This document provides guidance on creating an effective request for proposal (RFP) for selecting a learning management system (LMS). It recommends using a comprehensive evaluation framework that examines vendors and products across key criteria categories like usability, capabilities, manageability, and total cost of ownership. The document outlines the steps in the RFP process, including defining business goals and requirements. It also provides tips for vendors on what information to include in their RFP responses, such as pricing details, answers to requirements questions, and case studies. Overall, the document advocates for establishing a clear business case and utilizing best practices to structure an LMS RFP that thoroughly evaluates solutions.
How to Create an Effective RFP for your LMS Project
1. How to Create an Effective RFP
for Your LMS Project
Mark Smith
CEO & Chief Research Officer
Ventana Research
Lee Collier
Senior Account Executive
Docebo
2. Docebo is a global SaaS enterprise Learning
Management System (LMS) used in more
than 80 countries and offered in over 30
languages. Established in 2005, Docebo
offers a learning ecosystem for companies
and their employees, partners and
customers that is designed to increase
performance and learning engagement.
Docebo is a learner-centric technology,
heralded by PCMag.com as “the best online
learning platform for business on the
market.”
Docebo
27. Creating and Submitting an RFP to LMS Vendors
What information do vendors need to know?
What’s the best way to format your RFP?
What should you expect vendors to include in the
RFP response?
28. What do LMS Vendors Need to Know?
Your use case and users
What is your use case(s)?
Who is your primary learning audience?
Your learning objectives
What are the top challenges you wish to resolve with an LMS?
How will you measure success?
Your timelines
Set realistic and specific deadlines for each stage of the RFP process.
Communicate these clearly to the vendor.
Provide the vendor with contextual information regarding your business.
Be sure to include information about:
29. What’s the Best Way to Format an LMS RFP?
There’s currently no standard format or
tool for building an RFP.
Clearly outline your learning requirements
as they apply to your use case.
Use a Word document, a spreadsheet, or
both
- A word document makes it easier to include detailed
information (for both the client and the vendor)
- A spreadsheet will make it easier to perform a
structured comparison
30. What Should You Expect Vendors to Include in the RFP
Response?
Vendor profile information
E.g., contact information, key differentiation
Pricing information
Based on your specific use case(s), implementation requirements, etc.
Any other information that will demonstrate the value of their solution for
your particular use case
E.g., customer references, case studies
In addition to providing answers to your questions about their solution’s
learning, security, and implementation requirements, the vendor might include:
31. TIP: Use an LMS RFP Template
Advantages of using an LMS RFP template:
• Provides a good starting point for building an RFP
• Helps to build a thorough list of questions
• Speeds up the RFP process
Note: When using a template, go through all of the learning requirements
listed and modify them according to your own use case.
32. Free LMS RFP Template
Download it here: https://www.docebo.com/elearning-lms-resources/
Note: We’ll send our free LMS template to all webinar registrants! Keep an eye on your
inbox.
Part A: Client Information
To be completed by the client – provide information about your use case, learning objectives, etc.
Part B: Vendor Response
To be completed by the vendor – contains questions about their solution regarding learning,
technical/architecture, security, and implementation requirements.
33. Questions?
Mark Smith
CEO & Chief Research Officer
Ventana Research
Lee Collier
Senior Account Executive
Docebo