If you aren’t already using a learning management system, or an LMS, then you might wonder why you should use one. After all, you’ve been training your employees without one since the company has been in business. Why would a learning management system be worth the investment?
Benefits of a Learning Management System
Primarily, a learning management system helps to make the training and learning process easier and faster. On top of that, an LMS can help to foster a culture of learning within your company. Employees may be more motivated to seek out learning opportunities themselves.
An LMS Improves Employee Engagement
With a learning management system, employees can take responsibility for their own learning. Instead of waiting for a class or for a manager to assign training, employees can access learning resources and learning modules on their own. Employees who want to improve their skills to do their current jobs better as well as make themselves eligible for promotions.
An LMS Aids in Succession Planning
A learning management system also helps managers with succession planning. It’s much easier to tell who’s already prepared for a new role in the company when your LMS can track all of the learning modules completed by employees. Managers and HR can see who is interested in advancement and how close they are to being ready for a new position by looking at what courses they’ve completed and what learning materials they’ve accessed.
An LMS Reduces Employee Turnover
Some companies don’t like their employees to learn new skills because they think they’ll have invested in the employee only for them to move on to a different company. However, investing in learning actually makes employees more engaged and more likely to stay. They’re more loyal to a company that invests time and money in improving them.
An LMS Promotes a Culture of Continuous Learning
Using a learning management system can help a company to foster a culture that encourages employees to seek out more learning opportunities. This, in turn, benefits both the company and the employees because they can better do their jobs.
An LMS Can Save Time
Training can take a lot longer if it’s done manually. Using software to both manage the learning process and provide digital training and e-courses can speed up the process. Plus, employees can access new learning modules and resources on their own schedules. Companies won’t need to plan for times when groups of employees, if not all employees, are unavailable at the same time.
An LMS Can Save Money
It’s said that time is money. By saving time using an LMS, companies can also save money. Digital learning means not having to pay travel costs or host a trainer. You also won’t have downtime as employees all have to take time away from their work at the same time. While learning with an LMS does need to be done on company time, it can be done at the employee’s discretion or on a rotating schedule so regular work isn’t impacted.
An LMS Helps Employees to Prioritize
With a learning management system, employees can do their learning and training on their own time. No one has to juggle scheduled training sessions with urgent projects. A learning management system should also recommend modules to employees based on their department and role so they can see which skills would be the most useful. They should also be able to see which skills are needed for advancement.
An LMS Provides Valuable Data
Another advantage of using software is that it collects valuable data over time. This data can be collected into reports and LMS software typically also interprets the data to provide valuable insights that managers and HR can use in hiring decisions, succession planning, and designing additional training programs.
