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.
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:
- Learners complete all requirements
- You issue their certificates
- You submit final grades/results
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
Peter's package: 25 learner slots
Course format: 1-day workshop with certificate
Teaching schedule: Every Monday and Thursday
Course price: £100 per learner
• 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
Scenario: Sarah – Multi-Course Business
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:
• 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:
• 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
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) |
Strategic Flexibility
The concurrent slot model gives you complete control over how you allocate your capacity:
- Multiple courses simultaneously: Allocate 20 slots to one course, 30 to another
- Different course lengths: Mix short workshops with long programmes
- Seasonal adjustments: Run large cohorts when demand is high, smaller ones otherwise
- Unlimited courses: Create as many different courses as you want—slots work across all of them
- Upgrade anytime: Need more capacity? Upgrade your slot count mid-cycle
What Happens If You Hit Your Limit?
If all your slots are currently occupied and someone tries to enrol:
- They see "Course Full" (just like any capacity-limited course)
- They don't know it's a platform limit vs. your course decision—it's handled professionally
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.