Think of a learning management system (LMS) as your company’s digital training hub. It’s a software platform that lets you organize, deliver, and track employee learning all in one place. In the past, employee training often meant costly in-person sessions, generic off-the-shelf courses, or disorganized stacks of manuals. An LMS offers a far more efficient, impactful, and cost-effective solution. But what makes a good LMS, and why should you consider implementing one at your company? Let’s explore.
In this article, we’ll discuss the following:
- What is a learning management system?
- What are some reasons companies might consider implementing an LMS?
- What aspects does an LMS offer outside of solely educating employees and building skills?
Learning Management Systems Defined
What is a learning management system? The primary purpose of an LMS is to remove common barriers to effective employee training. So, what makes a good learning management system? Look for a system designed for businesses of your size that’s intuitive to use for both administrators and employees. Flexibility is key—the ability to create your own custom content alongside access to a library of pre-built courses ensures training perfectly aligns with your organization’s specific needs.
Reason #1: Combat Issues With Generic Training
One-size-fits-all training fails to address the specific needs of your employees. The best learning management systems let you customize learning experiences, creating personalized training paths based on individual job roles, identified skill gaps, or even personal career goals.
Relying on spreadsheets and manual records to track training completion is cumbersome and inefficient. An LMS offers powerful reporting tools, providing real-time insights into who has completed required courses and pinpointing areas where employees might need additional support.
Reason #2: Stay Compliant the Easy Way
What is the primary purpose of a learning management system? To train your employees on skills they need to work smarter in your industry. But keeping up with constantly changing regulations is also a must.
An LMS simplifies compliance training, ensuring your team always has access to the latest courses and that you have the documentation to prove it. This streamlined process saves valuable time and resources, freeing up HR professionals to focus on other strategic initiatives.
Reason #3: Boost Engagement, Combat Boredom
Traditional training methods often lead to disengaged employees sitting through long lectures or flipping through dry manuals. Modern LMS platforms turn learning into an active experience. Features like gamification (e.g., leaderboards, rewards, badges) introduce friendly competition and make completing courses rewarding as well as educational. The mobile-friendly design allows for learning on the go, fitting training into busy schedules and making it accessible anytime, anywhere.
Beyond the basics, many LMS options offer tools for creating highly customized learning paths. This could include interactive simulations, scenario-based quizzes, or even the option for employees to contribute their own knowledge to the system. By tailoring the experience to individual interests and learning styles, an LMS becomes far more than a series of required courses—it sparks curiosity and fosters a sense of ownership over the learning process.
Reason #4: Build a Knowledge Base for Lasting Impact
Beyond delivering training, an LMS acts as a centralized repository for valuable company information. Resources like training manuals, company policies, and best practice guides can be easily stored and accessed within the system. This ensures that employees have on-demand access to the knowledge they need to succeed even after formal training is complete.
By promoting self-directed learning, an LMS encourages employees to revisit materials when they need a refresher. This combats the “forgetting curve”—the natural decline in knowledge retention over time. This consistent reinforcement strengthens long-term skill development and solidifies essential job-related knowledge.
Commonwealth Payroll & HR is your Partner for your Company’s LMS Needs
As you’re looking through learning management system examples that might work for your organization, consider Commonwealth Payroll & HR’s LMS solution, Learn & Grow. This system allows you to access a wide array of pre-built courses on essential topics like business skills, safety, and management. Expand options even further with thousands of external courses in a compatible format.
With our system, you have the option to assign specific courses or create learning paths based on employee roles, ensuring everyone receives the training relevant to their position and growth trajectory. Plus, Learn & Grow lets you track progress, identify knowledge gaps, and demonstrate the ROI of your training initiatives with easy-to-use reports and dashboards. Contact us today to learn more about how Learn & Grow can help meet the needs of your employees and your goals as a company. Compare plans, view a demo of the system, and more!