What is an LMS? A Quick Learning Guide

LMS, or Learning Management System, is a powerful tool designed to automate academic courses and training programs. 

Much like how Word or Google Docs simplify document management, an LMS provides all the necessary tools to create and manage e-learning programs seamlessly. 

This includes not only content creation and delivery but also monitoring participation, assessing performance, automating tasks such as grading and reporting, and much more.

You can store all learning materials in one place, making them easily accessible to all learners with just a single click. 

However, before investing in a learning management system, it’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of what a Learning Management System can offer. 

Let’s dive in.

How Does an LMS Work?

LMS serves as a central repository for managing and delivering educational content. It has two main components: 

• Server-side: Responsible for the backend operations of the LMS, and is usually managed by a system administrator or training manager.

• User interface (UI): The interface that learners and instructors use to interact with the system, accessing or managing content.

Through a user-friendly dashboard, instructors can upload course materials like videos, PDFs, quizzes, and more. Then these materials are organized into modules that learners can access anytime and anywhere. 

You can also create different groups of learners according to their roles or job positions. Allowing you to assign them either a single course or a series of materials, known as a learning path.

Furthermore, the system lets you easily track each learner’s progress, enabling you to motivate top performers and support your team’s growth more effectively. 

Additionally, automation features handle time-consuming tasks like grading quizzes, sending reminders, and generating reports, freeing up valuable time for instructors to focus on improving course quality.

What is the main function of LMS?

Standard LMS solutions offer several functions to ensure a seamless learning experience, including:

• Creating learning plans and courses
• Enrolling learners
• Distributing e-learning materials
• Managing assignments
• Providing virtual classroom experiences
• Enabling self-paced learning
• Enhancing collaboration between teachers and students
• Offering online and offline assessment tools
• Sending alerts to learners regarding assignment submissions and classes

Ultimately, the main function of an LMS is to cater to the unique needs of individual learners. It tracks participation and progress, ensuring that each learner’s needs are thoroughly met by the time they complete the course.

What is an LMS used for?

There’s no straightforward answer to what a learning management system is used for. As it ultimately depends on your organization’s training needs.

1. Onboarding and training

LMS platforms are often used for employee onboarding and training in business settings. For new hires, it offers easy access to training programs on multiple devices, allowing them to learn at their own pace. 

Employees can also provide feedback, helping organizations improve training content and identify areas where further support is needed.

Beyond internal use, a learning management system can also support extended enterprise training, offering courses for customers, partners, and members. This is especially useful in tech and software companies where customers need to learn how to use products effectively. 

Continuous LMS-based training improves user experience and fosters stronger brand loyalty. With immersive features like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and AI, LMS platforms create interactive learning environments that enhance skill development and boost creativity across the workforce.

2. Employee Development and Retention

LMS can significantly enhance employee development and retention by providing structured learning pathways. These systems assign specific courses to employees based on their roles and skills, ensuring they continuously develop key job competencies. 

These platforms also offer regular training on product updates and compliance requirements, keeping employees informed about changes. 

By centralizing learning and tracking progress, LMS ensures employees are consistently improving, staying engaged, and prepared to meet evolving job demands, ultimately leading to higher customer retention rates.

3. Sales Training

Learning management systems increase sales performance by delivering targeted, structured sales training.

These platforms offer courses and seminars that focus on building product expertise, refining customer interaction skills, and analyzing case studies based on real-world customer experiences. 

By integrating practical scenarios and feedback from past interactions, these platforms help sales teams improve their techniques, adapt to customer needs, and build more effective customer relationships, leading to better sales outcomes.

4. Blended Learning

LMS enables blended learning by combining traditional classroom instruction with online learning tools. This approach enhances in-person education by incorporating digital resources like videos, interactive quizzes, and customized learning materials, tailored to meet each student’s unique needs. 

Blended learning offers greater flexibility, allowing students to access content at their own pace while reinforcing what they learn in the classroom. This hybrid model makes learning more engaging, personalized, and effective.

Types of learning management systems

While LMSs have basic features in common, the needs of enterprises, academic institutions, and small businesses are all different. 

Because of this LMS developers have branched out to meet those particular needs. 

Academic Institutions

Popular LMS options for academic institutions include:

• Moodle
• Google Classroom
• Blackboard
• Schoology

These systems are designed to facilitate course management, streamline communication between students and teachers, and provide a centralized hub for learning materials and assessments. 

They often include features such as grading tools, discussion forums, and collaborative project spaces to enhance the educational experience.

Corporate Solutions

For businesses, popular LMS platforms include:

• TalentLMS
• LifterLMS
• Trakstar Learn
• Litmos
• Adobe Captivate Prime

These solutions focus on employee training and development, offering tools for onboarding, compliance training, and skill enhancement. 

Corporate LMSs often provide analytics to track employee progress and performance, ensuring that training aligns with organizational goals and improves workforce productivity.

Open Source vs. Commercial LMS

Organizations have two primary options for choosing a learning management system. Either, they can purchase a subscription or license for a commercial LMS from a provider or opt for a free, open-source LMS. 

If they choose the open-source option, they will be responsible for setting up, hosting, maintaining, and upgrading the system themselves. 

Because of these additional responsibilities, many organizations prefer the convenience and support that come with a commercial LMS.

Cloud vs. Hosted LMS

A cloud-based LMS operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, where the provider manages the system on their servers. Users access the LMS through a web interface that features separate portals for students and educators.

On the other hand, organizations can choose to self-host the LMS on their own servers. This option, however, requires them to manage uptime, security, server load, and backups internally.

Moreover, LMS platforms can be enhanced with complementary tools through integrations, plugins, or APIs. These additions can extend functionality with features like analytics, content management, and communication tools. This flexibility allows the LMS to adapt to the specific needs of your institution or business.

How do you choose an LMS platform?

With so many LMS types available, selecting the right one for your organization starts with understanding your key needs. 

Let’s explore the five essential steps to help you identify the best enterprise LMS solutions. 

1. Identify Your Audience

Consider your learners and the type of training you need to deliver.

• What are your primary learning objectives?
• Do you require onboarding, compliance training, or customer education?

2. Focus on Important Features

List your must-have features.

• Are you prioritizing ease of use or advanced reporting?
• Is having a mobile-friendly LMS crucial, or is quick integration more important for your needs?

3. Evaluate Each LMS

Conduct high-level research to find systems that meet your criteria.

• Evaluate each option thoroughly and create a shortlist of LMS platforms that could work for your organization.

4. Look Beyond the LMS

Dive deeper with further research.

• Read LMS platform reviews and investigate the aftercare each system offers.
• Consider signing up for free trials to test the platforms firsthand.

5. Choose Your LMS

Finally, it’s time for an LMS comparison.

• If you have two or three options that fit your requirements, revisit those corporate LMS reviews.
• Share your findings and decisions with colleagues and stakeholders to gather their feedback.

The best LMS platforms

If you’re ready to begin your research and find the best learning management systems for your organization, here’s a list of some top LMS platforms to assist you.

1. LifterLMS

LifterLMS is a powerful, all-in-one learning management system built for course creators, entrepreneurs, and membership site owners looking to sell courses online.

It stands out with its flexibility, allowing you to design and customize more personalized learning experiences with ease.

So, whether you’re creating a simple course or building a complex online learning ecosystem, LifterLMS has a compact bucket of tools to handle extended tasks.

To top it off, LifterLMS integrates smoothly with Fluent Support, helping you streamline customer service with AI-powered efficiency, making the overall user experience even more seamless.

Key Features:

• Course Creation
• Membership Management
• Quiz Features
• Payment Gateway Integrations
• Marketing Tools
• Integrations
• Gamification and more.

Verdict: Individuals and businesses selling online courses can maximize their impact by leveraging the specialized features of LifterLMS.

2. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a well-known, free, and user-friendly platform that integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace tools.

Key Features:

• Assignment Management
• Real-Time Collaboration
• Easy Communication
• Integration with Google Docs and Drive and more.

Verdict: Google Classroom is ideal for K-12 schools and educators looking for a straightforward, accessible solution.

3. Blackboard

Blackboard is a resilient LMS commonly used in higher education, offering a comprehensive and reliable learning experience.

Key Features:

• Course Management
• Grading Tools
• Mobile Accessibility
• Extensive Analytics Capabilities and more.

Verdict: Colleges and universities that require a dedicated and reliable learning platform benefit from the features of Blackboard. 

4. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a popular cloud-based LMS specifically designed for corporate training and onboarding.

Key Features:

• Course Creation
• Progress Tracking
• Customizable Branding
• Mobile Access and more.

Verdict: TalentLMS’s versatility provides a scalable and user-friendly training solution for businesses of all sizes.

5. Moodle

Moodle is an open-source LMS known for its flexibility and wide customization options.

Key Features:

• Course Creation
• Customizable Themes
• Extensive Plugin Library
• Mobile Access
• Support for Various Content Formats and more.

Verdict: Educational institutions seeking a tailored learning experience can benefit greatly from Moodle’s adaptability.

6. Trakstar Learn

Trakstar Learn is an LMS dedicated to corporate training and onboarding processes.

Key Features:

• Course Creation
• Multimedia Content Support
• Tracking Learner Progress
• Report Generation and more.

Verdict: Companies looking for a straightforward training solution will find Trakstar Learn to be an effective option.

7. Litmos

Litmos is a comprehensive LMS designed for employee training and compliance.

Key Features:

• Content Creation
• Reporting
• Pre-Built Courses
• Third-Party Application Integration and more.

Verdict: Organizations needing a strong and versatile training platform with strong analytics capabilities can greatly benefit from Litmos.

8. Canvas

Canvas is a modern LMS that both educational institutions and organizations favor.

Key Features:

• Course Design
• Mobile Compatibility
• Integration with Third-Party Apps
• Clean User Interface and more.

Verdict: Schools and universities looking for a flexible and intuitive platform can effectively utilize Canvas for their learning needs.

Conclusion

Learning management systems (LMS) come in various types and endless options, yet they remain straightforward and easy to use.

An LMS facilitates workplace learning, from creating and delivering training to tracking results, ultimately boosting employee engagement and retention.

With many benefits, selecting the right LMS is crucial for effective learning and development.

To make the best choice, compare the LMS features with your organization’s needs, goals, and structure.