Why Selecting the Perfect LMS is Akin to Selecting the Love of Your Life?

Okay, to a certain extent, yes, but probably not thaaaat dramatic.

Well, it can definitely strike off as a daunting experience if you are not familiar with it (so is selecting a life partner). But fret not, let me give you a brief rundown on what Learning Management System (LMS) is all about and why it is, once more, the latest fad in the Human Resources (HR) scene today.

LMS is a software that provides the platform and framework to handle all learning processes. This ranges from housing, delivering and managing the learning contents and its accompanying data analytics. LMS has been around for years, do not get me wrong. However, with the current pandemic we are in, this particular digital solution (along with Digitalization) propelled to the front page of the internet.

Now that you have a good understanding of what LMS is all about, you may be wondering how do you select the perfect one for your organization? Coupled with relevant analogies, let’s dive into some of the aspects that you may find yourself (or your boss for that matter) asking:

Which LMS and What Are The Features That You Are Looking For?

Did you know that in 2020, the male population outnumbered the female population in Malaysia? Tough times we are in, comrades. But no sweat, there is always somebody out there meant for us, if you know where or what to look for.

There are tons of LMS solution providers out there ranging from powerful AI-powered systems to simple-to-use and deploy, basic tracking systems. So, you should start by asking yourself and your management: What is the idea behind investing an LMS? What is expected of it? What kind of contents that can be deployed? Do note that there is an array of LMS selections catering for specific industry needs. You may want to start off by looking at the ones that fits your industry.

Have to Have Versus Nice to Have Features

You have heard about the 5Cs in finding the right man: Cash, Credit Card, Condo, Car, Career. Let’s say you found one. The full Cs package. You are not going to marry him right away now, are you? There are still other aspects to consider such as his characteristics, the good and bad habits and of course, chemistry. No one is made perfect, so we need to determine what are the quality traits that we intend to prioritize.

Once you have determined and funnel down to the few LMS that fits your organization, you have to start familiarizing with the standard and industry-specific features and functions they provide. The quantity of features does not trump over the quality features most of the time, given that budget is of essence. Therefore, it is always recommended to define what are the ‘must have’ and ‘good to have’ features and start working from there.

Is It Future-proof?

Change is constant. But like a life partner, it is not something you have the luxury to change regularly.

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, half of all work tasks will be fully automated. Do keep in mind that it is crucial to determine if the LMS solution that you select serves its purpose today and the future. Is the LMS scalable to your business growth? Are the features dependable to cater for such growth? Selecting the right one today saves massive time and costs in the long run.

Security (and Data Storage)

I am sure everyone wants to spend their lifetime with someone they feel secure!

A powerful LMS collects various types of data of its users and learners. Some of these may contain sensitive and personal information that could potentially lead to Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) breach when leaked to irresponsible or external parties. When you are selecting an LMS, be sure to ask about the security side of things such as back-up data storage, IP blocker features, domain-based registrations and mobile security.

So, there you have it. There are many similarities in selecting the perfect LMS for your organization and selecting your significant other.

Now that we have piqued your interest in LMS and checked all the checklist boxes in selecting the perfect LMS, would you like to start selecting one that suits your organization, without breaking the bank?

Oh, you do? Why wait?

Talk to us (your Life Partner Consultant) today!

This article was written by our very own Digital Team Lead, Phang Kin Weng. Do checkout more of his muses and writing on LinkedIn