A Short Guide To Picking The Right SaaS LMS Is 2020

A learning management system (LMS) is an irreplaceable part of providing an online training experience.

If this is your first time researching a LMS, let’s begin with a quick introduction to learning management systems:

Simply put, a LMS is a content management system that allows course creators and organizations to store, manage, and share training content with their learners. While there are a few LMS present in the market that can be installed on a computer and used without an Internet connection, the most popular learning management systems today are based on the cloud.

These SaaS LMS are truly robust platforms that come loaded with features that are added with the intention of improving the impact of training and the engagement of the learners with the training material. 

Modern LMS also boasts a variety of tracking and analysis features that offer a holistic view of how the learners are performing, how they are interacting with the training material, and how the training experience is being perceived and received by the learners. In fact, some of the most popular LMS in the market offer custom reporting capabilities that provide you with the training data that matters to you and your organization.

Now, LMS have been around for quite some time now and have been quite popular as well. Chances are, many of you skipped the last three paragraphs because you are familiar with a LMS.

So what’s so different about picking a learning management system in 2020? Let’s find out:

The Training Challenges Of 2020

The current year has taken us all by surprise. Overnight, businesses and institutions were forced to close their doors in order to curb the spread of the ongoing pandemic.

As a result, almost all aspects of our lives were affected. Similarly, the way we conduct business has also been heavily influenced by the current situation.

Education and training have also taken a serious hit because of the need for social distancing. Thankfully, we have elearning tools like the LMS to help us adapt to the current situation and carry on with our respective training initiatives.

However, unlike a few months ago, training is going to be exclusively online and thus, you must look for features that address this unique situation. 

So what are these features?

SCORM Compliance

SCORM is a standard of content that is widely accepted in the elearning industry. By getting a SCORM compliant learning management system, you will be able to ensure that it easily integrates with the other elearning tools that you may already be using.

LMS Features That Are Most Relevant In 2020

Having a cloud-based SaaS LMS is an obvious necessity. Here are the other features you should look for in a LMS to enable yourself to seamlessly provide training in a virtual landscape:

Mobile-Readiness

Accessibility is a big challenge for remote learners and having a LMS that also offers a mobile device app can make your training experience much more accessible for your learners.

Besides enabling them to consume training from a device that almost all of us have on our person at all times, having access to training on mobile devices will remove other deterrents that prevent learners from attending training. For instance, some learners may have just one desktop at their home that multiple family members may need to use. If they have access to training on a mobile device, this will never prevent them from participating in the training.

Blended Training Capabilities With Built-In VILT Support

Many think that online training is only self-paced. While it is true for some training courses, it is not a very effective approach to training.

Blended learning combines the benefits of self-paced training and instructor-led training (ILT) and is super-effective. Now that ILT has gone virtual and has become VILT, it is important to make sure that the LMS you choose supports the same. 

User Friendliness

User-friendliness isn’t exactly a feature but it is critical in ensuring a positive online training experience for your learners.

Imagine signing up for a course and spending the first few hours just learning to operate the platform that hosts the course. To avoid giving your learners such a bad experience, it is important to pick a LMS that is suited to their general technical expertise.

Conclusion

2020 has changed everything, including online training. What LMS features have helped you adapt to the changes brought about by the current situation? Share with us in the comment section below.