What Is The Use Of An LMS?
The main utility of a learning platform is to pilot training within a company. Indeed, an LMS makes it possible to manage all the aspects related to a training strategy: support for a community of learners, integration of a teaching team and management of all budgetary aspects.
In addition, an platform is scalable and certain functionalities can be acquired “à la carte” according to the needs of companies. Finally, the LMS will centralize the entire documentary system of a company’s training department.
Deployment of an LMS platform
To optimize the usefulness of an LMS platform, it is important to choose the way in which it is deployed. Two main types of people have access to it: The teaching team (including trainers, training manager, learning community manager, etc.) who will animate the community and share content. Learners who will interact with the teaching team and other trainees (if the LMS integrates internal social network features) and download content.
There are several ways to deploy an LMS:
The cloud in SaaS mode : all data will be stored on computer servers of the e-learning platform provider. For the business, this means there is no infrastructure to buy or provision. In addition, this system is easier to maintain on a daily basis thus reducing costs.
In addition, there is no technical update to implement, it is up to the supplier to take care of it. In addition, a cloud-hosted platform is easier to use for learners because they have no software to install and simply need to have a username and password to connect and access their personal space.
Self-hosting or “on allowed” mode : this option requires hosting an e-learning platform on your own servers. If this solution may seem attractive, because it leaves more room for maneuver to the company, it is nevertheless very expensive. Indeed, technical maintenance will require a larger IT infrastructure including the recruitment of specialized labor, hosting, security, backup of stored resources, etc. specialists trained within the IT department.