is feeling lost, lonely and socially awkward in their new environment. A great way to combat this is to provide each new starter with a designated ‘buddy’, who will ideally be working in a similar function, and who will ideally have a lot of experience within your company. This not only gives your new starter a place to turn to for advice with their job role, but it also provides them with a bit of social support and a feeling of acceptance. Over time, they will forge their own relationships, but it certainly helps to have the support of a friendly face to take you through your first few weeks. Step Four: Orchestrate An Achievement One thing that can really help your new starter to grow their confidence and trust their own initiative, is to set them a task that can be completed quickly, and that you know they can achieve. Giving your new starter a ‘quick win’ like this is a great way to reinforce a positive, ‘can-do’ mental attitude, and it will lead to more ‘real wins’ for your company in the future. Don’t make the task too simple though - choose something that will actually challenge their skills a little, and something that relates to the job role you hired them for! Step Five: Say Thanks! If there’s one thing new starters need, it is regular recognition, and confirmation that they’re doing their job correctly. In fact, research from Harvard Business School found that productivity increased by around 50% when a CEO visited each of his workers to personally thank them for a job well done - so don’t be shy to check-in on your new starter at the end of each day to say "great job today - keep it up" - you’ll be surprised how much it helps. Sat Sindhar is passionate about helping HR professionals make big impact within their organisation, and he loves to help business owners understand the true value of their workforce. His company, People HR, provides small and medium businesses with essential HR admin tools - such as a central employee database and smart holiday planner - plus it includes a range of exclusive extras that help ambitious HR professionals to deliver relevant, noticeable results for their company. Liked this guest post? Read their blog , watch their videos or follow them on Twitter.

When you decide to start a business, you’ve got a lot to think about. It’s also a very emotional time full of excitement, fear, and varying levels of support from those closest to you. In this article, I’m going to zero in on the first 3 decisions you should make before doing anything else. If you’ve already started, make sure you review these to make sure you’ve got a great foundation before continuing. 1. Your purpose Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur? If your answer is "I want to create the next Facebook" or "I want to make a billion dollars", you’ve got a problem. Big success stories can provide powerful inspiration but don’t try to walk in their footsteps. You need your own vision, based on your passion. So, first work out you’re passionate about. This is likely to be something that you have returned to again and again in your life (e.g. Teaching. Writing, Building), or that you get ‘on your pedestal’ about when talking to others (e.g. Power of meditation, plight of farmers etc), or might have on your ‘someday I’d love to…’ list (e.g. Be a travel writer, host a TV show, work with apes etc). Try not to filter yourself too early. Just write a few ideas down. Don’t think about whether you can make money from it or what your product would be just yet. Personally, my passion is for entrepreneurship - specifically the mechanics of how to build successful businesses, and even more specifically, how those businesses can support enriched personal lives of parentpreneurs (entrepreneurs who have kids) so that they can spend time with their partners and children. Don’t worry if yours isn’t this specific yet, you’ll get there with the next couple of decisions. If you want some further help developing this, read ‘Live it!’ by Jairek Robbins. 2. Who your purpose ‘helps’ "People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it." - Simon Sinek For you to turn your your dream into a reality, your customers, employees, and other stakeholders have to feel a connection with your product or service. Watch this video of a TED talk from Simon Sinek to really ‘get’ this. Once you’ve watched that video, write down some ideas for what purpose other people could get behind / excited about. Specifically, who do you care about helping? Who would be your perfect customer to work with and serve? For example, if your passion is writing about holiday destinations, that’s not going to inspire others… But "helping large families with 4+ kids find the perfect holiday destination" is actually pretty inspiring to a specific group of people. Simon Sinek has written a book called "Start with Why" that will help you if you are struggling with this. 3. What you will help your target customer achieve / overcome Now you know who you are going to help, you need to be clear on the problem you’ll help them overcome or goal you’ll help them achieve. To do this, speak to people in your target audience 1-2-1. That’s right speak to them! Surveys just can’t do this well enough (trust me, I love surveys and even own an online survey tool business, yet I still do this 1-2-1!). Ask them: What are their goals / priorities? What problems / obstacles do they face? What questions are they are asking? What solutions do they current use to address these problems and answer these questions? Why haven’t they solved it already? What’s wrong with existing solutions? What is the most difficult / tricky aspect of the problem? What benefit does overcoming the problem provide them with? What solution(s) would help them achieve their goals / overcome these problems? This research can feel awkward, needs a lot of patience, and may completely go against your initial gut feel for the ‘answer’. However, if you don’t do this, you’ll be likely to spend months and $1,000s working on a business that is doomed to failure because you haven’t framed your product/service in terms of what your customer wants. And guess what? Your target customer wants you to build a product that solves their problem, so they’ll happily talk to you about it! Once you have a good understanding of what your target audience want (6-10 interviews should be enough), write it down, and use as much of their words as possible to keep you focused on their needs. Don’t worry if it’s ‘wordy’ or grammatically incorrect - this isn’t marketing copy yet - it’s a statement from the ‘voice of your customer’. For example, here’s mine: "I provide baby/child-friendly (online) accelerator programs, training / coaching / support for parentpreneurs who want to quickly identify the right steps to take to make their business successful, so they can spend time with their families. This includes identifying the right idea, validating their proposition with customers, creating their business model, developing a detailed plan, making time for their start-up, and identifying their top priorities to work on." Want to learn more? Click here to learn the exact steps I go through to create and test a winning start-up strategy to avoid wasting time and money on a business that is doomed to fail, and instead follow the steps to build a business that achieves your dreams.