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Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide a framework through which learning content is delivered and managed. An LMS allows for an anytime, anywhere learning environment, delivering and tracking eLearning courses and testing. A Learning Content Management System (LCMS) enables the organisation to use the learning content from Courseware authoring tools and presentation of the content to students. Learning Management Systems are related to Training software.

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United Kingdom Local product
Kallidus Learn is a Simple, Fast, and Effective Learning Management System that allows you to deliver learning across multiple devices. Learn more about Kallidus Learn
Kallidus Learn is an award-winning, user-focused Learning Management System that allows you to deploy, manage, track and report on all types of learning across multiple devices. Target learning to the right person at the right time and optimise training expenditure. Kallidus Learn is used by some of Britain's favourite brands such as Aston Martin, McLaren Automotive, 22 NHS Trusts, David Lloyd, Hitachi, and Morrisons to deliver a blended learning program and report learning outcomes. Learn more about Kallidus Learn

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Over 1,500 L&D teams around the world partner with LearnUpon LMS to execute their learning strategy and hit their learning goals. Learn more about LearnUpon
At LearnUpon we’re on a mission to help you unlock the power of learning. Combining our award winning LMS and our industry-leading Customer Experience team, we pride ourselves on being a trusted partner to over 1,300 businesses. Every day, L&D teams around the world choose LearnUpon’s intuitive, feature-rich and deeply integrate-able platform to deliver a connected learning experience to millions of learners across their employees, customers and partners. Plans start at £15,000 GBP. Learn more about LearnUpon

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
iQualify: Create courses. Engage learners. Assess instantly. Connect seamlessly. Learn more about iQualify
iQualify is a dynamic online learning platform. Create engaging courses using interactive tasks, and facilitate a rich and flexible online learning experience, anytime and on any device. With no upfront costs or lengthy implementation, you can get started today, allowing you to focus on your core business. Gather real time feedback using our powerful insights and create seamless integrations with other systems using our developer API and EventHub real time events. Learn more about iQualify

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
United Kingdom Local product
Bridge's LMS helps you create a learning culture that engages & develops employees, and is easy to use with robust learning features. Learn more about BRIDGE
Bridge LMS combines an easy to use interface with powerful learning features so you can deliver a people-first learning experience to your employees, partners, and customers. Bridge is perfect for high-growth, culture driven companies that seek to provide connection, alignment, and growth opportunities for their employees. Help your people achieve their full potential with Bridge. Learn more about BRIDGE

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
An AI-powered strategic learning system for enterprises to train and upskill employees, customers, partners, and members. Learn more about Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS is an AI-powered strategic learning system for all learners inside and outside an enterprise, serving customers globally across all industries. Purpose-built for an engaging, personalized learner experience and efficient administration, Absorb enables over 2,350 customers. Employees, customers, partners, and members are empowered to discover, absorb, and apply the knowledge they need. From meeting compliance, motivating learners, upskilling to improve productivity, and creating or curating, and even monetizing course content, Absorb's platform unlocks potential. Learn more about Absorb LMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
TalentLMS is the LMS built for training success. Easy to manage and a joy to use, teams embrace training from the very first click. Learn more about TalentLMS
TalentLMS is the LMS built for training success. Designed to get a "yes" from everyone, it's where great teams, and companies, go to grow. With an experience that's fully customizable and easy to manage, teams embrace training while feeling right at home. TalentLMS makes it easy to provide the right training to any team and every use, while giving expert guidance and support every step of the way. On a mission to democratize training, TalentLMS already serves 70, 000+ teams worldwide. Learn more about TalentLMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
LearnWorlds is a powerful, fully customizable, white-labeled and cloud-based LMS ideal to help you market and sell online courses. Learn more about LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a powerful, fully customizable white-labeled LMS with eCommerce capabilities. As an all-in-one eLearning solution, it is ideal for any professional and business that wants to train employees, educate customers, or create and sell online courses. Unlike an on-premise LMS, this 100% cloud-based LMS is always up-to-date, and it is packed with robust features like interactive video, ebooks, branded mobile app, SCORM content, live sessions, analytics, marketing integrations, and more. Learn more about LearnWorlds

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Bob UK Payroll in HiBob's HCM streamlines HR and payroll for global companies with large UK workforces to reduce errors and save time Learn more about Bob
Bob UK Payroll in HiBob's HCM streamlines HR and payroll for global companies with a large UK workforce. UK Payroll combines the power of an all-in-one HCM with a robust payroll engine that reduces errors caused by manual uploads and provides a unified experience to employees already using Bob for other HR processes. UK Payroll processes end-to-end payroll for UK employees and enables HR and payroll teams to work together on strategic initiatives that benefit the company and employees. Learn more about Bob

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Juno Journey is the LMS that the world’s fastest-growing companies use to create L&D programs that employees and partners love. Learn more about Juno Journey
Juno Journey is the LMS that the world’s fastest-growing companies use to create learning and development programs that employees and partners love – and that drive bottom-line impact. Only Juno Journey enables L&D teams to seamlessly integrate relevant external content from 100+ platforms into development paths for each individual employee, and to easily track and manage learning journeys company-wide. Learn more about Juno Journey

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
United Kingdom Local product
Open LMS

Open LMS

(0) United Kingdom Local product
Open LMS offers two cost-effective, flexible LMSs that support both institutional and organizational learning needs. Learn more about Open LMS
With our exclusive open-source platforms, Open LMS WORK and EDU, we help organizations and institutions deliver incredible learning experiences. Open LMS EDU keeps your institution running on a fully curated, enhanced version of the latest Moodle release, while Open LMS WORK is packed with the features you need for workplace learning success. With endless plugins, over 30 partners and easy integrations, your LMS will have access to video conferencing, gamification, accessibility tools and more! Learn more about Open LMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Use Cases: Academic Learning, Competency Based Learning, Compliance Training, Continuing Education, Customer Training Learn more about ScholarLMS
ScholarLMS helps organizations, institutes, corporates and non-profits achieve their eLearning objectives effectively, efficiently and in an affordable manner. Learn more about ScholarLMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Thought Industries helps enterprise organizations drive revenue growth by optimizing their online training operations at scale. Learn more about Thought Industries
Thought Industries, the #1 B2B customer training platform, enables enterprise organizations to optimize the management and delivery of their client-facing training. More than an LMS, this platform is built to help businesses retain customers through effective, powerful online learning experiences using webinars, events, courses, and incentive-based engagement tools. Build, deliver, monetize, and analyze all aspects of your learning initiative from our consolidated, cloud-based platform. Learn more about Thought Industries

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
A fully customised Retail and Wholesale First Learning Platform & eLearning Provider to create branded and engaging online training. Learn more about Learning Lab
Simplify Learning, Elevate Design. A fully customised Retail and Wholesale First Learning Platform & eLearning Provider to create branded and engaging online training experience. Unleash the potential of your training with our Creative LMS. The Learning Lab is a no-code, white-label, and innovative LMS designed to create interactive, branded learning experiences tailored for the dynamic world of retail training. We are not a 360° LMS; instead, we are a fully retail-dedicated learning platform, specifically designed to meet the unique needs and challenges of the retail industry. Transform Learning into a Branded Experience The Learning Lab is an LMS designed to transform traditional learning into a fully branded experience, aligning education with your unique identity and vision.  It empowers creative-driven organisations by enabling rich, interactive, multimedia learning that captivates and engages learners on a deeper level. Learn more about Learning Lab

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
The imc Learning Suite is an enterprise LMS that makes learning more enjoyable for learners while reducing complexity for managers. Learn more about imc Learning Suite
The imc Learning Suite is a SaaS LMS platform that improves enterprise learning by making the learning experience more enjoyable for learners while streamlining the process and reducing the complexity for managers. It can provide individual learning paths to learners and spark interest in training courses through interactive elements, multimedia content, and gamification features. It integrates with business processes, enables the consolidation of a distributed learning landscape, and can include external learners from partners. Whether you need face-to-face, blended, or online courses, the imc Learning Suite can act as your centralized management platform. It is used by more than 12 million users worldwide from organizations of all sizes and industries, including brands like Daimler, STIHL, Vodafone, and Lufthansa. As it is highly configurable, it creates the perfect user experience for learners as well as trainers, managers, and administrators. Learn more about imc Learning Suite

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Gyrus provides a reliable and secure learning platform that stands up in the most challenging and regulated environments. Learn more about GyrusAim
Founded in 1987 in Richmond, VA, Gyrus Systems delivers award-winning Learning Management Systems (LMS) for mission-critical industries. The GyrusAim LMS is built to ensure society’s most critical organizations have the prepared workforce they need to succeed, serving life sciences (21 CFR Part 11 compliant), government agencies, manufacturing, and military/defense sectors. Recognized as a top 20 LMS, GyrusAim offers unmatched flexibility, ease of use, and security. It meets complex regulatory needs, manages large-scale training, and integrates diverse content. With scalable deployment for 100 to 1M+ users, it is available as a Cloud or Self-Hosted solution. Organizations rely on GyrusAim for compliance tracking, advanced reporting, and seamless integrations to drive workforce success in dynamic environments. Learn more about GyrusAim

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
United Kingdom Local product
Create, deliver, and report on training directly in Microsoft. The only Learning management platform built into Microsoft 365. Learn more about Zensai Human Success Platform
💡Learn365 by Zensai enables medium sized organizations to create, deliver, and track employee training directly in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and Viva Learning. Being the only AI-powered LMS that is built into Microsoft simplifies setup, offering a secure and user-friendly experience. Deploy in minutes not months. Employees can access courses and track progress directly within the Microsoft applications they use daily, streamlining learning and boosting adoption. Learn more about Zensai Human Success Platform

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Fully integrated LMS (SaaS) for Courses, K-12, Universities, NGOs, and Companies, with extensive features. Learn more about Vedubox
Vedubox provides a multilingual and complete virtual workplace to unite and organize all the digitalized tasks for your organization or company. As a cloud-based SaaS, it offers an effective and measurable solution to educate, communicate and socialize your users in a collaborative and connected environment. Vedubox enables an integrated, flexible learning platform with complete LMS features in order to eliminate the need for additional infrastructure. Learn more about Vedubox

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
United Kingdom Local product
Thrive is perfect for businesses of all sizes to help onboard, upskill and develop their teams faster than ever before. Learn more about Thrive
Thrive is the fastest-growing, all-in-one, AI-powered LMS that demonstrates the impact and ROI of your team's learning. Combining the benefits of an LMS with those of an LXP, Thrive provides a platform that integrates learning, skills, and communication, enabling you to upskill your people faster and more collaboratively than ever. Our cutting-edge AI features allow you to supercharge your team’s learning experience. With an industry-leading AI content authoring tool, a personalised AI WhatsApp coach, and lightning-fast AI-powered search capabilities, learning becomes not just efficient but also exciting and dynamic. Additionally, with compliance management, social learning, reporting, and hundreds of integrations baked in, Thrive provides everything you need to achieve your team's learning goals. See today why the likes of Volvo, Avon, Krispy Kreme, Sky, and British Airways have chosen Thrive as their learning partner. Learn more about Thrive

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Transform global HR with Deel’s Learning Management System — efficient, customizable, and compliance-ready for teams of all sizes. Learn more about Deel
Step your global HR up with our advanced Learning Management System, tailored to meet the diverse needs of your global workforce. Our platform offers seamless integration, real-time tracking, and a customizable interface that ensures your training is effective and engaging. With Deel's LMS, empower your employees with the skills they need to excel in today's competitive market, all while maintaining compliance with international standards. Learn more about Deel

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
All-in-one system of learning that brings together learning, growth, skills, and capabilities into a personalized, curated experience. Learn more about Cornerstone LMS
Cornerstone Learning helps you provide a connected learning and growth experience for your people. With intentional AI for making people extraordinary, create a personalized development resource that inspires and accelerates transformation. Get a solution designed to dynamically understand your users, connect them to personalized opportunities for growth, and help them develop the skills that will get them from here to there. Learn more about Cornerstone LMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
United Kingdom Local product
Our learning management system delivers effective learning and compliance, empowering employees the learn the way they want to. Learn more about Access LMS
Access LMS is a learning management system which enables your employees to learn anywhere, anytime. We offer a range of tools designed to help you engage your learners, no matter if they are at their desk or remote. We enable businesses to manage learning, stay compliant and track CPD hours with ease. Support the performance and development of your employees while prioritising health, safety and compliance, now and into the future. Learn more about Access LMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
SkyPrep's LMS empowers organizations to effortlessly create, manage, and track training with ease. Learn more about SkyPrep
SkyPrep offers a robust and user-friendly Learning Management System (LMS) that enables organizations to seamlessly create, deliver, manage, and track training initiatives with ease. With over 500 customers, SkyPrep caters to those seeking to educate their employees, clients, and partners. SkyPrep is dedicated to ongoing innovation and provides a customizable platform renowned for its ease of use, paired with exceptional customer support. Learn more about SkyPrep

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Web-based college management. It's secure and easy-to-use, with simple pricing, great customer support, and no upfront costs. Learn more about Populi
Designed for higher education, Populi is web-based college management. It covers academics, admissions, online learning, student billing, financial aid, donations, contacts, library, bookstore, and more. Secure and intuitive, everyone at your school can use it. Our plain, simple pricing scales with your enrollment with no hidden fees or upfront costs. Every customer gets friendly, responsive customer support, together with implementation, data migration, training, and software updates. Learn more about Populi

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Ideal for B2B and B2C training vendors. Multi-portal LMS makes it easy to service multiple clients. Sell e-learning using Shopify. Learn more about Firmwater LMS
The LMS for training companies. Create distinct, branded e-learning sites for each of your clients or sell courses B2B and B2C with our Shopify e-commerce integration. Build custom courses of different sizes, and mix and match modules. With our multi-tenant solution, a single course update is automatically applied for all clients and learners. We provide personal and responsive support, taking the time to listen and understand your needs. No wading through community forums. Call us today. Learn more about Firmwater LMS

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification
Award-winning compliance training with 1,000+ online courses in DEI, harassment and discrimination prevention, and more! Learn more about Syntrio
For every organization involved in employee learning and development, Mitratech Syntrio’s Educational Leadership team has built seven extensive content libraries for employee training and development that cover all general facets of an employee’s work life. Our effective, adaptable, and modern content libraries run on most LMS and are built to support all types of learners with proven educational techniques. The libraries cover: Harassment Prevention Training, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Belonging (DEIB), Ethics and Compliance, Health and Safety, Cyber Security Business Skills and Hotline Learning. Learn more about Syntrio

Features

  • Asynchronous Learning
  • SCORM Compliance
  • Mobile Learning
  • Blended Learning
  • Certification & Licensing
  • Assessment Management
  • Built-in Course Authoring
  • Learning Paths/Tracks
  • Learner Portal
  • Synchronous Learning
  • Gamification

Learning Management Systems (LMS) Buyers Guide

Learning management systems are software platforms designed to help instructors create, manage, track, and scale learning content for large audiences consisting of; existing and prospective customers, business partners, and employees. Used by professionals operating in virtually any industry vertical, these tools put onboarding, training, and career development into the hands of instructors and students, giving them access to learning opportunities from anywhere across the world.

LMS tools provide the framework for managing learning material and progress anytime and anywhere. Unlike conventional LMS applications built for people studying from behind their desks, today's systems are designed for professionals without a desk, with a more dynamic lifestyle. These tools enable proprietors in sectors like real estate, manufacturing, automotive, and education to train their teams on and off-site, throughout the day, and without interrupting their workflow.

Rich in functionality and broad in scope, learning management systems can be used for a variety of learning content, from aviation simulators to early years education. However, most users in the corporate sector rely on them for compliance, safety, product knowledge, and soft skills training. Together with progress tracking tools, eLearning applications enable instructors, educators, and entrepreneurs to create and sell digital or blended academic experiences in their areas of expertise.

Also known as learning content management systems (LCMS), these platforms come with many benefits. They help businesses combine their learning initiatives and knowledge base management operations with their employee support, customer success, sales, and marketing activities. This enables them to speed up onboarding and mentoring. It also helps them facilitate hands-on experiences, increasing every stakeholder's awareness of the culture, policies, and practices of the business. As for the wider industry, these tools can also help companies meet their compliance training deadlines and boost their productivity.

As they allow users to create, present, and manage their learning content through courseware authoring tools, LMS tools share some of their functionality with authoring and training software. On a Venn diagram of tool capabilities, LMS applications would share much of their functionality with eLearning Authoring Tools Software, Learning Experience Platform Software, and Course Authoring Software. But users would be right to point out that LMS is also the area of convergence for Training Software, Talent Management Software, and School Management Software. Also, as Mobile Learning Software grows into a category of its own, it's plain to see that many LMS tools could easily fit into this category too.

LMS software tools may vary widely in terms of functionality. They may also share many of their capabilities with a range of software categories. But most LMS applications will be able to offer at least these five functions to their users:

  • Import, create and customise online coursework
  • Offer synchronous and asynchronous, individual and team-based learning options
  • Provide online, offline, and blended learning opportunities
  • Deliver customised learning resources through interactive and adaptive learning technology
  • Track student progress, manage classrooms, assess learning, and grant certifications

What are learning management systems (LMS)?

Learning management systems are applications used to create, manage and deliver online learning content. They help instructors, educators, and professional development teams curate courses. These courses are used to train their customers, B2B partners, and employees on matters of compliance, safety, business procedures, soft skills, or corporate culture.

From small classrooms to university-led courses and from workshops to fully certified courses offered by accreditation bodies, LMS platforms can provide career development opportunities at any scale. In a virtual or blended learning setting, students and trainees can benefit from access to forums, quizzes, and web conferencing facilities from virtually any device, while course providers can enjoy curating customisable assessments, authoring course content, and mapping outcomes for every student.

Combining the functionality of a virtual learning environment (VLE), management information system (MIS), and sometimes even human resources information system (HRIS), an LMS tool can assist professionals in a variety of administrative activities. This includes attendance management, pastoral care, staff, and payroll management, as well as onboarding, engagement, productivity, and customer success management.

Many of today's LMS platforms are web-based, cloud-native, agile, and modular. They are utilised by mid-sized and large companies and sole proprietors in a variety of industries. They enable managers to cooperate online and offline remotely, with one another and with employees, gaining valuable insights into learning progress, comparing cohort results, and accessing custom-made analytics dashboards and reports. They can also help inform performance reviews, set off promotion-in-place initiatives, and reduce turnover rates.

As they don't require in-depth programming skills to create, import, and manage courses, LMS tools can be used by most people in the professional sphere. This includes traditional educators like university professors and tutors, as well as people in non-traditional roles, such as personal trainers, life coaches, and therapists. It also includes creatives, such as music and drama teachers, graphic artists, photographers, and interior designers. But its main users are made up of back-office workers, such as business administrators, accountants, HR managers, and consultants in sectors like FinTech, software development, engineering, stock trading, and property portfolio management.

Learning management systems rely on the strength of the internet connections between the content provider and the viewers for sending data like multimedia content. As the process is bandwidth-intensive and requires vast storage capacity, many companies procure their LMS tools from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers, essentially outsourcing their data transmissions and storage to the Cloud. But some large companies prefer to use on-premises or hybrid services to secure the safety and integrity of their company knowledge bases.

What are the benefits of learning management systems LMS?

The benefits of learning management systems LMS tools for content providers have less to do with the content itself and more to do with its accessibility. While it is obvious that, from a student's perspective, an eLearning platform is only as interesting and engaging as the courses it showcases, there are other gains to be had from using LMS tools, from a content provider's point of view. It may help to break them down as follows:

  • Limited computer literacy requirements: Not many businesses have the time and resources to create multimedia content from scratch, market it, publish it, and generate sales or other quantifiable metrics from it. LMS applications can help break down those barriers by enabling users with limited IT skills to import, create, and publish content online from a single dashboard, using basic drag-and-drop commands to customise, catalogue, and operate it.
  • Branding options: While many of today's courses are at least partially inspired from existing content, outsourced, or co-authored, it's frowned upon and inadvisable for companies to produce and distribute content that doesn't display their branding. Thankfully, many LMS platforms are white-label, offering users the option to make their mark by applying the logotype, theme, slogans, and imagery of their choice. This helps build trust and brand awareness.
  • Quantifiable and scalable results: LMS tools can help companies reach a vast audience for their in-house and off-site training initiatives. It gives employees and trainees immediate access to company information from their mobile devices. With everyone on the same page, managers and mentors can avoid unnecessary tasks and use their time more productively, with real-time insights into the staff's learning progress. This reduces training downtime, onboarding costs, and HR expenses while also streamlining business operations and improving communication across departments.
  • Permanent access: As a self-sustained, self-service tool, a company's LMS can grant users permanent access and control over company content. Without the back-and-forth of checking with their managers, employees feel empowered, trusted, and motivated to stay with the company. Being able to pursue their career development plans from within their existing positions means that they are less likely to leave. For HR staff and other managers, this translates into savings related to recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training replacements to perform at the same level.
  • SEO and social network marketing: Learning management systems have the added advantage that they publish their content online, often promoting it to existing and prospective users. Therefore, course authors can benefit from having their content search engine optimised and shared across social media platforms, with a virtually unlimited audience.
  • Facilitates in-work training and levelling up: As the ONS can attest, employees in professional occupations are very likely to require in-work training. Also, whether they are young trainees or highly skilled, they are more likely to be given supervisory responsibilities if they carry out in-work training. Also notable is the fact that, in the UK, female workers tend to take up more in-work training, and they take less time to train. This points to the idea that LMS tools could help level the playing field for workers in terms of their gender and relevant career development opportunities.

What are the features of learning management systems LMS?

The features of LMS tools depend on the technological framework (i.e., AICC, SCORM, or xAPI). This will dictate the list of features users can deploy to enrich the customer experience. For instance, full-featured LMS tools sometimes come as mobile apps with offline progress tracking, built-in gamification and badges, leaderboards, quizzes, surveys, and VR compatibility.

But most LMS platforms are web-based. For most users, the emphasis lies less on eye-catching attributes and more on ease of use and accessibility, so LMS tools come with this range of basic capabilities that streamline training, assessment, and certification within a virtual classroom environment:

  • Course creation and management: Recruit students, create content and manage course provision for large audiences. Learning management platforms enable users to create and manage their course material in a variety of ways. They can often import and upload their presentations, videos, and graphics. Using drag-and-drop commands rather than entering programming language, they can edit, sort, segment, sequence, and enhance the content. From a central dashboard, they can also recruit, profile, and group students, assign course work and restrict access. Finally, they can customise their virtual classrooms to suit students and customers accessing them in a variety of languages and work settings.
  • Progress tracking: View milestones as they are reached by students, track video views, and gain insight into the order in which they access the content. A must-have feature of LMS tools and all eLearning software applications is the capability to track learning progress for all students individually, as well as the cohort. It grants instructors the ability to view completion rates and progress for their material in real-time. This enables them to adjust the workload, the difficulty level, or the sequencing of their course material quickly, to suit the dynamic lifestyles of today's professionals. While some of the most advanced tools feature even off-site progress tracking and scoring, most users find that tracking online progress only is more than sufficient to gauge learner engagement.
  • Test and assessment tools: Draft, develop, administer, and automatically score tests, exams, and other papers. Educators can streamline their test administration tasks with LMS applications. Most applications will only provide a single pass-fail score per student and test. But other LMS tools will allow students to take a test several times, providing multiple scores for the same test and showing the student's learning curve. They may also display cohort results simultaneously, enabling instructors to compare student performance. With detailed test results at their fingertips, instructors can also pinpoint the topics they should readdress before they move on to a new topic.
  • Blended learning: Provide course linking tools for hybrid workers and students. When it comes to distributed teams, being able to juggle on-site and remote work is a requirement that extends to coursework as well. To satisfy these needs, LMS applications feature tools that enable users to merge physical and virtual content. For instance, they may allow virtual message boards to feature digital versions of post-its and memos or allow users to print digital content for display on a physical message board. They might also feature online wikis and forums that users can contribute to from their desks by digitising their text, sounds, diagrams, or sketches.
  • Mobile Learning: Enable students to access course material through an app and web-based LMS to learn on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. According to a study published on Researchgate, massive open online course (MOOC) students access their coursework from mobile devices and desktops. And based on a list of statistics put together by Mark in Style, mobile learners complete their coursework about 45% faster than desktop learners. Also, m-learning is the learning method of choice for 71% of millennial learners, and it boosts knowledge retention five-fold.
  • Social learning: Produce material that is interactive and collaborative. LMS tools can enable students to highlight phrases or paragraphs, leave comments, and initiate a discussion. Through contextual commenting, learners can drive conversation and collaboration while also enabling social learning (i.e., learning by watching peers and imitating their behaviour).
  • Learning analytics: Produce performance reports for visual analysis. LMS tools can readily produce visual representations of the swathes of data that constantly feeds into it from learner activities. This is especially helpful to business users, as they rarely have the statistical expertise to generate graphs and charts instantly. Being able to view learner metrics like completion rate, time spent on each course, peak learning days, etc., translates into more accurate HR performance reviews, better cost analysis, and higher course management efficiency.
  • White labelling: Customise the UI so that the learner associates the content with the company. LMS tools that offer a white labelling option enable users to claim the content as their own and protect it from infringement and forgery. It also enables them to build their brand image and promote brand awareness across the globe, as learners would be able to see the company's logotype, slogan, theme, layout, and branded media content every time they access their LMS profile.

Sifting through Capterra's software directory, readers can find out more about the learning management systems featured here and use these insights in their decision-making process. With the option to filter these LMS tools by some of their highlights, users can narrow down their list of preferences and identify the most suitable tool for their business needs.

What should be considered when purchasing learning management systems?

When purchasing learning management systems, users should consider a range of factors. They will point to the impact that the LMS software choices can have on their business performance and whether the software is a good fit for the business. Here are a few essential questions users should ask themselves before deciding on an LMS tool:

  • Technological standards: Learning management systems are built on a set of technical standards specific to eLearning software. Users might come across terms like aviation industry computer-based training committee (AICC), sharable content object reference model (SCORM), and the Experience API (xAPI). These models determine how content platforms perform and what their specifications are. For instance, AICC content, once used in the aviation industry to facilitate computer-based training and simulations, communicates with the platform via HTTP. This makes data transfers secure but cumbersome. SCORM-compliant LMS software uses JavaScript to facilitate real-time reporting, gamification, simulation, offline learning and interactive, adaptive, and blended learning. But xAPI, the newest and most versatile communication standard, is what enables LMS platforms to offer mobile apps, offline and informal progress tracking, on-the-job scoring, and cross-platform engagement insights through API integrations. Instructors can use xAPI to harness data from several knowledge bases, help desks, forums, and group platforms, as well as talent, performance, and data management software applications.
  • Acquisition and adoption: Because there are so many stakeholders involved in adopting and embracing an LMS tool company-wide, reaching out to every user is essential. Ease of use and accessibility for all members of staff, business partners, and customers will determine the success of a transition from in-person training to hybrid or virtual learning.
  • Helpdesk availability and customer care: As many of the LMS tools on the market today are cloud-based products offered based on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) agreement, the outcome of an initiative will rely on how responsive and helpful the LMS vendor is. Going incognito as a prospective client may reveal their response times and availability over email, chat, or telephone.

The most noteworthy LMS trends reflect changes in customer lifestyles. When investing in LMS, it's best to ensure that the software application can adapt or even anticipate these changes. For forward-thinking businesses, cutting corners isn't an option if it involves ignoring emerging trends. Here are some of the most relevant of these learning management systems LMS trends:

  • Shift to microlearning: Microlearning boosts productivity and retention rates. It's also an increasingly popular learning option, according to the above-mentioned Mark in Style report. It comes as no surprise, as people find it easier to digest bite-sized chunks of information as well as fit micro-learning sessions in their busy days. So, LMS tool users would do well to adjust their content to their customer base, trimming it down and structuring it so that employees and customers can absorb and retain it within minutes.
  • Gamification and simulation: Scores, points, badges, leaderboards, game-like graphics, and fantasy narratives are some of the incentives LMS platforms can use to enrich their content and tailor it to a younger market. With scenario-based training, businesses can follow the example of the defence sector, which utilises gamification in military and cyber security.
  • VR and AR technology: As users embrace wearables of any calibre, from cutting-edge AR helmets to homemade cardboard VR goggles, the world of augmented and virtual reality is quickly spilling into eLearning. At this rate, VR classrooms should become commonplace within years, bringing online learning to an even wider audience.