For any business that provides their employees with the opportunity to broaden their skills and knowledge base, it can be a challenge to keep on top of the process. This is particularly true of organisations who have several employees within different departments or geographical locations that might be taking courses across various subjects.

Thankfully, an enterprise learning management system (AKA LMS or ELMS) can help businesses to do this by providing them with a simple and easy to use system for keeping track of them.

If your company is currently using one, you will, undoubtedly, attest to its benefits. However, if yours is not, please take the time to keep reading until the end, as we highlight what is so special about an ELMS and what advantages it can bring to your business.

What is a learning management system?

An enterprise learning management system is a platform that enables companies to manage, store, track and provide staff with all relevant training-related materials.

Essentially, it makes the process of e-learning easier for both the company and students by increasing rates of enrolment and levels of engagement.

Overall, there are dozens of top-notch software programmes available for businesses to use. Therefore, it is important for any company considering adopting one to carefully evaluate their objectives and goals, in relation to employee development and learning. That way, they are more likely to find the right one for them and make the most of it.

What does an Enterprise Learning Management System do?

For business owners and those working in Human Resources, an ELMS allows them to 

• Train new employees 
• Oversee e-learning and training across the business as a whole
• Communicate more effectively with students
• Set and manage the goals and objectives they have for employees
• Track the progress of individuals
• Identify those who may require extra support
• Interpret more in-depth analytics and present more complex data analysis
• Identify gaps in a person’s skills or knowledge base

Overall, there are three major aspects that apply to ELMS, which will determine how your company operates it and at what expenditure level. They are as follows:

Free or commercial – If you get a free version, you might only be able to access limited functionality or features as compared to a paid-for version

Installed or Cloud-based – If an ELMS is installed within the company’s premises, the data is stored in-house. However, if it is cloud-based, it will be stored on a server within a remote location.

Open-source or proprietary – If your ELMS is under a proprietary you will have to pay a regular subscription fee. However, should it be open source, the software will be free. It will also be customisable, though maintained on the premises.

It is important to draw a distinction between ELMS and learning management content systems (LCMS). The former is used to manage and maintain existing training materials, which might include videos, e-books and, perhaps, quizzes. By contrast, an LCMS is it employed to actually create the learning materials.

In theory, an ELMS and a LCMS can be used in conjunction with each other, your business will probably only need an ELMS, unless you plan on creating hundreds of training courses.

Interestingly, ELMS are not just used for training in business. They are also employed by schools, colleges and institutes of higher education.

What makes a good learning management system?

Not all Enterprise Learning Management Systems are made equally. So, it is important to know what makes a good one. Here are a few things you should look for when weighing up the suitability of any given software model.

Be compatible with other software and systems

It is important to make sure an ELMS is compatible with other applications and platforms you use, such as CRM, HRIS, payroll and content hubs like Go1.

The last thing you’ll want is disruption.

Include your own branding

Most paid ELMS will enable you to customise the software to include your own fonts, colours and logo. However, not all open-source ones will, which you might find limiting.

Personalisation of the learning experience

It’s a fact of life that employees and students will learn at a different pace. Therefore, you should look for a system that enables you to personalise for them the overall learning experience.

It should also be able to identify when they might require additional assistance.

What are the top benefits of an Enterprise Learning Management System?

In addition to streamlining a business’s e-learning and training processes, an ELMS can provide the owners and management of a company with several other benefits.

Here is a selection of them.

1. Reduce Costs

An Enterprise Learning Management system will most likely involve an initial up-front cost, in terms of either a managing in-house resources or on a subscription fee. However, it will undoubtedly significantly reduce your costs in the long run.

Training employees can be both time-consuming and expensive to managing in person, especially when you consider factors such as travelling. By contrast, e-learning is much more cost-effective – especially if you are training staff in multiple locations.

2. Save time

As well as reducing costs, introducing an ELMS into your business will also save you a lot of time.

The great thing about e-learning is that it is self-guided. Therefore, employees can learn at a time which is more convenient with their workload.

As all the training materials are contained within the system, it also saves time for administrators who no longer would need to organise the training course. Thus, freeing their time up for other high priority activities.

3. Make sure all mandatory training is performed

Some training, such as equipment operation, fire safety and first aid is mandatory within certain businesses.

An ELMS can help you ensure that all your employees receive this training, and that it is completed to an excellent overall standard.

4. Better process management

Through their integrated functionality, an ELMS enables management to streamline their training processes to make sure they are as seamless as they can be.  

Final Thought

At the end of the day, the personal development and training of your employees is paramount to the success of your business, because without highly knowledgeable and skilled staff you’ll struggle to meet your goals and objectives.

An Enterprise Learning Management System is an excellent way to keep track of your employee’s training schedules and ensure they are being given all the tools they need to perform their job to the best of their ability.

As a result, the question you should ask yourself isn’t ‘should we get an ELMS’, but rather, ‘which ELMS should we get for our training needs’.

FAQs

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the benefits of UK companies adopting an Enterprise Learning Management System.

What is an Enterprise Learning Management System

Often abbreviated to LMS or ELMS, an enterprise learning management system, is an innovative software platform that enables companies to deliver their training content, keep abreast of learner progress, better analyse and report on employee and customer training and streamline the overall function of training content management.

What is the prime objective of learning management systems?

An ELMS is typically used to ensure that companies successfully implement online training courses that optimise the way users learn. 

By configuring users, it is able to design content for online classes and courses that are full of engaging eLearning material.

What are the major benefits of an Enterprise Learning Management System?

There are several benefits for UK companies embracing an enterprise learning management system. However, the main ones are that they help to reduce your costs, improve your process management and ensure your staff have completed all mandatory training.