Last Updated on December 17, 2022 by Markeyus Franks
What is a Learning Management System?
An LMS is a software program or web-based technology used to organize, carry out, and evaluate a particular learning activity.
If your company is not already using an LMS in its operations, it is better to start using this as soon as possible. A specific LMS for small businesses could be a game-changer for your firm, especially with the rise of learning and development (L&D). A sound learning management system should be purchased for a variety of reasons. You may consolidate internal education and training initiatives within your company using LMS software. Additionally, they will raise employee retention rates for information and increase staff engagement. Tracking training compliance will also be more robust, thanks to their sophisticated L&D analytics.
Although numerous LMS solutions are available, some are not the best for small enterprises. This article will review some of the top LMS solutions for small organizations and describe what they can achieve.
9 Best LMS for Small Businesses
iSpring
iSpring Learn offers automated training delivery, learning paths, and mobile learning, everything you anticipate from an LMS. You may produce training content, discover and develop new hires’ competencies and credentials, and establish an ever-expanding corporate knowledge base through comprehensive educational tools.
iSpring Learn allows you to scale your business by upskilling your employees and improving business processes. This feature was created for the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, to promote employee engagement, iSpring Learn also provides gamification features, including leaderboards, points, and badges.
The user interface of iSpring Learn is highly user-friendly, and you can personalize it by including your brand’s colors and logo. Even those with limited technical skills can quickly become proficient in all the features thanks to the UI. Employees also appreciate using the platform for their learning since it is so user-friendly and stylish; choosing courses feels like choosing a Netflix TV show.
The key benefit of iSpring Learn is that it enables you to go beyond training and have an impact. A built-in news feed keeps all personnel informed of new product releases and business developments. You may track the precise competencies of each employee and even spot unspoken interpersonal issues among them using 360-degree performance appraisal software.
The reporting functionality is a game-changer for how you interact with business executives since they value metrics. iSpring Learn provides progress reports showing how your training initiatives impact teams and the bottom line. Your HR system, corporate portal, ERP system, and other back-office systems, as well as Zoom and single sign-on, are all integrated with iSpring Learn via REST/SOAP API (SSO).
Canvas
Canvas LMS is an open and trustworthy web-based learning management system that enables institutions to manage digital learning. It helps teachers develop and deliver online learning materials and evaluate student learning. It also allows students to participate in courses and get feedback on their learning progress and skill development. The teaching staff has access to tools in Canvas to create and manage course webpages.
The Media and Educational Technology Services (METS) staff assists users with different aspects, including training and private consultations. METS collaborates closely with the Academic Technology team at HUIT on LMS expansion, strategy, and problem-solving. They sponsor the second instance of Canvas for continuing executive education and extended education options in addition to Canvas for residential course use for a nominal per year per learner.
Talent
Talent LMS offers a variety of training initiatives, such as internal training for departments (such as customer service, sales, and marketing) and external training for employees and remote workers (e.g., customer, partner, and extended enterprise training).
Using a drag-and-drop course creation tool, you can build your courses with text, presentation files, and video content. You can also add other features, such as quizzes, tests, assignments, or surveys, to evaluate students at the end of each course. Additionally, you can utilize Talent to make unique course certificates to recognize training completion.
Talent LMS offers options to start conversations, send messages, and submit course comments and video conferencing functionality. All these features make it easier for employees who are undergoing training remotely to connect. To gamify the learning process and make it more enjoyable, their system also offers incentives for training completion, such as badges, points, rewards, and a leaderboard.
BambooHR, GoToMeeting, Salesforce, Zapier, and Zoom are all integrated with Talent. They also offer an API to facilitate the integration of extra custom software.
With the freemium plan offered by TalentLMS, you can host ten courses for up to 5 users. After that, the starting price for their subscription plans for up to 40 individuals starts at USD 69/month, with different choices to scale up for larger workforces.
Absorb
The renowned Absorb LMS is a learning management system that provides and oversees self-paced lessons on a single platform. This software, which has an HTML5-based user interface and simple functionality, is a highly versatile option for quickly creating and automating training courses. It provides learners access to content on desktop and mobile devices, making it a practical choice for businesses with mobile workers. Contact a representative from Absorb LMS to get a price and to begin creating your learning portal.
Absorb LMS’s feature-packed multipurpose platform is one of the reasons it was selected as one of our top 9 LMS solutions for small business lists. It provides tools for building complex online courses and supports integrations. With them in your LMS toolkit, you can make fantastic portals and courses that your participants will love.
Do you have any educational resources from past classes that would be useful to other professionals? Maybe you’re seeking strategies to bring in more money for your business. You can make it possible for learners from outside your organization to buy courses in packages or separately using the flexible features of Absorb. This functionality supports over 70 payment gateways and assists with pricing and inventories to make transactions simple.
Absorb LMS also comes with an extra add-on called Absorb Engage that you may purchase if you want special tools to make your courses more learning-centric.
Moodle
Moodle is a free, on-premises, open-source learning management system where instructors can design interactive courses that are accessible to students across the world. This software enables users to create mass courses and maintain plugins, sitcoms, and file management features, solutions for creating customized websites, support for multiple languages, and secure authentication choices. Moodle is accessible from anywhere around the world for free and is made for companies of all sizes.
Are deadlines and lesson times important to you? If so, Moodle has a simple-to-use dashboard that may be customized to display all courses and assignments at a glance. It has an all-in-one calendar, text editor, auto alert tools, progress monitoring solutions, and collaborative capabilities, and it is available on desktop and mobile platforms.
With Moodle, you may use web conferencing tools and multi-media integration to give your students engaging interactive classes.
Finding references is simple with Moodle, whether you are a teacher, advisor, or student. It provides free classes, supports multilingual user forums, and keeps track of content other users worldwide have shared. This makes it simpler than ever to obtain new information about your sector.
TalentCards
With the help of the mobile learning software TalentCards, you may present material in small portions. It strives to provide these organizations with the abilities, tools, and information they need to enhance their online training procedures. Online learning cards can be made and distributed via the app. They can test knowledge, evaluate performance using gamification features, and train people anywhere, at any time.
TalentCards combines best-in-class technologies, careful interaction design, and extensive experience in corporate training solutions. It provides multi-media extensions and micro-assessments. Additionally, you can modify the program to improve how effectively it serves your needs. Up to five users can use the app for free, but after that, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription plan, which starts at $50 per month.
You make learning enjoyable and raise completion rates. Use a range of materials and assessments to liven up your training sessions. With the editor, create appealing flashcards for learning. Select pictures from the vast stock photo archive or submit your cards for audio, video, and links. Edit your course materials using the proper format and medium.
Some people cannot effectively study or operate a computer due to a lack of knowledge or abilities. But today, almost everybody owns a smartphone; they can quickly finish their required training on their mobile device, thanks to TalentCards.
Exams and tests should be used to gauge pupils’ knowledge and progress. To make your training more competitive, TalentCards allows you to establish pass rates and incorporate gamification. Create summaries of your training activity in reports using the dashboard.
Users may be imported in bulk, one at a time, or invited through email or SMS to register. You can also add your company’s photos, logo, and colors to the online learning experience to make it more unique.
LifterLMS
LifterLMS is a top-notch WordPress plugin that makes it simple to build, market, and secure membership websites built on compelling online courses. Its is a full-featured WordPress LMS plugin, course-building solution, and current WordPress block. It is compatible with all common WordPress page builders (like Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, Gutenberg, etc.).
Additionally, LifterLMS is renowned for having a strong LMS user community that is supported through active listening, social interaction, a course library, and thorough documentation. LifterLMS, a feature-rich LMS solution, invests significantly in client success and support. They offers more than just LMS software. LifterLMS fosters community and causes substantial financial assets to help the group of LMS site builders.
Blackboard
Blackboard is an LMS solution that combines course management, scalable design, and user-friendly online learning in one practical platform. This program is available on several platforms and comes with complete learning management tools, registration, reporting capabilities, and mass notification solutions. Ask for a quote on subscriptions by contacting one of their representatives.
In-person training might be challenging due to the pressures of daily employment. Make sure that Blackboard’s online conferencing and collaboration features will still allow your staff to participate actively in these development initiatives. Employees may complete training requirements wherever they are with the help of their browser-based, download-free, one-click virtual classrooms. These also offer HD audio and video and quick application sharing.
If you’ve never implemented an e-learning portal, it could be challenging to customize one. Blackboard supports its learning management systems with practical platform training and technical support. Thanks to their implementation consulting and specialized training, optimizing the program to your needs is simpler.
One of the most efficient strategies to maintain competitiveness in any sector is encouraging professional growth among all personnel. Use Blackboard’s all-inclusive business training solutions to stay on your game. This platform can readily assist you in facilitating initiatives engaging and enhancing your workforce, from compliance and certification training to leadership development.
Thinkific
A technology startup, Thinkific, has developed a platform that enables individuals and organizations to create online courses using their current expertise. These courses can later be sold to a target audience under their brand. Thinkific provides the resources you require for each stage of creating and launching an online system from the very beginning.
Thinkific is for specialists who wish to include education as a part of their existing business or offer their knowledge online. People use Thinkific to teach courses such as how to fly a drone and how to improve your digital marketing abilities. Online schooling provides countless opportunities.
Thinkific supports more than 25,000 course authors as they provide education in 164 nations. Here are a few salient features of the platform;
- You can create a website that you may customize to offer your courses.
- Ecommerce is wholly integrated to take payments for your courses.
- Using your preferred business and marketing tools, you may promote and sell your courses to a broad audience.
- It can help you provide value to your target audience through its student-focused learning environment.
Advantages and Drawbacks of LMS
Advantages
- An LMS reduces waiting.
- According to estimates, e-learning can save your organization up to 45% more time than traditional classroom instruction.
- Your students can prioritize their work with the help of an LMS.
- Instead of stopping everything from rushing to a specific location to a particular time, your learners may mix learning into natural lulls in their working day with the help of an LMS.
- An LMS is reliable and adaptable.
- One of the top advantages of an LMS is that it will enable you to provide the same training to your students everywhere.
- The price of an LMS is different, but the cost of hiring new employees is pretty high. Replacing employees regularly is also a big business.
Drawbacks
- Administrative expenses and setup time can be tricky.
- Getting an LMS system up and running can take some time. It will take time to switch all of your instructors to e-learning. Many educators will still favor the traditional teaching method of using a whiteboard and handouts over a fully functional LMS.
- Your company will need IT and coding knowledge to tailor the platform to your training requirements. As it is not as simple as changing color palettes and adding drag and drop menus, someone with programming knowledge will be needed to manage changes and operations of the system,
- Many learning management systems operate on a “freemium” model, which gives you access to a constrained number of functions. You might need to pay a subscription fee to access the system entirely. A reporting system and additional support are typically expensive features.
FAQS
What is the Most Commonly Used LMS?
The most commonly used LMS in small businesses is Blackboard. Almost 37% of enrollments were recorded. After Blackboard, canvas comes next as the most widely used LMS.
What is the Most Accessible LMS to Use?
In today’s world, ProProfs is the most accessible LMS to use. It is advertised as the easiest-to-use LMS, that anyone can get acquainted with but its ease of use lacks some streamlined features that more professional setups have.
