Choosing the right kind of LMS platform for your organisation can depend on a lot of factors, including where you are in your training journey, how quickly you need to get set up, budget and resource available.
Let’s talk about the two main types of Learning Management Systems.
Firstly, you could opt for a cloud-based LMS, where your LMS is hosted on the internet rather than from a local server. Your Learning Management System provider can manage everything for you, such as maintenance and storage, and it can often be a cheaper option than a hosted LMS.
Which brings me onto the hosted LMS option where your organisation is responsible for everything to do with it. This option, whilst it feels like you have more control over everything, can be more involved in terms of what you need to consider, such as data storage, GDPR, privacy and maintenance. Hosting the LMS yourself can also have hidden costs, so may be for more established, larger organisations already hosting a range of different platforms. Alternatively, cloud-based LMS platforms might be more suited to companies wanting flexibility and ease.
The LMS you choose can impact how you teach online learning and, ultimately, it is all about what suits your organisation best.