A Learning Management System (LMS) is software for creating, store, deploy, track, report, and automating learning and development program within an organization. An LMS facilitates a company’s learning strategy, whether it is training new employees or upskilling current employees. It is used to plan, implement, and evaluate a specific learning process. It is used in eLearning practices and, in its most popular type, includes two elements: a server that performs basic functionality and a user interface which instructors, students, and administrators operate.

The Most Important Advantages of Learning Management Systems

Using learning management systems can help businesses save time and money. LMS platforms, which serve as a focal point for learning and development, allow training materials to be generated once and then distributed across the organization for use by various personnel. Online training avoids any travel-related costs that might be associated with traditional in-person training and can be done whenever it is most convenient for each employee.

Systems for managing learning also contribute to improved performance and productivity inside a business. Employees’ skills and knowledge grow when they take part in regular training. Each employee will be aware of the proper way to accomplish a task once standardized processes are taught via the learning management system. This may result in less time being spent on each activity, increasing output in other areas.

A solid onboarding process establishes the tone for life at your company and aids in engaging and retaining new employees. According to studies, a thorough onboarding process increases the likelihood of employees staying on the job for three years or more by 69 percent.

LMS software also aids in monitoring learning outcomes so you can spot areas that want improvement. Employee failure rates during training sessions may be a sign that the program isn’t as effective as it may be. It could be time to revise or refresh the training program entirely. HR and other stakeholders can use an LMS to see who has started a course, where they are in it, how many individuals have passed or failed, and who is behind on required training, among other things.

Types of Learning Management Systems

A locally hosted LMS or a cloud-based LMS are the two main categories of learning management systems.

Software that is locally hosted and maintained by your internal IT staff. For this kind of LMS, there is often a significant startup charge and a fixed license length. Limited support is provided by providers for this kind of software. A locally hosted LMS normally has a lower ongoing cost and generally more customization options, so if you have a dedicated team that can handle the security and operation of the software, this is an excellent option.

Software that is hosted online by a vendor is known as cloud-based LMS. To use this kind of LMS, you normally won’t need a robust IT infrastructure. Depending on the services you select and the number of members, there is typically a monthly subscription. The majority of the LMS’s servicing, maintenance, and security will be handled by the provider.