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What are the problems with Learning Management Systems? LMS Pros and Cons

If you're looking to invest in the training and development needs of your employees, the best way to start is by researching the benefits of using a Learning Management System (LMS) and how it can support your organisation's L&D and training.

This will need to cover not only what an LMS can help you with and the ways it will support your goals, but also any potential drawbacks you need to be aware of.

In this article we're going to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of an LMS and explore how it can help your business progress towards creating a continuous culture of learning and development.

7 minutes

Written by Jess Gillett.

Updated 27/03/2023

How learning management systems can be beneficial for your business

A Learning Management System (LMS) is a powerful tool that consolidates all your organisation’s training resources and streamlines the learning experience for employees. Due to the easy access of a wide range of training content and the ability to assign role specific training, employees are more engaged with the material and more likely to complete courses efficiently.

With an LMS, management teams and leaders gain the flexibility to create, assign, personalise and update eLearning modules to remain compliant and up-to-date with the latest training requirements.

Regardless of business size, using an LMS offers a more efficient and effective training environment, benefiting your business's growth and success. 

Let’s take a detailed look at how learning management systems can be beneficial for your business:

1. Offers flexible learning

Flexible learning is at the forefront of many organisation’s minds as this promotes greater engagement by empowering employees to learn at their convenience. Therefore, having the option to learn and train on the go via a mobile app is one of the most useful advantages of an LMS.

2. Centralised access

Having course materials, assessments and communication in one easy to use system is hugely beneficial as this allows for a seamless experience when managing learning programmes and analysing the results.

3. Progress tracking

Effective reporting and analytics tools within the LMS enable better support for training strategies. Access to data insights, team dashboards, compliance tracking, and diagnostic assessments helps ensure engaging and suitable training for employees. Learn how to use LMS analytics as an effective learning strategy

4. Scalability

One of the other important benefits of an LMS is that it can grow alongside your business needs and strategy. As your organisation expands, it's a key requirement that the LMS can accommodate more learners and efficiently manage a growing content library.

5. Compliance Management

Keeping on top of mandatory training and compliance regulations is crucial, so tools such as trackable content and refresher training can make compliance training far easier to manage. Having these built-in features is a real advantage of an LMS and will improve consistency and the efficiency of compliance and will help ensure your training needs are being met.

6. Bespoke Content Creation

Use the LMS to create bespoke materials tailored to your organisation's unique needs. Tools such as eCreator allow you to develop custom videos and quiz content that aligns with your business goals and employees' requirements.

desktop view of a learning management system showing an employees mandatory training

Benefits of an LMS for employees

While a Learning Management System will undoubtedly be beneficial in helping your organisations deliver and meet L&D objectives, there are also direct benefits of an LMS for employees. Keeping up with their learning and development requirements can be a tricky task. However, with the right LMS available, it can make mandatory training goals easy to achieve. Here are a few benefits of an LMS specific to employees. 

Role specific training

Create and deliver the right training to the right people when it is most relevant to them. Being able to introduce targeted role specific training pathways is particularly helpful for large organisations who have a lot of employee training to roll out. Your employees will benefit from only being requested to carry out relevant learning.

Targeted learning

Identifying knowledge gaps and current skills levels is key for making sure employees are developing and progressing the way they should be, as well as providing them with the support they need going forward. Diagnostic assessments are also a great benefit to learners because it means they can self-assess then only be assigned training where they have a specific personal need.

Flexible Learning

Bite-size learning can be carried out when it is most suitable for the learner, without taking up a lot of their valuable time. Learning when and where is suitable is far more convenient than trying to find time in a busy schedule, and reduces the reliance on costly in-person training to spread knowledge and awareness.

Training visibility

When there is a lot of training to complete, especially mandatory training aimed at helping an employee do their job more effectively or stay compliant, it can be difficult to manage.

A good LMS will give each employee visibility of their own training pathway allowing the individual and their manager to ensure they are on track with their learning requirements.

 

Share some of the wide-ranging benefits of a Learning Management System with your colleagues in this short summary (PDF)

mobile view of a learning management system showing an employees mandatory training

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Disadvantages of an LMS

While there are many advantages of an LMS which we have discussed within this article, there are certain things it is not best suited for and can therefore be seen as disadvantages.

Most of the time a learning management system will not be aimed at:

  • providing employees with individual opportunities to take control of their own development and progression within your organisation.

  • giving a wider breadth and depth of training with a complete blended, self directed learning experience, including audio, eBooks and virtual classrooms.

  • offering a wide range of eLearning resources based on assessments evaluating personal strengths and areas of development

However, managed learning through an LMS is not designed to achieve these things. Instead, it should be seen as the logical first step in creating a continuous culture of learning, focused on achieving essential organisation training needs.

Pairing Managed Learning with Personalised Learning and Self Directed Learning, will allow your employees to complete mandatory training with ease, whilst expanding their knowledge and seeking out the training they want.

Common problems with Learning Management Systems (LMS)

When it comes to Learning Management Systems (LMS), organisations often encounter challenges that can hinder the successful adoption of the platform. Understanding these key problem areas is crucial.

By addressing these three key problem areas, organisations can better navigate the challenges associated with Learning Management Systems, ensuring a smoother and more successful implementation.

Access Learning provides digital learning solutions across the full breadth and depth of business learning needs, with options for all business sizes and industries.

picture of the author, Jess Gillett

By Jess Gillett

Product Manager

Jess is a senior learning & product professional in the Access Learning team. She is a Product Manager, leading a team of Product Owners to grow and develop the Access LMS, our award-winning SaaS based learning management system.