Making the Most of Today’s Staff Training Tools (Part 1)

CHICAGO — Training new employees is an important yet time-consuming part of running a small business. For laundromat owners, where daily tasks must be done quickly, safely, and consistently, having the right training systems in place can save time, reduce mistakes, and keep customers happy.

Thankfully, there are plenty of easy-to-use online tools designed to help small-business owners create efficient, repeatable training processes without needing a human relations team.

Whether you're training staff to operate machines, clean thoroughly, or deliver great customer service, the tools in this article can help you build a better onboarding experience—and keep your team running smoothly from day one.

(Editor’s note: The following is provided for informational purposes only. They are not recommendations by American Coin-Op or its staff. Consult individual tools for demos and product pricing, where applicable.

TRAINING & ONBOARDING PLATFORMS

Trainual

Where: trainual.com
What it does: A platform to create step-by-step training guides and SOPs (standard operating procedures). You can include videos, quizzes, and checklists.
Benefits: You can build a repeatable onboarding experience—ideal if you have high turnover or multiple part-time staff. Great for showing how to open/close the store, clean lint traps, handle difficult customers, etc.

TalentLMS

Where: talentlms.com
What it does: An online learning management system (LMS) where you can upload videos, documents, and quizzes.
Benefits: Excellent for structuring training into modules. Helps you track which employees completed which lessons—useful if you want to make sure everyone’s trained on safety, machine operation, and customer service.

Seismic

Where: seismic.com
What it does: A simple training platform focused on role-based skills and practice scenarios.
Benefits: Good for customer interaction practice or testing how employees would react in certain situations. Especially useful if your laundromat offers drop-off services or customer service is a big focus.

Tovuti LMS

Where: tovutilms.com
What it does: Interactive LMS that supports quizzes, gamified learning, and certifications.
Benefits: Great for visual learners or when translating procedures into multiple languages.

TASK & PROCESS DOCUMENTATION

Scribe

Where: scribehow.com
What it does: Creates step-by-step visual guides automatically by recording your screen and actions.
Benefits: Perfect for documenting how to operate machines or run the POS system. Instead of typing up manuals, just record your workflow and turn it into a guide with screenshots and text.

Trello

Where: trello.com
What it does: Task management app with boards, cards, and checklists.
Benefits: You can organize daily duties (like cleaning schedule, restocking soap, or cashing out) and assign tasks to specific employees. Also great for onboarding workflows.

Notion

Where: notion.so
What it does: An all-in-one workspace for notes, documents, databases, and collaboration.
Benefits: Create a digital employee handbook, include videos and policies, and give access to new hires. Great for centralizing everything from opening procedures to safety checklists.

Process Street

Where: process.st
What it does: Workflow tool for creating checklists and automating repeatable business processes.
Benefits: Ensure consistency with procedures like “start-of-day” routines or “handling refunds.”

VIDEO & VISUAL TRAINING

Loom

Where: loom.com
What it does: Screen and webcam recorder for making instructional videos.
Benefits: Record short videos like “How to clean the soap dispensers” or “How to reboot the change machine.” Share links via email or embed them in your training materials.

Canva

Where: canva.com
What it does: Graphic design tool with easy drag-and-drop features and templates.
Benefits: Make professional-looking training posters (e.g., “Don’t forget to empty the lint trap!”) or quick visual guides to post around the store.

YouTube (Private Playlist)

Where: youtube.com
What it does: Free video hosting platform. You can upload and organize your own videos.
Benefits: Upload employee training videos and keep them private or unlisted. Makes it easy to reuse your content every time you hire someone new.

Animoto

Where: animoto.com
What it does: Drag-and-drop video maker that turns images and clips into professional presentations.
Benefits: Create quick, visual explainer videos for policies or service standards.

In Thursday’s conclusion: Tools for interactive and hands-on training, and for communication and scheduling