Types of Learning Management System (LMS) Software

A variety of organizations and businesses can use LMS software to help educate and encourage skill development for whoever needs it, including schools, universities, and any business requiring training or education modules.

LMS software can either be integrated into on-premise hosted servers or used as a SaaS cloud-based solution, accessible through a browser or mobile device.

Learning management software products can be separated into three categories depending on the type of buyers they target. The most popular include:

Educational LMS

Educational institutions can use locally hosted or cloud-based LMS systems to provide user-friendly education and eLearning courses to students online. Using the platform, instructors can deliver course content to students on campus or remotely and make sure all learners progress in their education through blended learning.

This type of LMS software is designed to serve educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities. Some products are made exclusively for K-12 schools, while others are more suitable for universities or higher education institutes. You can use these products to share course content, assign homework, create student polls, and assess student performance.

Corporate LMS

Large enterprises and corporations can make use of an enterprise LMS platform to efficiently track the progress of a large number of employees and individually monitor their participation level and productivity. This is particularly useful if you want to maximize the results of your training program.

Managing a global training initiative for a multinational corporation means you may need extended enterprise features and ensure that all users on the platform are constantly in the loop of whatever training materials and courses you’re providing. It also allows you to keep track of everyone’s progress, regardless of their location.

This type of LMS software caters to the specific needs of corporate buyers. Businesses often use the software to manage all tasks associated with corporate training, from creating and distributing training materials to managing certifications and licenses and measuring the effectiveness of training programs. Corporate LMS solutions are available for businesses of every size.

All-in-one solutions

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), a learning management system can help provide adequate employee training using fewer resources. Due to a reduced number of employees compared to larger organizations, an all-in-one solution will be best as it combines the basic features of various learning management systems into one package.

Both educational institutions and business organizations can use this type of software to meet their overall needs for learning or training management with similar results.

How to Choose Learning Management System (LMS) Software

When choosing which LMS software is best for your business, there are a number of things that need to be considered. First, you should identify which industry the software is most applicable to. For instance, if you are an educator, you’ll need educational LMS software or if you're a corporate buyer, you should consider software that is more suited for larger enterprise businesses. Most buyers of LMS software can choose an all-in-one solution.

The next step is to choose the exact features you need considering the requirements and limitations of your target audience. Different businesses and organizations all require different features, ranging from free software with basic features to paid options with advanced features, integration, and functions for a larger scale operation.

Products focused on higher education usually come with more advanced features including, granular role creation, advanced assessment, and detailed analytics. Products designed to serve colleges and universities often support the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard. Making it easy for administrators to connect it to their existing LMS software. Learning programs suitable for use both in schools and universities are also available.

You may also want to consider whether you need multi-language support, peer assessment, advanced predictive analytics to identify at-risk students, and features such as point-based contests and badges.

Corporate LMS solutions usually come with advanced mobile, social collaboration, and eCommerce features. One important consideration when choosing this type of LMS software is the size and scalability of your organization. If you are expecting rapid growth, look for a scalable product or one that allows you to upgrade features as your business grows.

If you need an LMS for internal training but have plans to train your external customers in the future, consider choosing a product with integrated eCommerce. This will help you monetize your internal training programs in the future at no additional cost.

LMS platforms should include the following features to help make the most of the software:

Intuitive user interface - The user interface is one of the most important deciding factors when it comes to choosing any software solution. A user friendly, easy-to-use interface will make navigating the LMS and finding what users need much easier.

Responsive features and design - A learning management system with a responsive design will help make sure course content can be accessed and viewed effectively by learners from any internet-enabled device. The user experience on a desktop computer and mobile app should be engaging and responsive.

Reporting and analytics capability - This feature allows you to see different data points in your training program, including who’s completing the eLearning course, how learners are progressing using the course content you’ve provided, or whether or not they’re staying on track. You should be able to monitor learning performance at an individual and group level.

Compliance training and certification support - If you’re an organization that offers comprehensive company policy and compliance training online, then you should definitely consider looking into learning management system software that supports this kind of capability.

E-learning evaluation tools - If you want to train your employees and get new hires oriented with the policies and procedures of your organization using a training program you’ve created with your LMS solution, make sure to choose a solution to facilitate proper assessment and evaluation of the learning process.

Other key areas to look for include resource management, talent management, content authoring, certification, and compliance management capabilities of a product.

Benefits of Learning Management System (LMS) Software

Using LMS software can be very beneficial to your organization's growth and future-proofing needs, as it allows for a number of advantages and benefits for the business when using one. Benefits include:

Reduce employee knowledge gaps

You can use LMS software for employee training to equip them with the skills or knowledge they need to succeed in the role and assist with their career aspirations. This ensures that your workforce is continuously improving their skills and knowledge. Staff and employees can also access the material at a later date and start new training modules to further improve.

Improve employee retention

LMS software helps employees learn new skills and professionally progress, improving employee retention metrics and increasing employee engagement in their work. High employee retention and progression ensure that staff remain satisfied with their work and can advance to high-level roles through their learning experiences.

Save time and money

Using LMS software, companies can cut travel costs and save time on planning and organizing training programs as courses can be conducted online and using the intuitive portal. The software also helps educators automate grading and reduce paperwork, which saves time and money.

Overall, learning management system software is an ideal solution for businesses and schools looking to train, teach, and test their employees and students effectively. With a number of features and integration, the learning process is simplified and allows for greater learning experience potential for users.

Common Features of Learning Management System (LMS) Software