The Best Training Management Systems in 2021-2022

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, Training Needs Analysis (TNA) (72-slide PowerPoint presentation). Training Needs Analysis (TNA) goes beyond mere employee preferences or superficial surveys. It's a strategic process focused on aligning training with business objectives and bridging performance gaps. This training PowerPoint will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of TNA, [read more]

Also, if you are interested in becoming an expert on Human Resource Management (HRM), take a look at Flevy's Human Resource Management (HRM) Frameworks offering here. This is a curated collection of best practice frameworks based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. By learning and applying these concepts, you can you stay ahead of the curve. Full details here.

* * * *

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or executive at a large corporation, there are many benefits to investing in training management software today that will benefit your business in years to come. These include greater efficiency, better engagement and retention of employees, and a reduced need for HR staff to handle administration tasks.

However, selecting the right training management system (TMS) to help you get the most out of your employees can be an overwhelming process. With so many options available that it can seem like there’s no way to know which one is right until you’ve spent hours researching, reviewing, and comparing them.

But with these factors in mind, there are plenty of choices out there that are very likely to be suitable for your business – and even more that you’ll want to avoid! The good news? There are plenty of options out there that can help you create an effective, streamlined training system that will work with your company’s unique size and needs while satisfying employees who need quality coaching and support.

Top Things to Consider When Choosing an TMS

More and more businesses are switching to TMS (Training Management Systems) to manage their training needs. Here are a few things you should keep in mind if you’re looking for one.

One of the things you’ll need to consider when choosing an application is its capabilities: what kind of training can it handle? Can it manage tests, certifications, and qualifications? Does it come with reports and analytics tools? For example, can team members view progress through charts and graphs?

Additionally, look further and ask how easy it is to add new courses, how many users will be able to access them, and how often it needs updating. Also, remember: there’s no such thing as an off-the-shelf solution!

Make sure you get something customized to fit your company’s requirements. When you decide on a particular program, don’t rush into implementation just yet – try it out first to see how well it works with your processes and procedures.

It may even be worth testing some different options – there’s little point in choosing something that doesn’t integrate well with other applications in place already; make sure each component complements and supports each other instead of getting redundant results. 

Best Training Management Systems for Organizations 

Solution #1 (TMS for Large Organizations)

Our best training management system picks for large organizations are iSpring Learn and Docebo. Of these two, our favorite is iSpring for its wide range of features and a solid set of tools to customize it to any size organization’s needs.

Several providers offer online solutions that allow you to manage all your learning activities in one place—from e-learning courses and tracking your learners’ progress on tests to recording attendance and sharing content online.

They can scale seamlessly with your company as you add more employees across different branches or locations. So if you want something simple but powerful that keeps everything under one roof, then an online solution may be your best bet.

Solution #2 (For Small Organizations)

In an ideal world, you’d have time to give training management your full attention, but in reality, you’ve got better things to do. So instead of hiring a top-notch training manager right off the bat, look for a system that can help you run high-quality training without having to devote significant resources to doing so.

It may take some time and trial and error before you find a system that works for your organization and its unique set of needs. Regarding price points, mobile app solutions such as LearnUpon, and Litmos can work out quite cost-effectively compared to bigger platforms.

So if you’re looking at long-term savings over short-term benefits, they could be a good choice. However, they don’t have some of the key features we look for (like gamification), so businesses trying to engage their workers will find them lacking.

Solution #3 (For Medium Organizations)

If your organization is growing quickly, it’s important to ensure it stays on track through internal and external communications.

That’s where a good training program comes into play—one that helps employees stay connected by providing them with the tools they need to stay efficient in their jobs, even as they rotate between projects.

Solution #4 (TMS for SMEs)

While small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have many training needs, they often don’t have access to robust, enterprise-grade training management systems (TMS). Using a platform tailored for their specific business requirements, SMBs can better manage onboarding and offboarding processes while ensuring that all employees are trained in keeping with state and federal laws.

The following platforms offer modular solutions which address all aspects of an organization’s training needs: Several integrations available include iSpring, Oracle Cloud Applications, Gainsight Appointment Scheduling, Bronto Email Marketing, and Zendesk Customer Service Software.

As businesses grow, they can easily scale their TMS to accommodate increased training needs by adding modules and features from a flexible pricing model based on a monthly subscription or per-user pricing.

In addition, the best TMS systems for SMBs allow them to easily manage thousands of employees with comprehensive reporting features to give executives visibility into areas of concern and opportunities for improvement.

Conclusion

The growing number of training management systems is overwhelming. To help business leaders filter through these solutions and find the best fit for their organizations, they must evaluate each system based on its ability to achieve its goals.

There is no single answer as to which system will be best for a particular organization, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a clear picture of what constitutes best in terms of functionality and features.

We hope this article proves helpful when it comes to narrowing down some of the top-rated tools you can use in your organization in 2020 and beyond.

Want to Achieve Excellence in Human Resource Management (HRM)?

Gain the knowledge and develop the expertise to become an expert in Human Resource Management (HRM). Our frameworks are based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. Click here for full details.

The purpose of Human Resources (HR) is to ensure our organization achieves success through our people. Without the right people in place—at all levels of the organization—we will never be able to execute our Strategy effectively.

This begs the question: Does your organization view HR as a support function or a strategic one? Research shows leading organizations leverage HR as a strategic function, one that both supports and drives the organization's Strategy. In fact, having strong HRM capabilities is a source of Competitive Advantage.

This has never been more true than right now in the Digital Age, as organizations must compete for specialized talent to drive forward their Digital Transformation Strategies. Beyond just hiring and selection, HR also plays the critical role in retaining talent—by keeping people engaged, motivated, and happy.

Learn about our Human Resource Management (HRM) Best Practice Frameworks here.