Table of Contents
An overview of LMS:
A Learning Management System (LMS) broadly is the platform that handles all aspects of the learning and training process. A learning management system not only manages content but also handles registering for courses, course administration, skill analysis, tracking and reporting
Cloud-based learning management systems are hosted on the Internet and can be accessed by logging into the service provider’s website. Rather than having to install course design and management software, instructional designers can simply use their Internet browsers to upload course content, create new courses, and communicate with learners directly. This is all done through a secure LMS, which also gives designers the ability to store information on the cloud, which can be remotely accessed by other, approved users.
Why consider LMS for Corporate Training and Learning Needs?
In the knowledge economy, the growth of an organization and its employees depends on the quality and the ease of access to information. Most companies strive to be at the forefront of their industry and to be the thought leader and authority in their respective field. Knowledge economy demands an increase in self-learning and self-accountability. The working hours and patterns have evolved. Employees prefer to work and learn at their own pace based on their convenience and not necessarily in the assigned hours. Flexibility is essential and is a key factor in employee retention for growing organizations.
To meet the needs of all employees and the organization’s quality standards it is recommended to switch to Learning Management Systems to streamline company efforts. LMS systems ensure that the organization and its employees are both equally convinced with the growth and their progress as a team. Easy and better tracking capabilities is one of the best ways to ensure that the team has the same vision and are working towards the same goal.
People are your biggest asset, help them grow
How to choose the right LMS for your business type?
Different organisations have different LMS requirements. Before purchasing a software, you must understand which LMS system will be ideal for your specific domain.
- LMS for businesses – One of the most important resources for any business is their intellectual capital. The profit and customer success of a company comes from the skill of their employees. A good team is often difficult to replace.That’s why they should be trained, engaged, motivated and updated on the latest industry standards.This is where an LMS comes in, an LMS can train large groups of employees efficiently, trainers can also monitor and measure the performance of employees and the efficacy of their Learning & Development programs using a Learning Management software.
- LMS for individuals and small groups – LMSs can also be used by individuals who are experts in a specific field and want to share their expertise with the rest of the community. They can choose to create courses and update it on a platform for free or through a paid subscription/one time fee.
- LMS for educational agencies – Coaching centres and prep schools are a major target audience for LMSs. Using an LMS, educators can make their own crash courses and study materials and share them with students. It is an effective way of organizing mock tests, quizzes and also makes it easy to grade and evaluate students.
- LMS for educational institutions – Schools and colleges are the biggest benefactors of LMSs. E-learning has literally transformed the educational landscape. Through LMSs, experts and trainers have been able to spread their lectures even to remote students. These students can access the resources whenever they want, even before their exams, which is extremely convenient.
Benefits of an LMS / Learning Management System:
Unlimited Access to Learning Materials
Training materials on an LMS system is easily accessible and can be accessed multiple times. In case your team is spread across different time zones this feature will ease the training process. Learning Materials once uploaded will be available on the platform throughout. For reference or revision, with LMS there are no restrictions and one can get back to the necessary content whenever required.
Better tracking of Growth
Apart from making content accessible to all, it is also important to efficiently track the program and performance of the team. The best learning management system providers assure better tracking of the employees and help ensure they are meeting their performance milestones. Not just tracking the performance, but the system also provides an avenue to check the progress of the courses.
Reduced Training Costs
By adopting LMS systems for corporate training, the organization cuts down on instructor and training session related costs. These costs can include, travel and accommodation costs of the instructor, printing costs and other learning materials required. A cloud-based learning management system can cut down on these costs and at the same time produce effective results without compromising on the quality of learning and engagement.
Efficient and saves man-hours
As compared to sitting through a lengthy training session, LMS saves ample of time. This system saves time and offers the required content in a highly efficient and organized manner. The employee can access the content based on his schedule and without jeopardizing his/her productive time.
Centralized Learning Hub
One of the key highlights of adopting an LMS system is that all the content is available in one space itself. This is beneficial to both the educator and the learner. Making changes to the courses, going back to particular learning material, etc. are all easier with a centralized learning hub.
Types of Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
You can choose from a number of learning management systems or LMSs as per your requirements and budget. Here are the different types:
- Open Source or Free LMS – If you’re on a tight budget and don’t wish to spend money on a complete LMS suite right now, then you can go for a free LMS. In the case of an open source LMS, the original source code of the software is available for free download. It can be worked on and reshared with the community by universities and companies. Open source or free LMSs are widely popular because they are free and offer a lot of flexibility. However, they offer fewer features, lack customization and any kind of support infrastructure. These are preferred by DIY organizations who have a strong in-house technical team.
- Installed or On-Premise LMS (Paid) – Installed or open-premise LMSs are usually hosted locally and preferred by large companies. These LMSs are purchased from a vendor or downloaded from the websites and then installed on the company’s own servers. These LMSs offer more flexibility to customise them as per the company’s needs but also requires the presence of a technical staff to install, manage, and upgrade the software. You may also require additional staff to handle any technical and maintenance issues.
- Cloud-hosted or SaaS LMS (Paid) – Cloud-hosted LMSs, on the other hand, are hosted on the vendor’s servers and act as fully managed Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). They are generally offered with monthly or yearly subscriptions depending on the features provided and the number of users and subscribers. Learners can access the course content by logging in with a username and password or even download the course content offline for future reference. Being a hosted service, cloud learning management platforms can give you more liberty in choosing the perfect plan for your needs and do away with the hassles of installing plugins and resolving technical problems as everything is taken care of by the service provider.
Points to consider before choosing an LMS system:
As learning becomes more crucial for organizations to develop as a collective unit, e-learning software such as LMSs, have played a huge role in bringing in innovative and effective steps to create a robust Learning and Training cycle. It is the infrastructure that delivers and manages instructional content, identifies and assesses individual and organizational learning or training goals, tracks the progress towards meeting those goals, and collects and presents data for supervising the learning or training process of the organization as a whole.
Here are some of the points to consider before choosing a cloud LMS system.
Align with the organization’s goals and objectives
It is crucial to be well-aware of your company’s goals and objectives and the results you strive to achieve after adopting an LMS system. Based on the core learning needs of the organization and its employees, the LMS system can be chosen. It is important to be aware of your audience (employees) and what kind of content and learning material is more friendly and easier to access. If you already have an LMS and are planning to upgrade, then you should consider what features you are planning to adopt. If you’re planning to get an LMS for the first time, then you should try to understand what end result you want to achieve with the LMS. You can take suggestions from your departments, including your IT team.
Finalize the essential features you need
The features you need in an LMS system can differ depending on your objectives, goals and audience persona. Try and find out the most necessary LMS features for your needs; is it a mobile-friendly interface, feedback system or something else. Having a wish list of features can help you to finalise which potential software provides those specific features. Since LMSs require a hefty investment, it’s best to be sure about the features you require so that you won’t have to change systems later. It’s also important to look at it from the user’s point of view. The LMS should ultimately benefit the learners and meet their requirements.
Mobile-friendly and responsive
The learning and choice of medium can differ in people. Some might prefer to access materials on their laptops while others may be more comfortable on mobile devices. Considering such possibilities, always opt for a system that is most device friendly. Slow-responsiveness can reduce a person’s interest in the learning process. The LMS system should be chosen by keeping these points in mind.
LMS support team
Irrespective of whether the organization is new to an LMS system or not, they will always need a good support team. Make sure that the LMS system you choose has the right mix of onshore and offshore support that can explain the usability of different features and also provide solutions to any other queries. One of the most requested queries is with regards to LMS integration with other in-house apps and tools used. Make sure to check with your LMS provider about the necessary integrations with your existing workflow.
Top LMS platforms in India
The need for LMS providers in India is growing rapidly as India has become the outsourced tech hub for companies around the globe. The skilled tech workforce has to constantly update themselves on the latest trends in the industry to stay relevant. Whether an organization provides the necessary learning resources is quickly becoming a differentiator for top talent while choosing an organization. LMS Systems in India have also evolved to accommodate the multilingual and multicultural workforces of these organizations.
AlphaLearn is widely renowned as one of the best LMS in India with its end-to-end course management functionalities. AlphaLearn is a cloud-based learning management system that allows you to offer flexible, cost-efficient, and effective eLearning to all kinds of audiences such as employees, channel partners, customers and students.
With minimal start-up costs, automatic upgrades, quick deployment capabilities, It is a clear contender for the title of best LMS software in India.