How to choose the right LMS for corporate training
How to choose the right LMS for corporate training
(or five important steps to make your decision easier)
Choosing a quality learning management system (LMS) is usually easy at first glance - after all, you just need to enter a few keywords into a search engine and choose the best-looking offering. But in reality, the range is surprisingly wide and it's easy to find yourself reaching for a solution that doesn't quite work for you in practice. Why? Every business has different needs, budgets, internal resources and future plans. These are the factors you should consider when choosing an LMS.
Open-source or commercial platform?
For many, the main question is whether to invest in commercial (mostly cloud-based) systems like Coursetto or Netventic, or to bet on an open-source solution like Moodle. Commercial LMSs usually offer fast implementation, official support and often a very clear interface. On the other hand, their licensing fees or subscriptions can be higher, which sometimes puts smaller companies off.
Open-source solutions, on the other hand, can be very customizable, but require some technical oversight and expertise. Unless you have someone in your company who can handle updates, plugins and technical security, managing a "free" tool can turn into an unexpected burden. Still, Moodle and similar systems tend to be quite appealing for companies that are not afraid to take control and want to customize the platform.
What shouldn't you miss?
One of the important concepts in e-learning is SCORM - a basic standard that allows you to track whether an employee actually took the course and how they performed on tests. If you're planning to use multiple types of content, it's definitely worth looking into supporting xAPI, a newer standard that can capture much more complex activities (like learning via mobile apps or attending webinars).
In addition to tracking progress, also think about what features you'll actually use. Do you need gamification with badges, leaderboards and points? Or are you happy with testing and a basic scoreboard? An overly robust system with many redundant modules can be unnecessarily expensive and complicated for smaller companies. Conversely, an overly simple platform may not be enough if you are planning for larger amounts of content and detailed reporting.
Local support and language environment
Czech and Slovakian companies in particular appreciate the ability to contact suppliers in their native language. This is not an excessive luxury - all it takes is for something to stop working during a key training session, and every hour of delay can mean a financial loss. In addition, it's worth checking whether the LMS in question offers complete localisation: many platforms promise English, but this applies mainly to the user part, while the admin interface remains partly in English. If you don't have a problem with that, there's nothing to worry about. But if you prefer everything in your company to be 100% "home-grown", this detail is essential.
Why compare LMSs in one place?
Practically every platform presents itself as the best choice on its site - and often it can really feel like it. That's why it's extremely helpful when there's a comparison portal where you have key information (price, features, references) systematically side-by-side. This makes it easier to see which systems support SCORM, who can also work with xAPI, and whether there is a missing integration with MS Teams somewhere.
Such a portal usually also includes user reviews and real-life experiences. There's nothing like learning how a given LMS performed in a company of the same size, whether the transition to the platform was smooth, and whether customers appreciate the fast support. For smaller businesses, this can be a key factor, as time and human capacity tend to be limited.
So do you know how to do it yet?
Before choosing a particular LMS, first and foremost, get clear on your own priorities: how much you want to invest, how much time and energy you can devote to implementation and operation, and how much freedom and customization you require. Whether you ultimately decide to go with open-source Moodle or one of the Czech or foreign commercial platforms, a well-built LMS can save you time, money and a lot of hassle in organising training.
If you don't want to spend long hours comparing different offerings, you'll appreciate our dedicated comparison site where you'll find a detailed overview of key features, pricing, user reviews and the opportunity to try out a range of systems in a demo version. The more information you have in one place, the easier it will be to decide which LMS fits your needs and allows you to develop employee training in your business in a truly effective way.
