Table of Contents

LMS Requirements & Features ................................................................... 3

Overview……............................................................................................................. 4

Initial Steps in Considering an LMS…….................................................................... 4

Requirements……...................................................................................................... 5

Core Learning Tools and Course Management......................................................... 6

Performance Management and Development Tools ................................................. 7

Content Standardization and Support …................................................................... 8

Intuitive User Interface & Responsive Design............................................................ 9

Customization and Personalization …....................................................................... 10

Single Sign-On, Online Security and Data................................................................. 10

Content Creation and Media...................................................................................... 10

Installation and Hosting.............................................................................................. 11

Social Learning and User Engagement..................................................................... 11

The Top Learning Management Systems .................................................... 13

Docebo……................................................................................................................ 14

Cornerstone Learning................................................................................................ 15

SAP Litmos………………........................................................................................... 16

TalentLMS………….................................................................................................... 17

LMS Leaderboard ......................................................................................... 19

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 LMS Software Features &
Requirements
Are you hiring new workers? Promoting inside the company? Or
adopting new procedures or systems? If so, a learning management
system can benefit businesses with a desire to provide educational
and advancement opportunities for workers. But where to start?

Many of the LMS requirements we’ll discuss apply to the

administration, tracking, and use of digital training and education.
Companies use learning management systems to train and direct
workers. This software can improve onboarding, recruitment, overall
employee skill sets and analyze performance across departments.
LMS System Requirements & Features
Overview

When you’re looking at a new learning management system, it’s good to have a general idea of
what’s most important – but that alone is not enough. To start strong with a clear vision of your ideal
solution, you’ll need to strategize, determine what your needs are and prioritize.

Initial Steps in Considering an LMS

1. Define Your Strategy

It’s time to ask some pointed questions. How does a learning management system fit within the
goals of your organization? Are you looking for a robust solution that can handle multiple
complicated course management functions? Or, are you looking for something simple that can
handle training for a few departments? Most importantly, what is the most important KPI that will
make the difference between success and failure?

2. Determine Wants vs. Needs

It’s time to separate the “wants” from the “must-haves.” What can you not do without for your
organization to function? You’ll want to have clear numbers in terms of how many courses,
students and administrators you must accommodate. If you choose wisely, you’ll even have the
option to build as you grow.

⬜ Key Requirements ⬜ Core Functionality

⬜ Non-Essential Requirements ⬜ Scalability

SelectHub LMS Report 2021

3. Prioritize

Once you have your needs and wants, prioritize. What is the key differentiator that’s going to set
you heads and shoulders above your competition? What fits in best with your company’s mission
and values? Narrow down your list to your top priorities to direct your search more effectively.

⬜ Key Differentiators ⬜ Priority Checklist

⬜ Mission, Vision and Values ⬜ SWOT Analysis
5
LMS System Requirements & Features
4. Organize Stakeholders

Nothing is worse than rolling out a system and discovering a major flaw that wasn’t obvious from
the big picture view. That’s why it’s important to involve a group of focused, engaged employees
and stakeholders early on in the selection process. Hopefully, this will help you weed out any
problems beforehand.

⬜ Managers and Assistant Managers ⬜ HR Managers and Admin Workers

⬜ Executives, VPs and Directors ⬜ Department Employees

⬜ Program Administrators ⬜ Assistant Managers and Managers

⬜ Teachers and Trainers ⬜ Workers Who Oversee Integration

5. Understand Your Learning Model/Learning Culture

Now that you’ve narrowed down the specifics for your LMS, it’s time to ask a broader question
about education. Namely, how is training going to factor into your overall company culture? If you’re
trying to put a premium on employee knowledge, you’ll need ways to incentivize.

⬜ Company Culture ⬜ Learning Culture

⬜ Training Goals ⬜ Instructor-Led Training
⬜ Self-Paced Training

Requirements SelectHub LMS Report 2021

At last, you’re finished sketching out how the software will work within your organization. For the
next step, you’ll want to look at some of the most important requirements of a learning
management system. Once you’re finished, you can compare, contrast and analyze your way to
the best solution

6
LMS System Requirements & Features
1. Core Learning Tools and Course Management

Fundamentally, a learning management system helps facilitate e-learning content and structures
online courses. It can also fine-tune different types of training and education. This might include
online safety education and an orientation toward the company’s specific needs and corporate
culture.

Registration & Enrollment

Every learning management system will need to handle important administrative tasks. Registration
and enrollment are the beginning of the cycle. The question is, how complex do you need those
features to be? Will you enable self-enrollment? If so, your LMS will need the ability to assign
courses to the appropriate groups.

⬜ Self-Enrollment ⬜ Course Catalog

⬜ Course Registration ⬜ Smart Search Options
⬜ Course Completion Data

Scheduling

Scheduling can be a labor-intensive aspect of training and e-learning management. By automating

these processes, it takes the burden off HR professionals and school administrators. Whether it’s
digital, on-site or in-classroom instruction, it must adhere to the necessary scheduling
requirements. You’ll also want to be sure that the system prominently displays due dates.

SelectHub LMS Report 2021

⬜ Instructor-Led Training ⬜ Hybrid Learning
⬜ Blended Learning ⬜ Resource Coordination

Test and Training Customization

An exam editor can help instructors test the knowledge of their students through multiple-choice,
short essay questions and question randomization. With a learning management system, an
instructor can easily plan follow-up tests and change scoring requirements.
7
LMS System Requirements & Features
Test and Training Customization

An exam editor can help instructors test the knowledge of their students through multiple-choice,
short essay questions and question randomization. With a learning management system, an
instructor can easily plan follow-up tests and change scoring requirements.

Customization can also go beyond the mere format for testing. An individualized approach to
lesson planning could tailor it to the needs of each employee. For example, a user can create
education materials specifically for workers who are being promoted.

⬜ Exam Editor ⬜ Grading Rubrics

⬜ Multiple-Choice Questions ⬜ Post-Lesson Assessments
⬜ Essay Questions ⬜ Instructor Surveys

2. Performance Management and Development Tools

Some learning management platforms go beyond simply assessing training and also offer an
ongoing analysis of company performance. Performance-focused resources can be built into an
LMS platform. This allows businesses to examine proficiencies in particular skill areas, assess their
leadership capability or narrow their focus on how well employees perform core competencies.

SelectHub LMS Report 2021

8
An LMS can sort learners by performance level.
LMS System Requirements & Features
Talent Acquisition and Management

Many LMS vendors provide a range of talent management tools. Recruiting requirements might
include methods for attracting talent such as a database that examines the best employees in their
field. They may also come with integrated software that lets them post openings on job sites.

⬜ Candidate Tracker ⬜ Employee Database

⬜ Development Plans ⬜ Career Roadmaps
⬜ Competency Management ⬜ Skill Gap Tracking

Centralized Human Resources

Important HR functionality could also be a part of an LMS. Several products let companies put their
human resources data and important files in a central interface. These systems may also provide
attendance monitoring, benefits management and payroll mechanisms. They can serve as a basic
human resource tool for businesses that may not have a system already in place. Ultimately,
adopting a learning management program with centralized HR requirements satisfies needs.

⬜ Attendance Monitoring ⬜ Payroll Software

⬜ Benefits Management ⬜ HR Data Management

3. Content Standardization and Support

Standards

SelectHub LMS Report 2021

Most organizations require content standardization so courses can be delivered across different
systems and devices. SCORM, for example, has long been a standard in the industry. However,
APIs have recently become a powerful alternative for creating content standards and connections
across all deployment options.

⬜ AICC ⬜ CMI5
⬜ SCORM ⬜ LTI
⬜ Experience API
9
LMS System Requirements & Features
Compliance

Maintaining industry compliance standards is another standout requirement of learning

management software. For companies working with the federal government, vendors can offer
compliance options for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance or other types of standards
helpers. Safety training elements provide tools for maintaining compliance with U.S. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration standards.

⬜ Certification Tracking and Management ⬜ Federal Government Projects

⬜ OSHA, OFCC and Other Government Standards ⬜ Partner Network Compliance

Other Support

Additionally, many LMS vendors offer various support options to help you as you learn how to use
your new system. In this case, it’s important to consider if there is a bug report included. What kind
of implementation support will you have access to, and will it be enough? Will you need access to
24-hour live support? Do you want one particular consultant assigned to your organization? What is
the ultimate price tag?

⬜ Dedicated Support Consultant ⬜ Bug Reporting

⬜ Phone Support ⬜ Ongoing Training
⬜ Online Support

4. Intuitive User Interface & Responsive Design

It’s important to pick a solution that is easy to use. You’ll want a user interface that makes sense to SelectHub LMS Report 2021
an average user. As a company grows so does its learning needs which means it’s important to
have scalable software that will easily accommodate many more users and exponential growth.

⬜ Mobile Learning ⬜ Scalable Platform

⬜ User Dashboard ⬜ Responsive Design
⬜ Smart Search

10
 LMS System Requirements & Features
5. Customization and Personalization

Every learner and organization is different, that’s why some LMSs are highly customizable. Most
come with branding tools so it’s easy to make it clear where the information is coming from.
However, if you need a site without your branding, the process of white labeling allows for a
non-branded site with the same data.

⬜ Branded Sites ⬜ Unique Learning Plans

⬜ White-Labeling ⬜ Integration and Third-Party Content

6. Single Sign-On, Online Security and Data

As employees need to access more systems, SSO capability allows users to log in to one portal
and access multiple connected applications. You’ll also want a secure connection through the https
protocol. Ensure that data can be encrypted and that there is a backup in case of failure.
Depending on the amount of data, you might want to make good data management a priority.

⬜ Single Sign-On (SSO) ⬜ Encrypted Data

⬜ Data Management ⬜ Data Import/Export
⬜ Secure Connection ⬜ Https Connection

7. Content Creation and Media

Learning management systems can also serve as a good content library for all educational
materials. This could include training manuals, videos, images, PDFs, podcasts and more. There
may be unlimited or tiered pricing depending on your storage space plan. SelectHub LMS Report 2021

⬜ Learning Content Management System ⬜ Audio/Video Editing Tools

⬜ Content Library ⬜ Content Creation Software
⬜ Authoring Tools ⬜ Collaboration Tools
⬜ E-Commerce Functionality

11
 LMS System Requirements & Features
8. Installation and Hosting

First, you’ll want to determine whether you want a licensed or open-source program. Depending on
resources, you may install it onsite or utilize a Software-as-a-Service/cloud-based software. Local
installation may be necessary if the LMS is a more custom or robust tool. Cloud-based options, on
the other hand, often provide increased security.

⬜ On-Site Installation ⬜ Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

⬜ Open-Source Software ⬜ Private Cloud Security
⬜ Licensed Software

9. Social Learning and User Engagement

As learning management systems evolve, the goal becomes to engage learners and foster a
culture that encourages them to take initiative. Social learning requirements include messaging,
collaborative threads, activity feeds, video chats and other ways for users to interact. To engage
learners, many instructors use achievements, rewards and other game mechanics.

⬜ Activity Feed ⬜ Gamification

⬜ Web Conferencing ⬜ Virtual Classrooms
⬜ Student Forums ⬜ Video Responses/Chat
⬜ Secure Messaging ⬜ Achievements and Rewards

Essentially, most key requirements of a learning management system are geared toward a holistic
learner and performance management process. Other important features serve business or IT SelectHub LMS Report 2021
requirements. Competency and performance tools are a big part of how such products enhance
operations and provide the value that these software packages bring to an enterprise.

Supplementary requirements ensure ease of use and provide a comprehensive tool that conducts
learning functions with the added benefit of human resource management. Keep all of these LMS
requirements in mind for a smoother selection process when looking for your next solution.

12
 Free LMS Software Selection
Requirements Template

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 The Top
Cloud LMS Systems
Some of the best cloud based LMS provides on-the-job skills training
that your employees need to continue to develop as professionals.
Creating a learning management program is a worthwhile investment
for any business with an eye to the future. Cloud LMS vendors in
particular help those businesses develop their future leaders.
 Docebo Get Pricing $

Docebo is a cloud LMS platform that’s used by all types of businesses, from startups to enterprises,
from corporate to nonprofit. The Docebo platform has a fairly unique pricing structure, in that they
allow you to have unlimited users, but you only pay for your active users.

Benefits

● Choose Learning Methods: Pick from instructor-led training (ILT), classroom training,
virtual training and online training, or use a variety of formats for a blended learning
environment. You can track in-person training in different locations.

● Publish Content in Multiple Formats: Docebo supports all major eLearning formats:
SCORM 1.2 and 2004, AICC with PENS support, and Tin Can (xAPI).

● Customize the Platform: Take advantage of customization options — like branding, logos
and custom domains — to provide a uniquely designed platform. This lets you create a
consistent experience for internal use or white label software for customers and partners.

● Measure Training Impact: Gain insights into learning trends within your organization by
using reports and dashboards for enhanced analysis. The system comes with pre-built
reports or you can build your own by configuring user-data and course fields. Docebo also
provides configurable dashboards that allow you to view KPIs.

● Provide Flexible Learning: The platform has an app for iOS and Android devices, which is
optimized for different screen sizes to provide a smoother user experience. Learners can SelectHub LMS Vendors
continue learning offline and any progress made will sync with the system once.

● Get a User-Friendly Interface: Docebo provides an intuitive interface on both the frontend
and backend. You can choose which apps and features you need. It’s also possible to add
more as your needs change, which eliminates having too many features to start.

● Add Extra Capabilities: Get more out of the software by adding features such as an audit
trail, a blog, coaching, enrollment rules, labels, a MOOC builder and custom domains.

● Support Global Learning: Docebo includes 40 out-of-the-box languages along with

localized date formats. This helps cut down on implementation time and boosts adoption.
15
 Cornerstone Learning Get Pricing $

Cornerstone Learning’s cloud-based software helps your employees learn by targeting specific skill
gaps. Rather than randomly assigning courses, the software takes into account what each
employee can do and what they need to learn, assigning courses accordingly.

Benefits

● Automate Actions: You can configure the system to assign specific courses to different
employees and groups. There’s also an option to assign a course’s most recent version for
streamlined versioning control.

● Engage Employees: The application has built-in gamification features that reward learners
with badges and points for their training performance.

● Extend the Platform's Capability: Dozens of Cornerstone partners offer solutions your
organization can plug into the system. This enables you to expand functionality by adding
extra courses, data analysis, single sign-on (SSO), talent management features and more.
Partners include LinkedIn Learning, Deloitte, Skillsoft, TED Talks, IBM and Elucidat.

● Offer Training Externally: Cornerstone LMS has features that allow your company to
provide training to customers, partners, resellers and other external parties. Customization
features allow you to create branded portals and e-commerce tools to facilitate payments.
Finally, there’s an option to provide certification for compliance and monitor engagement.

SelectHub LMS Vendors

● Support Collaboration: You can promote social learning and better communication across
teams. The system’s communities present a place for learners to talk about projects, share
knowledge and more.

● Deliver Compliance Training: The system supports building or offering your own content in
a variety of formats, such as videos and quizzes. Cornerstone LMS also has the option to
use out-of-the-box content via subscription. These courses cater to specific industry or
functional skill compliance requirements. You can also build certification programs.

16
 SAP Litmos Get Pricing $

SAP Litmos is one of the more user-friendly cloud LMS systems out there. It features a fully
responsive, intuitive user interface that even the least tech-savvy employees can navigate. The
system is also one of the best for increasing employee engagement. Litmos offers game-like
features, such as achievements, points and badges, to make learning fun for users.

Benefits

● Encourage Engagement: Features such as gamification help motivate employees to

perform well and engage with the content. Employees can track their successes via a group
leaderboard and earn badges for completing certain assignments. Social tools such as
discussion groups bring learners together and encourage collaboration.

● Create Customized Learning Paths: Customize the learning paths that employees take by
combining different courses into a larger group. This allows team members to access
content in the correct order and provides learning targeted to a user's specific role.

● Offer Accessible Learning: The interface can be used by people with disabilities, and it’s
easy to switch from the default settings to one of the 28 languages provided.

● Generate Revenue via ECommerce: Users can leverage the system's ecommerce
features to create a product that can be offered to external users such as partners, vendors

SelectHub LMS Vendors

and paying customers. The native shopping cart and payment tools integration allows
companies to sell courses. Integration with systems for ERP, finance and customer service
further aid the ecommerce process.

● Extend Capabilities With Integrations: The Litmos marketplace offers more than 50
integrations with popular apps. Extend the software’s capabilities with Dropbox, Zendesk,
Zoom, Shopify, PayPal, Salesforce, GoToTraining, MailChimp and other tools.

● Train Offline: Users can download the iOS or Android app associated with this system,
which lets them access courses at times that are most convenient for them. Learners can
download content to their mobile devices so they can continue learning when offline.

17
 TalentLMS Get Pricing $

The TalentLMS system allows you to build your eLearning courses in minutes and easily repurpose
old content. You can also design your own certifications that include compliance scenarios and
recertification standards.

Need to find out how your employees have been progressing? TalentLMS provides a simple
reporting feature that includes analytics about everything that happens within the system.
Additionally, TalentLMS has support for SCORM and Tin Can, a.k.a. xAPI, standards.

Benefits

● Customize the Platform: Change the theme via the user-friendly interface to reflect
company colors and fonts. An authoring tool enables you to create a custom home page.
Emails can also be branded. Lastly, the learning portal has a unique subdomain, which you
can map to a custom URL for whitelabeling.

● Use TalentLMS for Free: A free version of TalentLMS is available. It supports up to five
users and 10 courses. There are no restrictions on storage space, though it limits file
uploads to a maximum of 100MB.

● Comply with GDPR: TalentLMS includes measures to ensure your organization remains
compliant with GDPR. This includes the ability to collect approval by setting up a Terms of
Service page, give users the ability to self-delete, grant users the right to access data and SelectHub LMS Vendors
provide the choice to opt out of data collection in reports.

● Control User Access: You can configure user types, which determine access levels to
organizational data. Set permissions based on role. Select which areas are accessible or
restricted.

● Integrate with other Apps: TalentLMS integrates directly with WordPress, GoToMeeting,
Salesforce and Shopify. You can also add Zapier for access to over 750 additional tools. The
system has an API and JavaScript integrations for additional extendability.

● Simplify Log Ins: Enable single sign-on (SSO) with support for LDAP, Active Directory and
18
SAML2. You can also connect the platform to identity management systems.
Top LMS Vendor Comparison

Cornerstone
Docebo SAP Litmos TalentLMS
Learning
Instructional Led
Good Excellent Excellent Excellent
Training (ILT)

Content Editor Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Progress Assessment Good Excellent Excellent Excellent

AICC/SCORM
Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Compliant

Automated Grading Excellent Good Good Excellent

File Management Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Email Communication Good Good Excellent Excellent

Multilingual Excellent Good Good Good

Scalability Excellent Good Excellent Good

Hosted Installation Yes Yes Yes Yes

Encryption: Storage Good Excellent Good Good

Encryption:
Good Excellent Good Good
Transmission

Mobile Yes Yes Yes Yes

SelectHub LMS Vendors

19
The SelectHub Interactive LMS Leaderboard Report contains competitive
solution analysis across key selection criteria and vendor data. These built-in
analyst ratings are combined with subjective user ratings in ongoing
selection projects.—which allow us to provide you with highly accurate
recommendations and pricing.

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in this report and over 100 more

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Find the Best LMS Software
for Your Organization

Find out More

Free software selection assistance:

Call 855-850-3850

SELECTHUB REPORTS | selecthub.com