When exploring the vast frontier of learning management systems, chances are good at some point you will be invited to attend a user group. But what is a user group and what can it do for you?
A user group can be defined as a collection of people who meet to exchange information and views on a piece of software or technology. User groups occur every day around the world for every piece of technology imaginable, including video games, software, computers, and in this case, TargetSolutions’ online training and records management system.
2018-ts-firehouse-workshop-logo-digitalFor example, TargetSolutions holds a user group in downtown San Diego during the annual Firehouse World convention. This year’s event, which is now open for registration, will be hosted on Tuesday, March 6 at the Marriot Gaslamp Quarter, will connect TargetSolutions’ account managers with users of the platform in an opportune presentation of tips and tricks to demonstrate the system’s full potential.
Typically, user groups take on the form of specialty workshops composed of stations set up for users and account managers to engage in specialized one-on-one training and demonstrations. From coast to coast, more than 4,000 organizations using TargetSolutions communicate via phone or e-mail, so personalized face-to-face interaction is easily one of the most compelling benefits of such a workshop.
For those who have participated in past user groups, the takeaway is simple: such events enhance relationships and help to build new ones. TargetSolutions’ Regional Sales Manager Kegan Konrady, who is regularly in attendance for company-sponsored user groups, expressed such collaboration in even simpler terms: “It’s always good to be able to put a name with the face.”
An equally invaluable benefit for platform users at these events is the opportunity to interact with other attendees to learn how they use the system for their own organization. For example, the City of Roseville (Calif.) may use TargetSolutions’ online training management system differently than Oklahoma City Fire Department (Okla.).
However, bringing these two agencies together in the same room could undoubtedly reveal capabilities of the platform the other didn’t realize was possible. TargetSolutions is fully customizable and every agency will use it differently, hence why these types of events are the perfect outlet for organizations to learn how to maximize their technology.
Phil Coons, TargetSolutions’ Director of Sales (West), took it one step further by focusing the importance of the events to learn what matters the most to agencies based on geographic needs.
“They bring our clients together and we not only show best practices, but we can learn regionally what matters to the group and allows for cross-education in a peer-to-peer environment,” said Coons. “If there are individuals in attendance who are considering TargetSolutions for their own agency, they get a deeper understanding of TargetSolutions and how their peers are using the platform.”
Indeed, if a friend whose opinions you value recommends a movie, you may be more inclined to watch it. Likewise, if a neighboring fire department or city or government agency has been able to streamline their training with one consolidated online system and offers their stamp of approval, you may be more inclined to take their recommendation.