7 benefits of learning management systems
When your business offers employees the opportunity to learn, it can be a challenge to keep on top of everything. This especially applies if there are multiple employees within different departments taking courses in a wide variety of subjects.
This is where a learning management system comes in, and provides businesses with a simple solution for keeping track of employee training.
But what exactly is an LMS, and how do they work? Here, we’ll explore everything you need to know about learning management systems, including why they’re so important, who they benefit, as well as their many advantages.
What is a learning management system?
A learning management system (LMS) is a piece of software that allows a business to store, manage, provide, and track all training-related materials.
An LMS makes e-learning not only easier for an organization, but also for its students, and can increase enrolment rates and engagement.
There are hundreds of quality programs available on the market, so it’s important to consider your business's goals and objectives, and how serious you consider employee learning and development. Because if you take them seriously, then you may find that an LMS is exactly what you need.
What does a learning management system do?
Learning management systems allow HR personnel and business owners to:
- Oversee training and e-learning throughout the business
- Training for new employees
- Set and manage employee goals
- Track individual progress
- Communicate with students
- View detailed analytics
- Identify skills gaps
- Identify students who may need additional support
- Present data
Three major differences apply to learning management systems, which will affect how you operate your LMS and how much it costs:
- Free or commercial - a free version may have limited features or functionality when compared to a commercial version
- Cloud-based or installed - a cloud-based LMS stores data on an external server, while an installed version stores data within the organization
- Open-source or proprietary - A proprietary LMS will require you to pay a subscription fee, whereas open-source LMS software is free and customizable, but is maintained in-house
Learning management systems aren’t to be confused with a learning management content system (LCMS). While an LMS is used to manage existing training materials, such as ebooks, videos, and quizzes, an LCMS is used to create learning materials. An LMS and LCMS can be used together, but unless your organization plans on creating a large number of training courses, then you will only want to consider an LMS.
While frequently used to manage employee training, learning management systems aren’t only used by businesses. Other organizations that utilize the features of an LMS include educational institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities.
Why use a learning management system within your business?
As well as making the learning process more accessible and simpler for both the organization and the students, there are plenty of other ways to take advantage of a learning management system’s features:
- Save time and money training students and employees using pre-designed courses provided by an e-learning platform, such as Go1 - and Go1 is compatible with a wide range of learning management systems
- By offering training via an e-learning system, you ensure that all students receive consistent opportunities, despite learning at different paces
- Use analytics to track performance and monitor how students utilize and engage with training materials
- Ensure students undertake mandatory courses such as fire safety, first-aid, and onboarding training
If you’re unsure whether or not your business would benefit from an LMS, discover more in our post, Is your organization ready for a Learning Management System?
What makes a good learning management system?
The best learning management systems will:
Allow you to add your own branding
Paid and open-source software will allow you to customize your LMS, enabling you to use your logo, colors, and fonts, as well as other options to keep it on-brand.
Be compatible with other platforms
Ensure the LMS system you choose is quickly and effortlessly compatible with other software and systems, including content hubs (such as Go1), CRM, payroll, HRIS, and more.
Personalize the learning experience
Not every student learns at the same pace. That’s why a good LMS allows you to personalize the learning experience for students, and identify when additional support is needed.
What to look for in an LMS?
Even with a simple LMS you should expect certain features that improve and streamline the learning experience, including:
A focus on the students
While it’s important that an LMS is user-friendly from an administrative point of view. It’s also vital that there isn’t a steep learning curve for students. Learning is already challenging enough, without additional and unnecessary obstacles.
Mobile-friendly
As well as learning while at work using a desktop computer or laptop, it’s important that students can access an LMS on other devices such as a smartphone or tablet - this makes remote learning far more accessible.
Frequent updates
As technology advances, you need to be comfortable that your LMS will update to ensure it continues to improve, operate, and keep up with the latest trends.
On-demand analytics and reporting
To determine the impact of e-learning and how successful it is, administrators need to be able to produce thorough, easy-to-understand data and reports on-demand.
Surveys
By offering surveys, an LMS allows students to provide feedback and therefore give more insight into how they want to learn in the future.
Updates and alerts
Automated updates allow users to track progress and encourage students to continue with their learning, especially as deadlines approach.
For more information, check out our blog post on Nine things to consider if you’re new to the LMS world.
What are the 7 benefits of a learning management system?
An LMS not only streamlines an organization's training and e-learning processes but offers many other benefits to both employees and business owners.
1. Save money
While an LMS may cost - either via subscription fees or in resources if managed in-house - it will save your business money. Training can be expensive and time-consuming to orchestrate in person, while e-learning is far more cost-effective.
2. Save time
E-learning is self-directed, which means students can learn as and when it’s convenient for them, all easily and quickly accessible via an LMS. It also saves time for administrators organizing training courses.
3. Improve management
An LMS allows for streamlined management and provides administrators and managers with all the tools they need to support the learning process.
4. Ensure mandatory training is completed
Managers can ensure that mandatory training, such as first aid and fire safety - and other industry-specific training - is completed thoroughly and to a high standard.
5. Provide accurate data to stakeholders
Being able to collate accurate data in an easy-to-understand format allows businesses to prove to stakeholders that their training is effective and offers a return on investment.
6. Improves the student experience
By ensuring all training courses and materials are located in one central location it improves the learning experience for students, meaning they’re far more likely to engage with and complete courses.
7. Improves communication
An LMS makes communication between students, teachers, and employers simpler.
What are the best learning management systems?
As we’ve already highlighted, there are hundreds of options, but below are just a few of the best learning management systems available:
A few of the best proprietary learning management systems:
A few of the best open-source learning management systems:
Go1 is compatible with a wide range of learning management systems
By choosing an LMS right for your business, you empower your employees and give them the tools they need to be the best talent in your industry.
Are you ready to elevate the learning experience within your organization? Take full advantage of an LMS by utilizing Go1’s huge range of training courses, perfect for beginners and professionals.
For more insights, subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. Or, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help with your team’s learning needs.
