In this article, I have shared the LXP vs LMS. In a post-pandemic world, it’s critical to keep remote workers engaged, productive, and well-trained, and training and professional development are critical components of the employee experience.
The learning management system and the learning experience platform are two software options that can aid, though in different ways.
For years, the sole choice for running training and instructional programs was to use an LMS. HR now has another option, and LXP, thanks to the increased focus on employee experience.
“People are thinking more about [employee] experience now, and that’s filtered down to the learning environment,” said Mark Vickers, principal research analyst at HR.com. “People aren’t only interested in employee experience; they’re also interested in learner experience, which has become one of L&D’s top concerns.”
While the use of LXP is increasing, most firms still consider their LMS to be the backbone of their learning systems, according to Vickers.
According to HR.com’s 2020 research on learner experience and engagement, only 11% of firms questioned have implemented an LXP.
Here are some distinctions between the two systems and the benefits each offers to help organizations understand why they might be hesitant to switch systems and what they should consider if they do.
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Table of Contents
What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?
L&D teams can use powerful administrative features in learning management systems to administer learning programs, choose and assign content, and analyze learners’ progress.
According to Alexandria Clapp, content manager of learning technologies at the Association for Talent Development in Alexandria, Va., an LMS system is designed to give formal training material covering areas such as internal regulations, compliance, or onboarding of new workers.
In a nutshell, the fundamental objective of a learning management system is compliance and tracking.
“The LMS allows corporate learning teams to track and evaluate employees’ overall development against multiple competencies and standards compliance,” Jennifer Whitbeck, a learning strategy consultant in New Hope, Pennsylvania, explained.
Employees in certain roles, for example, maybe compelled to complete specific training programs due to legal requirements, she explained.
An LMS, on the other hand, is unable to track activities that occur outside of the platform, such as informal learning conversations and online chats.
According to Vickers, the LMS is used to store internal learning content, track learner usage, and create permissions.
What exactly is an LXP?
Learning experience platforms, on the other hand, allow users to access content via social media, blog posts, videos, and other channels, as well as information from all across the internet.
“The system’s back end provides content recommendations based on the user’s goals, experiences, preferences, and history,” Clapp added.
In general, an LXP provides a considerably more tailored user experience.
LXPs provide digital learning in a number of methods, many of which are less formal than the LMS approach, Clapp noted, thanks to consumer-grade experiences that make searching and accessing content easier.
Many LXPs offer micro-learning, which breaks down knowledge into small chunks to make it easier to consume. Instead of asking people to master all of Microsoft Excel‘s complexities at once, the LXP breaks it down into specific tasks, such as constructing a graph, according to Clapp.
LXPs also give learners additional flexibility by allowing them to absorb the material in a variety of formats.
“LXPs are a reflection of the fact that there are many more methods to learn,” Whitbeck added.
LXP vs LMS
The distinction between the two systems is straightforward.
1. According to Whitbeck, the main distinction between LXP and LMS is administration and control.
2. An LMS is more concerned with learning administration than with the learning experience, whereas an LXP is concerned with the ability to facilitate personalized learning.
3. When comparing the two, business leaders should keep in mind that one system does not always imply the other, according to Vickers.
4. According to him, LXPs are an evolutionary step in learning technology that aids firms in moving toward more interactive, individualized learning that is centered on the employee experience.
5. An LMS, on the other hand, is more concerned with compliance and tracking than with the user experience.
6. “A learning management system,” Whitbeck explained, “is an enterprise tool that companies use to offer training opportunities, then monitor and track progress toward certain competencies and standards.” “Its technology also allows employees to sign up for training that they are required to do or desire to take.”
7. Each platform has its own set of advantages.
8. According to Clapp, an LMS works best with learning content that doesn’t change much, is facilitator-driven, and requires result measurement.
The capacity of an LXP to deliver on-the-job training, allow learners to work on their own timetable, display user-generated content, address constantly changing learning goals, and manage initiatives that require less measurement are among its strengths.
Choosing the appropriate system for a company
Organizations must consider both their learning requirements and their corporate culture when deciding between an LXP and an LMS.
Because larger firms may find it difficult to implement organizational-wide change, Whitbeck suggests starting with a test group that uses a new platform and then expanding the offering once there are some early successes to promote.
When it comes time to choose the ideal system, this can make the transfer smoother.
Different businesses will have different requirements and wants, but the only way to figure out which platform is best is to talk to people who have either deployed or at least used both, according to Vickers.
“Maybe an LXP is what you need if you have an LMS that isn’t easily expanded or connected and you really need to broaden things,” he said. “Perhaps you don’t if you have a readily extendable LMS.”
Because of its record-keeping capabilities, companies who need to track learning for compliance reasons may prefer an LMS over an LXP.
Organizations, on the other hand, don’t always have to choose between the two: According to Clapp, some platforms combine LXP and LMS features.
Vickers stated, “I don’t believe it’s an either-or situation.” “Companies should investigate both sorts of platforms to determine how they interact.”
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