How Concurrent Slot Pricing Works

Pay for capacity, not per learner. Teach hundreds annually while only paying for simultaneous seats. Here's exactly how it works.

What is Concurrent Slot Pricing?

Unlike traditional per-learner pricing (where you pay for each student) or unlimited models (with restrictive caps), Viizard uses a concurrent learner slot system.

Think of It Like Concert Seats

A concert venue has 100 seats. The venue can host multiple concerts per year—50, 100, even 200 events—but they only need 100 physical seats because people leave after each show.

Viizard works the same way. You subscribe to a pool of learner slots (e.g., 50 slots). You can teach thousands of learners per year, but you only pay for the number who can be enrolled simultaneously.

How It Works: The Lifecycle of a Slot

1. A Learner Enrols → Slot Occupied

When a learner enrols in your course, they're assigned one of your available slots. That slot is now "in use" for the duration of the course.

Your 25-Slot Package: Day 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
15 slots occupied, 10 slots available for new enrolments

2. Course Progresses → Slots Remain Occupied

Throughout the course, those learners continue to occupy their slots. Whether it's a 1-day workshop or a 12-week programme, the slots stay assigned.

3. You Submit Results → Slots Released

When you submit learner results and reports through the Course Design Framework (CDF), their slots are automatically released. This typically happens when:

After Course Completion & Results Submission
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
All 25 slots now available for your next cohort

4. Next Cohort Begins → Slots Reused

The same slots are now available for your next course or cohort. You can immediately enrol new learners without any waiting period.

Real Scenarios: How This Plays Out

📊

Scenario: Peter – 1-Day Workshop Trainer

Teaching smartphone networking certification

Peter's package: 25 learner slots

Course format: 1-day workshop with certificate

Teaching schedule: Every Monday and Thursday

Course price: £100 per learner

Annual Calculation:
• 25 learners × 2 days per week = 50 learners/week
• 50 learners × 48 working weeks = 2,400 learners/year
• 2,400 learners × £100 = £240,000 gross revenue
Result: Peter teaches 2,400 learners per year with a 25-slot package, paying a flat subscription instead of per-learner fees.
🎓

Scenario: Sarah – Multi-Course Business

Running multiple courses simultaneously

Sarah's package: 50 learner slots

Course portfolio:

  • Course A (Beginner): 4 weeks, 20 learners
  • Course B (Intermediate): 6 weeks, 15 learners
  • Course C (Advanced): 8 weeks, 15 learners

How she allocates her 50 slots:

Slot Allocation:
• Course A: 20 slots (running)
• Course B: 15 slots (running)
• Course C: 15 slots (running)
• Total occupied: 50 slots

When Course A completes after 4 weeks:

New Availability:
• Course B: 15 slots (still running, 2 weeks left)
• Course C: 15 slots (still running, 4 weeks left)
• Available: 20 slots freed up

→ Sarah starts Course A again with a new cohort of 20 learners
Result: Sarah runs 3 different courses continuously, teaching 600+ learners per year with strategic slot management, all on a 50-slot subscription.

Cost Per Learner: The Real Numbers

Your actual cost per learner depends on how frequently you cycle learners through your courses. Here's what it looks like with a 50-slot package:

Course Duration Cohorts/Year Learners/Year Cost Per Learner
1-week workshops 48 2,400 ~£0.90
2-week courses 24 1,200 ~£1.80
4-week courses 12 600 ~£3.60
8-week courses 6 300 ~£7.20
12-week courses 4 200 ~£10.80

Note: Based on indicative pricing. Actual costs vary by package tier.

Comparison to Other Pricing Models

Example: Teaching 300 Learners Per Year

Platform Model What You Pay
Course Marketplace Revenue sharing 50-63% of all revenue (thousands)
Per-Learner Platform £5-15 per learner £1,500 - £4,500 per year
Transaction Fee Platform 5-10% per transaction 5-10% of all revenue
Viizard (50 slots) Concurrent capacity Flat subscription (teach 300 or 600)
Key Difference: With Viizard, your cost doesn't increase as you teach more learners—only if you need more simultaneous capacity.

Strategic Flexibility

The concurrent slot model gives you complete control over how you allocate your capacity:

What Happens If You Hit Your Limit?

If all your slots are currently occupied and someone tries to enrol:

  1. They see "Course Full" (just like any capacity-limited course)
  2. They don't know it's a platform limit vs. your course decision—it's handled professionally
  3. You have two options:
    • Wait: For current courses to complete and slots to release
    • Upgrade: Increase your slot count immediately for additional capacity

Key Takeaways

  • Pay for simultaneous capacity, not total learners per year
  • Slots automatically release when you submit results through the CDF
  • The same slots can be reused unlimited times across unlimited courses
  • Short courses = higher annual throughput with the same slot count
  • Your cost per learner decreases as you teach more efficiently
  • Upgrade your capacity anytime as your business grows

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a "learner slot"?

A learner slot is one space in your concurrent capacity. When a learner enrols in a course, they occupy one slot. When the course completes and you submit their results, that slot is freed and can be assigned to a new learner.

Think of it as a seat in a classroom that can be reused for different students throughout the year.

When exactly are slots released?

Slots are released when you submit learner results and reports through the Course Design Framework (CDF). This typically occurs when:

  • Learners complete all course requirements
  • You issue their certificates
  • You submit final grades and results

The release is automatic—you don't need to manually free up slots.

Can I run multiple courses at the same time?

Yes. You can allocate your slots across as many courses as you want simultaneously. For example, with 50 slots, you could run three courses at once: 20 slots for Course A, 15 for Course B, and 15 for Course C.

As courses complete, those slots become available for new cohorts.

What if I need more capacity?

You can upgrade your slot count at any time. The upgrade takes effect immediately, and you'll be billed pro-rata for the remainder of your billing cycle.

We recommend starting with a package that fits your current needs—you can always scale up as demand grows.

Is there a limit to how many courses I can create?

No. All packages include unlimited courses. You can create as many different courses as you want—your subscription is based on concurrent learner capacity, not the number of courses.

How does this compare to paying per learner?

Per-learner pricing means every student costs you money, regardless of course length. With concurrent slots, you pay for capacity—not headcount.

Example: Teaching 500 learners per year on a per-learner model at £10 each = £5,000. Teaching 500 learners with a 50-slot concurrent model = one flat subscription, regardless of whether you teach 500 or 1,000 learners.

What happens if a learner doesn't complete the course?

If a learner doesn't complete, you can still submit results (even if those results are "incomplete" or "withdrawn"). Once you submit, their slot is released.

You have control over when to release slots based on your course policies.

Can I see my current slot usage?

Yes. Your dashboard shows real-time slot utilisation: how many are currently occupied, available, and allocated across different courses. You'll always know your capacity status.

Is this model better for high-volume or low-volume educators?

It works brilliantly for both:

  • High-volume educators: Teach hundreds or thousands per year without per-learner costs mounting
  • Low-volume educators: Pay only for capacity you need, start small, scale gradually

The key advantage is flexibility—you're not penalised for success.

What if I want to downgrade my slot count?

You can downgrade at your next billing cycle, provided your current slot usage is below the new limit. For example, if you have 50 slots but only use 25 consistently, you can downgrade to a 25-slot package at renewal.

Ready to See Your Numbers?

Calculate your cost per learner based on your teaching model, or start your free trial to experience the platform firsthand.