Choosing the Best SaaS Learning Management System

Your LMS vendor is a great partner to help with your training initiatives and business goals. Interactive eLearning, engaging customer onboarding content, and much more are within reach when you know what your users need and take the time to evaluate your LMS options.

What is a SaaS learning management system?

SaaS stands for “software as a service,” and a learning management system (LMS) provides the back-end for your training programs so you can focus on seamlessly reaching and engaging your learners. A SaaS LMS may be tailored for customer training, employee training, or both. It’s just a matter of what kind of cloud-based education solution you’re looking for.

SaaS LMS vs. self-hosted LMS

A SaaS LMS is similar to a self-hosted LMS but also includes content storage, app integrations, software updates, new features and functionality development, and many other features every LMS needs to run effectively and meet business needs.

Self-hosted LMS solutions may have the features your company needs, but they also require the IT team to manage the system. They may be qualified to handle it, but will it be a top priority so your learning experiences are consistent and reliable? What’s more, self-hosted systems are generally not designed to scale, and if your business has growth plans, this can prove to be a great shortcoming.

Top features to look for in a SaaS LMS

Not all SaaS LMSs provide the same features so it’s important to assess your needs before you begin your search. Be sure to look for systems that provide:

User-friendly interface

Make it easy to use or people won’t use it is a good saying to keep in mind.. Choose a learning management system with an intuitive interface and minimal clicks for the learner to get where they want to go. Ideally, it’ll also allow you to customize the interface to fit your brand so the user experiences it as one integrated experience.

Tracking and reporting functionality

Data visibility is key to knowing how learners use your training platform. LMSs that streamline reports and make it easy for trainers and admins to access data give you support for using and maintaining the system. A learner may use the tracking function to check their progress toward earning a certification, and a trainer may use it to see which compliance training is most popular. Reporting may be available on a program basis (number of course enrollments, completions, etc.) or be tied to business value (Net Promoter Score – NPS or Customer Satisfaction – CSAT)

Cloud capabilities

A cloud LMS allows users to access all training content from anywhere via a mobile app.  bringing your content directly to your intended audience. This can be particularly helpful if you have employees in the field working on repairs and they need to look up something in a training video. =

Integration with existing enterprise software

A platform built to integrate with existing software solutions gives you that much more for your investment. Feeding learner data into Salesforce is one such example of this type of integration. Other examples include integrating your marketing automation, customer engagement, or payment gateway applications so you can do more with your existing apps by applying Customer Education data to these tools.

Certifications and assessments

Allow learners to check their knowledge by completing assessments, seeing their scores, and earning certifications. This helps to engage learners who are motivated by achievement. It’s also a way for learners to track their progress and return to the platform at a later time to complete their training and earn their certificate. Another benefit for learners is the ability to share their success via their social channels – which also helps to amplify your brand – all through your learning platform

Content creation and authoring tools

Trainers and LMS admins want course creation and authoring tools, webinar capabilities, and online learning functionality to help them design content and courses that engage users. Decision-makers want cost-effective solutions that deliver results. With a SaaS-based LMS, you can have both.

Choosing a SaaS Learning Management System for customer training

LMS features vary by provider. When choosing an LMS provider, consider what you need now to meet your company’s current requirements, as well as what you will need in the future to meet your scaling goals.  Consider these questions to help narrow your search:

• How many learners does the LMS need to accommodate now? What about in 2-3 years?
• What will empower our teams to create positive learning experiences for our customers?
• What kind of customer support does each LMS provider offer and which will best serve our customers?
• What integrations are key to a successful experience?
• Which LMS platform continues to develop and innovate to keep pace with market needs?
• What are our training content and authoring needs?
• What level of security do we need to protect our customers’ data?

Top SaaS Learning Management Systems for 2024

There are many LMS vendors, so we’ve picked five to give you an idea of what to look for in your search.

Skilljar

Our top features support various media types to make dynamic course content, the ability to customize individual learning experiences, blended learning options, built-in assessments and certifications, and native data and analytics tools for LMS admins.

Docebo

This LMS provider has AI-powered tools, and course content templates, with content creation and management functionality.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds makes our shortlist because of its product support, integrations, and content creation tools.

Absorb LMS

Absorb LMS is known for its content creation, management, and customer support focus.

TalentLMS

TalentLMS is known for its ease of use, setup, and administration.

Still not sure which SaaS LMS is best for you?

Our team is ready to answer any questions you may have and discuss Skilljar’s custom pricing solutions.

Request a demo today to get started.