I especially love it when I get the opportunity to present all over the world on a variety of e-learning topics. I love meeting new folks who have either been big fans and supporters of e-learning or are totally new to e-learning and seeking out information and knowledge. They forget to realize that a learning system, learning platform are just semantics – as noted before. In January of this year, I presented the top systems for 2013-14. MORE

About half (51.9%) of the organizations surveyed in the 2014 Learning Technology Solutions Forecast Study (report available here ) own a learning management system , most often referred to as an “LMS.” MORE

This show isn’t for the faint of heart or for those who realize they overspent on their LMS, no siree. A ct 1 - A good LMS is one that costs a lot of money. Because I’m ripping you off, just like those systems that tell you it will cost 750 thousand dollars for 1000 users. There are plenty of fantastic systems out there that will cost you anywhere from 20 thousand dollars to 65 thousand dollars for 1,000 users, minus the one time setup fee. MORE

Linkedin E-Learning 24/7 group briefings - once a night – short and right to the point – think highlights of the day’s expo event (5th and 6th). I have either seen the product before at a previous show or by seeing a demo in the past six months OR I have never seen the product – there are a lot of e-learning products out in the marketplace. Time to hit the Road to Learning – Where is my Car? LMS Vendors. Is this a system for everyone? MORE

If you have or are looking for an LMS, perhaps someone in your company or department has mentioned that this X vendor or Y vendor either isn’t known or they have never heard of them and thus it is better to go with a well-known vendor, because they must be better – I mean look at all the folks they have. Another zinger is the old some famous, everyone hates their LMS. SuccessFactors LMS is horrible. Dated graphics and really just a yucky system. MORE

” Who knew that years later, this quote would become a battle cry for what I see happening in the LMS market? Recently, the concept of corporate learning ecosystems has grown increasingly popular — and with good reason. Four Pillars of LMS Augmentation. MORE

When we started Talented Learning nearly four years ago, our mission was to help clients find and use learning management systems that effectively support extended enterprise education. LMS Demand: New Waves of Unexpected Interest. Augment an LMS? MORE

In 2016, it makes more sense to think of a LMS as part of a digital business ecosystem, rather than a standalone island destination. There are a variety of approaches to LMS integration. The chart below shows the most popular LMS integrations according to 72 LMS vendors we surveyed. MORE

I note this because in the LMS and its subsets field, the same type of repeat, wash and repeat cycle exists. Cycle A – LMS Polling data. If you have any doubt, go do a google search of percentages and e-learning, let alone LMSs and see what pops up. Some quick data wise from my Top 50 2016 LMS Report. Cycle B- LMS Transparency. I have several gripes when it comes to the LMS and its subset space. And yes there are folks who hate their LMS. MORE

The LMS market is heating up by the day for past many months now and it looks like it is going, more or less, as predicted by Bersin & Associates about 6 months back – The LMS market: hotter than ever. Bersin & Associates – Learning on the Leading Edge. MORE

What if your LMS provides navigation options too? I recenly worked on a e-learning course developed using the rapid authoring tool, Articulate Storyline and published it to SumTotal LMS. Learning Technology Articulate Storyline MORE

I need a LMS. Q: I’m looking for a LMS that has classroom mgt, can have abc learners see only one course or a set of courses, while another group sees a different set of courses and I need to batch upload my learners. A: Virtually every LMS vendor out there in the marketplace provides these features. Rather than focus on the most common features, focus on the 10% that are different and thus may not be in every system – because guess what? Task management. MORE

The enterprise learning market witnessed another big consolidation event today as SumTotal Systems announced it acquired GeoLearning thus further positioning SumTotal as the largest platform provider for LMS and talent management solutions in the industry. MORE

the system itself has a lot to offer. The system has come a long way – and that is a good thing, with a nice UI and components including mobile learning. Listen you are a LMS with sales features and if you are going to include BI then add it and make it more robust. MORE

When learning goes mobile, the Learning Management System (LMS) that manages all Learning and Development (L&D) activities should also be available on mobile devices. So, how can you make your LMS mobile compatible? MORE

Moodle - Whether you like it or not, the system still reigns supreme for free open source. Open Elms – The first free open source LMS, geared specifically for business. If your LMS isn’t on the top twenty list, don’t fret, one of the following has occurred. It is in the top 50 (Names were posted in the E-Learning 24/7 Linkedin group and will be re-posted later this week). – another five systems debuted. 14 Absorb LMS - Very slick UI. MORE

Like many of you, I was surprised to find out that Skillsoft is in the process of acquiring SumTotal. The reason for the acquisition at least from a press release and information on the purchase (and available for viewing on the Skillsoft site), screams of HCM (Human Capital Management). HCM, among other things is all about HR (human resources), HRIS (human resources information systems) and the wherewithal of all that is part of it. Getting back to Skillsoft and SumTotal. MORE

Since my Top 10 list of LMS vendors has been posted online, I have received quite a bit of e-mail wondering why the biggest names: Cornerstone On Demand, Saba, SumTotal and SuccessFactors are not on the list. A LMS should first be a LMS. When I talk about a LMS, I am saying specifically a learning management system and the vendors themselves should see their own product first and foremost as a LMS, not as a TM/PM or whatever. MORE

I bump into LinkedIn posts from learning professionals who are overwhelmed by LMS challenges. Often, these posts have 287 or more responses from LMS vendors, each claiming they offer the best solution, given the overwhelming evidence provided in the original 2-sentence help request. MORE

The GRID – NexGen LMS Style. While there are well over 1,300 systems (LMS and subsets including learning platforms, sales enablement platforms, reinforcement learning platforms, etc.) Systems were graded on my weight system for next generation functionality. MORE

LMS vendors are continuing to add some very unique features in an effort to set themselves apart from the competition. This is to say that 90% of features most folks seek are nearly universal in a LMS – low cost or otherwise. While UI on the front and back end of a system continues to be all over the place – from generally awful to very nice – regardless of the price point, its the features that stand out (or in some cases -you should stand clear off) in the space. MORE

First off let me be clear, this post is not about the Cornerstone OnDemand LMS in the sense of whether it is a good or bad platform. Nor is it about the company itself, rather it is about the effect the system has on the entire LMS industry. Several months ago I picked up on a few items other vendors would mention about other systems. The term implies to those who pitch it, as that their LMS is something new and out of the box, not like those traditional platforms. MORE

There are lots and lots of Learning Management Systems (LMS) on the market. From my observation, I have categorised LMS based on the business motivation to create and offer them to the market: LMS that are part of a larger ERP system (e.g. These LMS appear almost an afterthought, an ‘add on’ to the massive database that ERP systems create. LMS that are part of a suite of HR Systems (e.g. MORE

In future posts, three random systems will land a “quick take” mini review. . Instructure Bridge (Yep those HE folks are adding a corporate system to their product line). Instructure like so many other HE systems can’t help themselves. The whole “non-traditional” push or more importantly, when a vendor says “traditional” implies that their system is not like Cornerstone, SumTotal, and alike. SumTotal. SumTotal. MORE

Back again to bring this first in a series of rankings for the top ten learning management systems for 2013. Still listed as a social learning management system, they have made some new strides that really work for me. Support of the iPad, thus mobile learning. Charging to remove their name of the system. 9 Absorb LMS. The system is still very strong and they have updated their UI. 7 eLogic Learning. Social learning. MORE

The 2016 LMS market is not what you think. We have spent the last two years interviewing hundreds of global learning technology professionals on both the vendor and practitioner sides of the fence. 10 Culture Shift Driving Epic Innovation in the LMS Market. MORE

10 eLogic Learning - Essential LMS. Compliance management, certification management. Immediate language per end user, this means that each end user can select their own language and the entire system changes to that. One of the top systems for the education market. MORE

Learning management systems didn’t die. Quick LMS History. Corporate LMSs were invented almost 30 years ago to manage and report on the training and compliance of their employees and contractors. The LMS market started changing after the dot com bust in 2001. MORE

Just because a system lists itself as an extended enterprise does not mean it comes with multiple domains (which with some vendors includes customized) nor with multiple portals or my preferable term – “multi-tenant” You may see an “extended enterprise” which not only refers to the company’s employees, but also their customers and channel partners. There are some systems who target only channel partners. Nice classroom management. MORE

It is that time of the year, okay, not really, but it is time or more specifically near the time for the release of my Top 50 LMS mid-rankings report. Breakdowns of each system including latest new features and quick take. Listing of top three systems in the following verticals – Banking/Finance, Manufacturing, Association, Education K-12, Higher Education, B2B. Listing of top five systems that I see as NextGen systems. Q: How many systems were considered? MORE

Resellers who are part of your business learning network – maybe you provide them courses on how to sell your product. Content Providers – the fastest growing B2B right now in e-learning; best or most amazingly of all – it can be just one person who has created a course (content) and then has their own clients who purchase the course or courses to provide to their own employees; the days of large content providers as the only option is gone. Go SumTotal. MORE

Y o u may be sitting right now with third party content in your LMS. Maybe you scored it via Wiley, but in many possibilities you purchased the content thru your LMS vendor. It’s much easier than say going directly to the content provider, buying it from them and then having them talk to your LMS vendor to put it in for you (which, honestly you should do, because it will save you money). The Courseware LMS Approach – Early days and today. MORE

The client was using SumTotal as its backbone LMS and was in need of a comprehensive and efficient alternative solution. Why change from SumTotal. The decision to move away from SumTotal was not an easy one. SumTotal is an expensive product with recurring annual fees. MORE

Today, SumTotal announced the acquisition of GeoLearning. The combined company represents the largest and most complete talent management provider in the industry supporting every industry and every market segment. GeoLearning is the leading provider of managed services and on-demand learning management software. As of January 5, 2011, SumTotal and GeoLearning are now one integrated company with a unified strategy and vision. MORE

Hands down, our learning technology “predictions” list is our favorite post to develop each year. So, with our feet firmly planted in the fertile soil of LMS innovation, here are the 15 trends we think are most likely to shape learning technology this year… #15 The LMS Will Never Die. MORE

Bob Little is a writer , commentator and publicist who works globally, specializing in the corporate online learning industry. ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW SERIES: ‘ Crystal Balling with Learnnovators ’ is a thought-provoking interview series that attempts to gaze into the future of e-learning. It comprises stimulating discussions with industry experts and product evangelists on emerging trends in the learning landscape. There’s lots to be learned! Cloud-based learning. MORE