E-learning is no longer an option, but a necessity.
Almost 30% of companies already use a Learning Management System (LMS) to optimize their training according to the barometer of professional training 2024 by Edflex. Online training has become increasingly popular in recent years, taking advantage of changes directly linked to the health crisis, such as the rise of telecommuting and hybrid working.
But e-learning is not just about virtual courses. We need to be able to structure distance learning courses and measure their effectiveness. There is also the issue of choosing the right training platform.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) are the cornerstone of e-learning. These platforms make it possible to create, distribute and manage courses, while centralizing all teaching resources.
What remains to be understood is what an LMS really is, its benefits, its functionalities...
1. What is an LMS?
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a digital training platform for creating, organizing, distributing and monitoring training. Because its heart is content, it can also be called a LCMS (Learning Content Management System).
The first LMSs appeared in the late 90s, as companies and educational establishments began to exploit information technologies to improve training and learning, and were rather basic.
Today, an LMS integrates various content creation tools, evaluation modules and detailed reports on learner progress. It enables trainers to create and manage online courses, track learner performance and automate training-related administrative tasks. Users can access a variety of educational content, participate in interactive modules and receive certifications, all on a single, consistent platform. They are at the heart of the digitalization of training.
2. The benefits and advantages of an LMS
Optimizing the day-to-day management of professional training
By adopting an LMS, organizations gain efficiency in training management. In its white paper dedicated to LMS functionalities, Absorb estimated in its white paper a time savings of 25% on average on administrative tasks.
Offering flexible, personalized training paths
A personalized approach is now essential; standardization is no longer enough. This allows learners to progress at their own pace, and to choose the formats that suit them best. By personalizing courses, not only do we improve the quality of skills assimilation of skillsbut also promotes the learner's well-being throughout the course. In fact, nearly 80% of employees questioned in a TalentLMS study said that greater flexibility in choosing training content and dates would be important.
Did you know
80% of employees believe that personalized training is important
Reduce the cost of training
Adopting an LMS may seem costly, but it's an investment that quickly pays off for most organizations. The costs incurred in traditional training (room reservations, travel, ancillary expenses, etc.) are, in the vast majority of cases, well worth the savings, which more than compensate for the expenses incurred in the LMS project. For sessions that will nevertheless be delivered face-to-face, there are other ways of reducing costs, particularly in terms of training planning.
Tracking employee progress with the LMS
Reporting is essential to the success of many projects, including training. Integrated with LMSs, reporting provides a clear view of the state of training, at both collective and individual levels. This analysis not only enables us to understand the current situation, but also to make informed strategic decisions for HR and training professionals. Whether it's a question of enriching courses, creating new modules or carrying out targeted actions, reporting identifies points of attention and provides actionable leads.
Increase skills retention with LMSs
Learning Management Systems, thanks to the diversity of their learning formats and methods, promote skills retention. They integrate elements of gamification such as quizzes and stimulate engagement, with concrete results in terms of skills retention. One study showed that knowledge retention was increased by 9% through gamification. A study by the Research Institute of America revealed that e-learning could significantly increase knowledge retention rates, ranging from +25% to +60%.
3. The features of a good LMS
Organizing content and learning paths
Content is at the heart of LMSs. By definition, these systems store and manage learning content... but that's not all: once this content has been hosted, it needs to be organized. Content organization considerably increases efficiency by pushing certain content according to profiles, classifying content by theme or integrating a search bar. There are many ways to classify training courses: by type of profession, by major theme or even by level of difficulty. criteria for classifying training courses. This is also the logic behind learning paths, which respond to current trends, with their own specific logic and possibilities for personalizing the learning experience.
An ergonomic, intuitive interface
The quality of your Learning Management System's interface should not take second place. While UX is not really a feature as such, it plays a decisive role in your choice of LMS. The interface has to be user-friendly, so as not to demotivate learners and encourage them to use the solution and immerse themselves in the content. After all, what's worse than investing in content and a tool, only to see your efforts fall by the wayside because of a poorly thought-out UX or UI? The idea is to offer an effortless user experience. However, don't panic: most LMSs on the market are well aware of this, and offer interfaces designed with your employees in mind: simple and easy to use. Depending on usage, it's a good idea to have an LMS adapted to smartphones or tablets.
Training and employee follow-up
Training is good, training and evaluating training is better! Training is more than just creating and distributing content. You need to be able to measure performance of this contentbut also the assimilation of knowledge by learners. The challenge is threefold: to identify missing knowledge, problematic content and training courses to be enhanced. This can be achieved by adding traditional assessments, or through gamification, with the integration of quizzes or role-playing exercises (VR or other formats).
Learner follow-up and reporting
Digital solutions require data. But you need to be able to identify and analyze the relevant data. Which training courses get the highest scores? Which certifications are delivered the least? Activity reports, traffic statistics, skills tracking: there's a wealth of data to monitor. data to monitor. LMSs must be able to give a true picture of the state of digital training within your company. In addition to monitoring your activities, this data will enable you to arbitrate your choices!
Certification and compliance
Training rhymes with skills... and skills often rhyme with certification, or even compliance according to certain structures. Your Learning Management System should be your ally in tracking skills and certifications. You may need to guarantee compliance of your training initiatives with employee or trainer certifications. It's essential to anticipate these issues before choosing your LMS.
NB: You can link your LMS with Adesoft to monitor your employees' skills and ensure compliance.
4. Which LMS to choose? The best on the market :
