Looking for the Best Cloud LMS in 2021? Here Are Some Options to Choose From

Viren Kapadia July 19, 2021
Looking for the Best Cloud LMS in 2021? Here Are Some Options to Choose From

LMS a must for L&D

If you are currently searching for the best LMS, you are well aware of the benefits of LMSs and that is half the battle won. In a digital world, whether you are in a corporate or an academic situation, an LMS is the only way to effectively deal with the learning and development needs of your employees/students.

Advantages

An LMS provides a centralized, cost-effective, automated and comprehensive end-to-end solution to the problem of training, skilling, assessing, reporting, tracking, recording, and compliance monitoring. It is customizable, scalable, and offers personalization. Rich analytic capabilities are in-built for better insights-based decisions.

With so many benefits, it is no wonder that the global LMS market which was valued at $8.76 billion in 2019 is expected to grow to $38.10 billion by 2027 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.7% during the forecast period, 2020-2027 (Fortune Business Insights, 2020).The growth is riding on the back of pandemic triggered changes in the education ecosystem, exponential growth of mobile phone usage, improved internet connectivity, widespread adoption of e-learning and MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), changing user preferences towards anytime, anywhere personalized learning experiences and emerging technologies like AI and ML.

Multiple Options

In choosing which LMS works best for one's needs, new entrants or those seeking to upgrade their systems are confronted with the dilemma to either opt for an Open Source LMS or adopt a Hosted LMS. The latter is also referred to as Cloud-based or Web-based LMS. While both have their pros and cons, cloud-based LMSs have an edge in offering better value and functionalities per unit cost.

Ultimately, however, the selection decision will rest on which system best addresses one's specific needs.

Basic Characteristics

To make the right choice, the first step is to understand and list out your requirements and expectations from an LMS. The system that has featured at a price point that finds a close match with your needs is the one that will fit the bill. Some common and desirable capabilities of LMS are:

  • Analytics
  • Omni device capability
  • Gamification
  • Third-party integration
  • Multimedia content delivery formats
  • Certifications
  • Co-authoring functions
  • Scalability and Customizability
  • Security
  • Customer support

Some Leading Cloud LMSs

A review of some of the leading cloud-based LMSs currently popular in the market will provide better insight and help to make an informed decision. The list is illustrative and in alphabetical order. The features are given and other information are extracted from the respective sites of the listed vendors:

  • GYRUS LMS: GyrusAim LMS is a cloud-based, AI-driven fully automated LMS platform. It has over 30 years of experience in this field attracting over 500+ customers across 18+ countries.

    Its main features are:
    • Rapid Data Integration (Import/Export)-Learning content, User profiles, 3rd party tools, API, etc.
    • ISO 9001:2015 certified
    • Multilingual support of 15+ languages
    • Online certification management and Learning Path
    • User-created OJT (Observation Checklist) tests and assessments with in-built Assessment Builder
    • Integrated Competency rating feature
    • Gyrus complies with e-learning standards like SCORM, AICC, xAPI, Tin Can, etc.
    • Integrated with video conferencing applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, GoToMeeting, Adobe Connect, and Skype for webinar-based training.
    • Award certificates to your employees based on a course completion
    • Manage 21 CFR Part 11 compliance and many more.
    • Pricing plan include unlimited cloud storage
    • Hosted on FedRAMP compliant Microsoft Azure Platform
    • Reporting and Analytics – Dashboards and tools for proactive decisions and compliance.
    Feature of Gyrus eCommerce:
    • Create a shop and sell any type of medium, program, certification, or curriculum
    • Establish content costs per user or group and manage discounts, promotions, and charge codes
    • Provide use-based access to content or libraries
    • PayPal and Elavonintegration for shopping cart and checkout
  • DOCEBO Learn LMS: With a client base of 2000+ top rung brands, Docebo's AI-based eLearning Suite is a name to reckon with in the e-learning industry. Their powerful engine enables customer-specific configurations with gamification, audit trails, and certifications. Their e-commerce feature enables the delivery and selling of online courses to multiple external audiences with a single LMS solution.

    Its main features include :
    • Supports 35+ native integrations
    • Award-winning mobile learning app (Go.Learn) with the mobile app publisher
    • Supports 40+ languages for localized content personalization
    • Works with SCORM, Tin Can/xAPI, and AICC
    • Pricing plans include unlimited cloud storage.
  • ABSORB LMS : Catering to the training needs of 120 industry verticals, irrespective of size, this cloud-based, scalable LMS provides an engaging learning experience to users. It is also optimized for mobile devices in tune with current consumer preferences. It not only enables training but also has the feature of selling online courses through their fully integrated LMS e-commerce module.

    Its principal features include :
    • Smart Administration--makes LMS administration faster and efficient with automated AI-supported processes and with customizable dashboards;
    • Learner Engagement--interactive multimedia content capabilities with engaging interfaces make for deeper comprehension;
    • Reporting and Analytics-- customizable data fields, report sharing, and analytical dashboards provide useful tools for informed decisions
    • Learner Experience--powerful search functionalities
    • Observation Checklists--tracks, records, and tests competencies and regulatory compliance
    • Content Libraries--seamlessly integrates quality content from proven e-learning content providers
    • Standards Compliance--works with SCORM, AICC, xAPI, HTML5, and other standards
  • LEARNUPON LMS: With 24/7 worldwide support and a people a focused platform, LearnUpon LMS has 9M+ users, 60M+ courses delivered and $70M worth of training sold via e-commerce storefronts, the trust in LearnUpon LMS is apparent.

    The features of their LMS include :
    • Multiple learning portals, LRS integration, upload of external credits/training, 3rd party API integration
    • Multimedia content support, Gamification
    • Webinar tools
    • 13 languages
    • Event Management, Notifications, Reports
    • Compliance reports, Certification and Auto Recertification, CPD (Continuing Professional Development), and CEU (Continuing Education Unit) monitoring
    • Social media integration
    • HTML5 support, SCORM, and xAPI standards
    • e-commerce functionality
    • Zapier
  • TALENT LMS: TalentLMS provides a fully customizable easy to manage cloud-powered training platform which already serves 70,000+ teams worldwide.

    Some prominent features of their platform are :
    • Create and deliver interactive courses complying with SCORM, cmi5, and xAPI standards
    • Assessment and Survey engines provide easy testing and analysis
    • Data and files repository
    • Blended learning, Gamification, Video conferencing support, e-commerce functionalities
    • Native Integrations with BambooHR, Salesforce, GoToMeeting, Shopify, and more in addition to accessing over 2000 apps via Zapier
    • GDPR friendly data security
    • Platform conforms to WCAG-2 accessibility requirements
    • Any device training
    • Multilingual with 30+ languages

Making the Right Choice

The features of the above top-rated LMSs drive home the point that almost all platforms offer functionalities that will meet the expectations of a trusted and efficient training system. The bottom line, of course, is that the L&D objectives of the enterprise must be fulfilled.

Most vendors offer demos and free trials and buyers should take the benefit of this facility for shortlisting and then committing to a purchase. GyrusAim Cloud even encourages enterprises to take a short personalized tour with a sales specialist to facilitate making such investments based on informed decisions.