Making sense of the LMS
LMS. LXP. AI…OMG, IDK!? SOS!
The workplace learning technology marketplace is noisy, crowded and confusing. It can be hard to differentiate between tools and really figure out who does what well. We’re here to help provide some clarity on your options.
Let’s focus on the most well-known platform: the learning management system (LMSes).
The LMS defined
In the simplest of terms, a learning management system (LMS) is a software platform that helps an organization administrate, track, deliver and report on formal employee training programs.
As far as web-based learning technologies go, the LMS is generally regarded as first generation. As the most established of the learning platforms, it’s also the most commonly used.
Feature vs. function
There are at least 500 LMS platforms in the marketplace today. The differences between each platform are often subtle and feature-based. One platform may offer mobile access and in-app content authoring while another may offer ecommerce and social networking.
Every LMS is different. Every organization is different. Therefore, what’s right for one company might not be right for yours—even if you are in the same industry. It can be easy to get distracted by all the shiny objects or caught up in a big list of features that you’ll never actually use.
But don’t lose sight of one thing: the role an LMS should play within your learning technology ecosystem. At its core, an LMS generally does a few things well:
- Stores and delivers online courses
- Administers classroom and online training sessions
- Functions as a system of record for training completions and certifications
Generally speaking, employees don’t use an LMS every day. So, organizations only see 10% to 25% engagement with their LMS, primarily when required training is due.
TIP
If you already have an LMS, this is still a worthwhile exercise. Over time, your employee and business needs evolve. As they change, so too should your technology. Periodically checking to see if your existing solution still meets your needs is a great way to keep your L&D programs on track and your employees performing their best.
Things to consider when evaluating a workplace LMS
If you’re in the market for a learning management system (or think you are), there are a number of factors to consider when determining if a particular platform is right for you. But your exploration should always start with one question…
Who do you need to support?
Broadly speaking, employees fall into one of two groups: corporate or frontline.
Corporate employees are your 9-5 office types. They work at desks, are on (or have access to) their computers for much of the day, have corporate email addresses and control their daily schedule and workflow.
Frontline employees are typically spread out across locations, work irregular hours, may not have easy access to corporate computers or devices and spend most of their time focused on operational tasks. These factors make them considerably more difficult to engage with training.
Since these two groups do very different work, their training needs will differ greatly. Supporting each group may require different technologies.
So, who do you need to train?
If you need to deliver formal training programs to corporate employees, then an LMS platform might do the trick. Corporate employees have easy access to connected devices and can often set aside time to complete longer-form training content. Core LMS functionality, such as online courses, classroom administration and completion tracking, may be the primary features you need to deliver training to these employees.
Take your LMS to the next level
There’s a time and place for traditional, one-size-fits-all, long-form content, like annual compliance training. But the LMS alone has its limits. People forget what isn’t reinforced. Everyone is different. And employees want more control over their learning paths. Not to worry! You can augment your LMS with Reinforcement, Adaptive and LXP capabilities to take your training programs to the next level.
So, what does this mean for you if you need to reach frontline employees and you:
If you already have an LMS, don’t worry. We’re not suggesting that you have to get rid of it. The fact is that many organizations will never find a perfect, single technology solution—that silver bullet capable of addressing all of your employees’ development needs. Instead, you can improve the overall capability of your learning technology ecosystem by combining your LMS with a purpose-built frontline learning solution.
Your LMS + Axonify = modern frontline learning
Remember, your LMS does a few things well, including administering formal training and acting as a system of record. You can still use it for what it was built for while introducing a new solution specifically designed for the needs of your frontline employees.
That’s where we come in.
| LMS | Axonify |
|---|---|
| Store and deliver online courses | Reinforce key knowledge to drive long-term retention and behavior change |
| Administrate classroom and online sessions | Enable mobile access to online training and performance support |
| Track course completions and certifications | Measure the impact of training |
Axonify is the modern learning solution for frontline employees that actually works. Employees love the fun, fast, personalized experience so much that 83% of them come back to train 2-3 times a week. This super-high engagement provides our AI-powered platform with the data it needs to reinforce the most important knowledge and skills your employees need using bite-sized microlearning content. The result? Behaviors on your frontline change in all the right ways to make a meaningful impact on your business results.
More than an LXP. We’re the ultimate solution for frontline enablement.
Axonify takes the best learning technology has to offer—from the LMS to the LXP—and brings it to the frontline workforce. We provide personalized learning that meets every employee’s individual development needs as well as your business’ top priorities. The Axonify experience is so simple, impactful and engaging that 83% of our users worldwide come back 2 to 3 times per week. This unprecedented level of engagement provides the data we need to power our AI, adapt to the needs of each employee and measure the impact of your training on business results.
Axonify will help you enable your employees to do their best work every day.
