The right learning management system (LMS) helps your business to create and manage many employee training and development (ET&D) programs. All at the same time and efficiently. But to leverage the features and tools provided by the LMS it is important to choose the right deployment option. When you opt for an on-premise LMS, the workplace training software will run on your enterprise’s in-house IT infrastructure.
Your business can control, manage, and maintain the LMS solution through your in-house IT staff. Also, the on-premise environment helps you keep sensitive business and customer information secure. But several market research and industry forecast reports suggest that enterprises now adopt cloud-based LMS over on-premise LMS. Many studies even forecast that cloud deployment will drive the growth of the global corporate LMS market.
According to an industry forecast report published by Valuates Reports,
“The global Corporate Learning Management System (LMS) Market size is projected to reach USD 7570 Million by 2026, from USD 1776.9 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 22.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026. Based on the deployment type, cloud deployment is expected to hold the largest corporate LMS market share during the forecast period.”
Small businesses and startups prefer cloud-based LMS over on-premise LMS to curtail overall ET&D costs. As it eliminates the need to build and maintain on-premise IT infrastructure. Also, cloud-based e-learning solutions are easier to customize, extend, and integrate than onsite software solutions. There are several reasons why your business can manage multiple EL&T programs more efficiently by opting for a cloud-based LMS solution.
Why Your Business Should Have a Cloud-Based LMS instead of an On-Premise LMS
Installation
You need to deploy IT professionals to install and configure an on-premise LMS. The IT professionals have to put in both time and effort to install the LMS optimally. But you can access and configure a cloud-based LMS after downloading it from the LMS solution provider’s website. Also, you can configure and customize the cloud LMS in a short amount of time using its interface or dashboard.
Accessibility
Every employee wants to acquire knowledge at his own pace and using his preferred device. The employees need to install on-premise LMS solutions on their computers. But they can access the cloud LMS over the internet using a variety of devices – desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Hence, cloud-based LMS will make your ET&D programs more effective by facilitating self-paced and on-the-go corporate training.
Availability
The on-premise LMS solutions are installed on devices. Hence, employees cannot access e-learning solutions immediately. But they can access a cloud-based LMS over the internet almost immediately. Hence, your business can choose a cloud-based LMS to enable employees to acquire knowledge and skills by accessing digital content and materials without any hassle and delay.
Maintenance
The onsite LMS software will run your enterprise’s in-house IT infrastructure. Hence, the software and on-premise IT infrastructure need to be managed by your IT staff. You need to deploy dedicated IT staff to monitor the IT infrastructure and upkeep the LMS. But you can eliminate the need to manage IT infrastructure and LMS solution by opting for a cloud-based e-learning solution.
Customization
Every new-age LMS is developed with built-in features and tools to simplify the creation, management, and monitoring of multiple ET&D programs. But your business can make ET&D programs more effective only by customizing the LMS solution according to your organization’s precise corporate learning strategies. Cloud-based LMS solutions are easier to customize than on-premise LMS software. Also, you can easily add functionalities to the LMS using specific plug-ins or add-ons.
Updates
The trends in corporate training change from time to time. You cannot run ET&D programs successfully without adopting emerging trends early. Leading vendors update LMS solutions regularly to adopt popular and emerging eLearning trends proactively. But on-premise LMS software needs to be updated by IT staff. Also, IT staff must update the LMS software on every device. Your employees and learning managers can access the new features added to the cloud-based LMS without updating or upgrading the online software.
Security
Data security is one of the major benefits of on-premise or onsite software solutions. As the software runs on an enterprise’s in-house IT infrastructure, information and content are shared securely over a private network. But several studies have highlighted that cloud environments are more secure than on-premise data centers. Also, leading cloud-based LMS providers use sophisticated encryption and security tools to optimize sensitive corporate data and eliminate the chances of data breaches.
Integration
You cannot develop a culture of learning in your organization without integrating the LMS with other e-learning solutions like virtual classroom platforms and digital libraries. The IT staff has to put extra time and effort to integrate an on-premise LMS with various enterprise and e-learning solutions. But the cloud-based LMS can be integrated with various software solutions through application programming interfaces (APIs). Also, many vendors allow you to get cloud-based eLearning solutions as a bundle.
Scalability
You can scale the cloud-based LMS solutions on demand according to your enterprise’s precise needs. As you can access the LMS as software as a service (SaaS), you can change its functionalities or capacity according to your business’s current ET&D needs. Also, most cloud vendors allow you to access the LMS based on pay-as-you-use pricing models. That is why; your business can easily run ET&D programs successfully without investing in additional computing resources.
Infrastructural Costs
Unlike on-premise LMS solutions, cloud-based LMS does not require your business to set up, manage, and upgrade IT infrastructure. Also, your business does not deploy dedicated IT staff to install, manage, and update the cloud LMS. Hence, you can curtail both upfront and recurring costs by opting for a cloud-based LMS. At the same time, your business can save money by accessing the LMS software based on pay-as-you-use pricing plans.
You Can Trust Mintbook for Customizable LMS Solutions
Mintbook helps your business to manage multiple ET&D programs efficiently by launching a cloud-based LMS with many industry-relevant features and tools. In addition to curtailing infrastructural costs, the customizable LMS solution makes it easier for your business to adopt some of the hottest trends in ET&D – mobile learning, microlearning, gamification, and social learning.
