LMS vs LXP: Which eLearning Solution is Better for Your Business?

Today, high-quality corporate learning is crucial to a company’s success. Many managers clearly understand it and are continuously looking for innovative solutions to organize the learning process for their employees.

Given that all businesses are unique and may have absolutely different demands, custom solutions are preferable to ready-made platforms. That’s why eLearning software development boasts a rather high demand among businesses. But before building a platform for your company, you should know what type of solutions will better satisfy your business's demands and perfectly meet your employees' expectations. LXP vs LMS is a key dilemma for many companies. In our article, we’d like to highlight the core differences between these two types of solutions. And we hope that it will help you to make the right decision.We will compare LMS vs. LXP, and we offer to begin with the most basic information about each type.

What is LMS?

Let’s start our analysis with learning management systems (LMS). LMS services that can include the development of custom products, customization of ready-made platforms, and integration with other corporate software have been popular for over a while. These systems are not something completely new for organizations. However, without any doubt, we can say that they have greatly changed over the years of their existence.

The main functionality of such systems is intended for creating eLearning content and managing and distributing it. These solutions also let companies implement employee training programs and further evaluate their efficiency.

There are different types of these systems. For example, individual systems are targeted at single users or small companies that need to create learning content and manage it. At the same time, enterprise software of this kind can support up to 500 users and even more and can become a perfect choice for huge organizations.

The most well-known examples of learning management systems used by many organizations worldwide are Moodle, Udemy Business, Blackboard Learn, Canvas LMS, and iSpring Learn.

Among the key features of a traditional LMS, we can mention the following ones:

• eLearning process and content management;
• Progress and efficiency analytics;
• Assessment and testing;
• Collaborative learning;
• Gamification;
• Compliance management.

LMS solutions help increase corporate education quality and reach the set training goals faster. In other words, by using this software at your organization, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Enhanced learning experience for your employees;
• Better control over the entire learning process and the provided content;
• Improved quality of training and education;
• Possibility to use tools that allow estimating learning results automatically;
• Possibility to customize different features and courses in accordance with the needs of different users.

You can read more about the role that enterprise LMS plays in the organization of a learning process in one of the articles that we posted on our blog earlier. Please, follow this link.

To analyze the difference between LMS and LXP, let’s look at the peculiarities of the second type of eLearning software.

What is LXP?

LXP is an abbreviation of the word combination “learning experience platform.” This is an AI-driven platform that contains a lot of learning libraries with continuously updated content. Users always have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information. And it is crucial to highlight that the content is updated automatically, which helps to avoid huge volumes of manual work for admins. 

However, no worries if you need to add some courses; there are no possibilities to conduct this integration via APIs offered by course providers. These platforms can also be updated manually when it is required.

In general, these platforms greatly focus on informal and collaborative social learning.

These platforms are believed to be the next step in the development of learning technology. They let companies build more personalized and interactive learning experiences for their employees. Thanks to innovative AI-powered features, platforms can provide users with recommendations based on their previously made choices, preferences, and results of studying.

Let’s look at the key features a modern LXP can offer.

• User-generated content. The content creation process can be time-consuming and expensive, so companies sometimes need to invest impressive amounts in course development. However, the situation is very different when users can generate learning content. LXPs allow people to add valuable content and make it available to their colleagues. They can upload pictures and movies and add links to web portals and articles.
• Enhanced data analysis and reporting. Some decades ago, the completion percentage was the main metric for evaluating learning progress. However, this approach is not relevant anymore. Modern learning platforms should be able to analyze many data types, including student behavior, time spent in different platform sections, user engagement, performance, preferences, etc. Only such a comprehensive approach allows managers to realize better the real picture and real needs of the team.
• Collaboration and social learning. These are vital features of LXPs. They help to make the entire learning process easier and more pleasant for the team. Employees can cooperate, exchange their knowledge and motivate each other in moving forward. 
• Rewards and showing appreciation. It is important to encourage employees to use the system and provoke a real desire. It means that the main task of these systems is to develop a habit of learning. And gamification based on the reward system is a good way to increase interest and engagement.
• AI. Tools powered by artificial intelligence ensure the highest level of personalization of the learning process. AI helps to analyze user preferences and work responsibilities for adapting the learning process according to employees’ interests and the skills they have to develop for further professional growth.
• Automation. Automating the system’s functionality allows companies to facilitate and speed up many processes and boost productivity without quality loss. For example, modern LXPs have auto-enrolment or auto-reporting features.

LXP development is evolving fast, boosted by AI, AR/VR, and other innovative technologies. These new tools aim to increase user engagement, consequently enhancing the results that can be achieved within a shorter period. The trendiest features of LXPs:

1. Skill-based recommendations;
2. Usage-based recommendations;
3. VR/AR collaborative projects.

Of course, it is just a small part of all the innovative tools that can be built to enrich a corporate LXP. And it is expected that in the future these software solutions will become even more immersive and will be greatly expanded to the metaverse.

What are the main advantages of using an LXP?

• Involvement of your employees in the process of content creation;
• Increased engagement and satisfaction of learners;
• High personalization of the learning process;
• Simple identification of knowledge gaps and needs of employees;
• Task automation;
• Higher efficiency of learning.

Today there is a wide range of ready-made LXPs. Example: 360Learning, Axonify, Auzmor Learn, Docebo, and Continu.

LMS vs. LXP: Key differences and peculiarities

The main difference between LXP vs LMS is related to control over the learning process and its administration. While the core focus of LXP is on ensuring the best learning experiences for users and learning personalization, LMS is focused more on process administration.

The key value provided by LXPs to users is that they have a lot of freedom in how they plan their learning process, how they explore the offered learning opportunities, and what direction they will select for building their learning path. LMS software offers a different approach. Learners have pre-determined content assigned to them, which means that though there are features to personalize some aspects of the educational process, learners have no full control over it.

Some other differences between LMS and LXP are presented in the table below.

What is interesting to note here is that these two systems do not always replace each other, sometimes they can be used in tandem and can complement one another. It is possible thanks to the main similarity that unites these types of software - the goal is to facilitate the corporate learning process and to improve its efficiency.

Instead of a final world

Though the theoretical difference between LXP and LMS can be rather clear,  many companies may still have doubts about the right choice for their business. If you also haven’t decided which option, LMS or LXP,  you should prefer to deal with your corporate learning needs, don’t worry. If you contact us and share your pains, our experts will deeply study your case and find the best solution. We offer full-cycle development and consulting services and will be happy to provide you with the necessary assistance and recommendations. For a free consultation with our experts, please, leave your contact details in the online form on our website, and we will reach you back as soon as possible.