It is no surprise that 73.8 million people worldwide use a learning management system (LMS) to level up their skills and knowledge. Companies have made it a regular part of the employee’s training experience. Though every employee has their own learning capacity, with a good LMS, you can increase the efficiency and engagement of the learners. One of the challenging tasks is to choose the right LMS. With a plethora of options, picking the right one can be a bit overwhelming. That is why doing an LMS features comparison can be a good idea.
But before we dive into comparisons, let’s take a moment to understand what is LMS. In simple words, an LMS is a powerful platform that manages, delivers, and tracks online learning. It’s like having a personal tutor at your fingertips, ready to guide you on your learning journey.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process for comparing LMS features and making an informed decision.
With the global e-learning market projected to reach a staggering $457.8 billion by 2026, the importance of choosing the right LMS cannot be overstated. When shaping your training and development strategy, it is crucial to look at an LMS comparison checklist. It is always wise to check out other options before investing in one.
If you choose an LMS without doing your homework, you might end up wasting not only your time but resources as well. There are different types of LMS that cater to various industries. For instance, you can pick out an LMS that is an ideal choice for educational institutions. It might fall short when it comes to sales training or the corporate world.
A mismatched LMS can be like a thorn in the side, frustrating users and reducing the engagement and effectiveness of your training programs. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve compiled a guide on LMS features to help you find the perfect match for your organization. It’s like your personal shopping assistant for LMS.
To find the right fit for your organization, it is essential to compare learning management system features systematically. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you do just that:
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
First, you need to define the requirements of your organization. You will have to figure out whether you want to have immersive video content or text and interactive materials. It is essential to focus on features like a user-friendly interface, virtual classroom capabilities, Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, and support for blended learning. Other features that you can consider are scalability, integrations, and mobile learning. Once you’ve got a clear picture of what you need, make a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves.
Step 2: List Down LMS Vendors
The next step is to identify the vendors that offer the appropriate learning management system (LMS) for your needs. Focus your research on industry reports, recommendations, and user reviews rather than marketing materials. Making a list of LMS vendors and crossing out the ones that don’t meet your requirements will be easy.
Step 3: Create An LMS Comparison Chart
Once you have created a comparison chart, you can assess how each one stacks up against your criteria. This will help gauge which LMS platforms meet your needs and which ones fall short.
Step 4: Request Demos
After you have shortlisted the vendors, you need to contact them and ask for a demo. This is your chance to get a feel for the LMS and see how it aligns with your needs. It will be better if you have some specific questions or scenarios prepared you want the demo to address.
Step 5: Evaluate Your Experience
Now that you have a comparison chart and demo experiences, you can evaluate each LMS. You should consider certain things, such as current offerings, the vendor’s track record of updates, the quality of customer support, and scalability. Focusing on the pros and cons of each option will help you select the LMS that best aligns with your organizational goals and learner needs.
Selecting the right LMS can be a game-changer for your organization’s learning and development strategy. It’s like picking the right tool to build a knowledge powerhouse. But with so many options out there, what should you look for? Here are the 7 must-have LMS features that can make an LMS stand out from the crowd.
Course Management
The first feature that you must pay attention to is the course management. This is because it will assist in easily delivering course content to the learners. So, choosing a solution that makes building a course easy is crucial. It will help you arrange it just the way you want. Your LMS should be a multimedia maestro, handling everything from PDFs and slides to videos, audio, and even live training sessions.
Multi-Media Based Learning
So, the next feature that you should pay attention to is multi-media-based learning. For learning to be effective, you need to ensure that it is synchronized. It will make learning more enjoyable, as you will be able to access videos conveniently. Most tools will allow you to play around with images, text, screen recordings, and even animated elements, allowing you to oversee your own learning journey.
Content Library
Are you wondering why the software has a content library? You can think about the content library as a treasure trove of knowledge. It offers pre-built courses that will help roll out training programs, catering to a wide range of learning needs. With such courses, you can save your budget and resources since you will not have to start from scratch every time. This is a lifesaver for organizations that need to roll out compliance training or address skill gaps urgently.
Gamification
This is one of the crucial LMS capabilities as it helps learners understand and learn concepts in a fun and engaging way. Your employees will be motivated through points, awards, and badges, encouraging them to engage deeply with the content. You can think of it as a roadmap for learners, highlighting how their learning journey can fuel both their personal development and the growth of their organization.
Integrations
Another feature that your LMS should encompass is integration. The right LSM will automate training and help decrease the time spent on admin tasks. Most of the solutions integrate with the software you are already using. For instance, with Single Sign-On (SSO), you just sign into one system, and you will stay logged into the LMS.
Reporting
If you wish your training to be impactful, your LMS must have a reporting feature. LMS reporting will highlight learners' progress, exam results, and survey answers. The software will send scheduled reports directly to your inbox. With the help of these reports, you can identify opportunities for improvement. You will gain insights into what employees want to learn and how. For example, you have written content, but you assessed that learners have a high pass rate through video content.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based LMS
If you’re looking to take your learning and training process up a notch, it’s time to turn towards an AI-based LMS. With this tech-savvy tool, you get many features like personalized training suggestions, automated quizzes, and easy content creation, to name a few.
Here are some top LMS to help you find the perfect fit for your training needs.
Accord LMS – Best For Scalable Learning
Accord LMS is designed to increase learner knowledge, compliance, and satisfaction while reducing administrative time, cost, and effort. It offers smart administrative tools to automate learner enrollment, assignments, certification renewals, and customized report delivery. Accord LMS is also known for its security, scalability, and customizable administration.
Saba Cloud – Best For Large Enterprises
Saba Cloud is a talent management suite that includes performance management, succession planning, learning management, planning, and recruiting. It supports employees by making learning accessible and meaningful, optimizing costs, and providing the tools needed to manage training effectively. Saba Cloud is known for its secure training assets, records, on-demand AWS processing, and bandwidth resources.
BrainCert – Best For Online Training And Engagement
BrainCert is an all-in-one training platform designed to deliver online training. From impactful employee and customer training to compliance and certification courses, the platform scales to meet your needs. It offers premium features and integrations to create and deliver engaging learning experiences using gamification, certificates, whiteboards, learning paths, assignments, reports, analytics, and more.
| LMS Software | Course Creation | Test And Assessment | Virtual Classroom | Gamification | Content Management | Integrations | Reporting | AI | Synchronous Learning |
| Accord LMS | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Saba Cloud | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| BrainCert | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Accord LMS | Saba Cloud | BrainCert | |
| Features | 4.5 | 5 | 5 |
| Pricing | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Support | 4.5 | 4 | 4 |
| UI & UX | 4 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Security | 4 | 4 | 5 |
To sum it up, picking the right LMS is vital for the success of your training program. You can compare features like content management, customization options, integration capabilities, and support services to figure out which LMS meets your organization's needs. Besides these, you need to pay attention to future trends like immersive learning with augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR), nano learning, and AI-driven personalization. These innovations can significantly enhance the learning experience and provide a competitive edge.
For more information and to explore software, call us on (661) 384-7070 or visit our LMS category page. Let us help you find the perfect solution to achieve your goals.