They say you can’t make a lime out of a bunch of lemons, or I said that.
Actually, it is lemonade, and it is quite good, too. Lemonade is all over the map in terms of taste.
Some people like sour, others like sweet.
Some like strawberry lemonade, and others like mint lemonade.
And yes, some people dislike lemonade – shame on you.
The point here is that there seems to be no universal discussion of what constitutes the top X when it comes to the Top Learning System.
Therein lies a quandary because there are all types of learning systems – as defined many times over, but when people ask me, “That’s great, but which one is the #1 LMS?”
There are way too many variables to consider which type because just saying this is the #1 LMS, for example, leverages the variables that I look at and consider.
Equally noted in the past.
But as folks will point out, ‘you didn’t select ABC, and we think they are the best one on the market.’
Which is excellent for you and them.
There are always factors and use cases, such as what use case goes with what system, what level of diligence you did, what your budget was/is, and how wide your net was – i.e., global reach or limited reach?
Whether the vendor is a marketing master—getting eyeballs is relevant in our industry—OR is someone so new that you haven’t heard of them.
Perhaps you looked at “newness” as a factor or key role based on others—similar to seeing a new car on a dealer’s lot versus one that is dirty.
Your eyes go right to the new – okay, clean one. Even if they are – or at least appear – the same.
Therein gets back for a short time on the question of “Okay, you identified the Top Learning Systems, but which one is #1 for a specific category—say, learning suite, or LMS, or learning platform?”
What is a learning suite?
Here is how a suite should work
a. Everything is included in the suite – you can choose to use it all or not – but it is all included at one price point.
b. The vendor may offer add-ons, like a BI or performance management piece, which is understandable because they would focus on a specific audience rather than a wider net.
When I looked at the top learning systems, a few had a suite or components of a suite, and you could buy them all, or they could come with all, or you could pick and choose.
You get it all at one price point.
I always find it intriguing when folks believe they must use it because it is in their system, but that is not true.
Let’s say you win 1M dollars.
Are you sticking around at your company?
Nope.
Although I once worked with a guy who won several million dollars and wanted to stay working.
I digress.
Then someone else shows up and goes, “What? I wanted that. And it costs how much?”
Or
You think to yourself, “I want this. But I see it will cost extra, and I lack that in my budget.”
Have it in a suite you purchased, and Tada, it’s there.
I’m a massive fan of suites.
What is a Learning Platform?
Well, it depends on how you define it—the vendor, the buyer/customer, or an analyst (yep, me included).
Could a learning platform be an LMS?
Sure.
Could it be a mentoring platform with LMS capabilities?
Sure.
I know of vendors who refuse to tag themselves as LMSs for whatever reason; they often see LMS as a big, scary word they do not want to be affiliated with.
However, some systems-learning platforms mix LMS functionality with other functionality that they see as different from an LMS.
They are not wrong.
And therein lies the rub, says the bard (still one of my favorite lines ever).
How do I say, “Well, this is the #1 learning platform,” knowing that the vendor in question or vendors in question have LMS functionality, perhaps LXP functionality, and maybe a dash of mentoring or more than a dash of skills?
This goes back to a key feature of an LXP—there are way too many that can be summed up in a dash and say, “Look, we are an LXP.”
I say, “Look, you are Ms. Dash (a U.S. product to each their own taste).”
Can you equally have two vendors who qualify as the #1 Learning Platform for 2024?
Yes.
Two would be ideal because both are deserving. Nevertheless, there is only one.
Who is the #1 LMS for 2024?
How did I decide?
For me, I looked at the core pieces of an LXP—and whether or not the vendor has them—plus the core functionality of an LMS —and whether or not the vendor has it—and then where they are now, referred to as Tier 7.
Mentoring is part of Tier 7 for those keeping score.
What is tier 7? And where do I expect the next tier to hit – what other items?
There will be a wonderful post next week—it’s not on the short side, so enjoy this micro post!
Bottom Line
It’s a short post this week.
I’m sure to the delight of many.
This leads me back to what constitutes lemonade.
Sugar?
Lemons?
Or maybe
a Lime.
E-Learning 24/7
