In today’s fast-changing business world, companies need to equip their workforce with the right skills to stay competitive, adapt to new technologies, and take advantage of new opportunities. For employee development, traditional in-person training such as classroom sessions, workshops, and seminars is popular. However, technology has brought a new way of learning through Learning Management Systems or LMS.
Thus, at present, many organizations are a confusion: should they continue with traditional training, switch entirely to LMS learning, or adopt a combination of both?
In this blog, we will look into the differences between training in an LMS or physical training and which one is the best choice.
What Is Traditional Training?
Traditional training refers to face-to-face, instructor-led sessions where employees gather in classrooms, training centers, or workshops. This method continues to play an important role in corporate learning because employees can interact directly with instructors and colleagues. They can also learn skills, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and hands-on technical tasks, which are best learned in person.
However, 70% of the employee skills are learned on the job itself. Only 10% of them are learned through formal training sessions (TrainingIndustry). This demands for flexible learning environment within their job or job hours.
What Is LMS Learning?
A Learning Management System is a software platform that allows organizations to deliver and manage employee training online. Employees can log in at any time using a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access courses, complete assessments, and earn certifications. The amazing LMS features make it a flexible, convenient, and scalable platform for companies with remote or hybrid teams. Moreover, LMS is considered an important tool for the future of employee training.
There are several key differences between LMS learning and traditional training. Let’s look into them in detail.
1. LMS training is more flexible and accessible than traditional training.
Traditional training requires employees to attend sessions at a specific time and place. Such restrictions make it difficult for trainers and participants to coordinate. Missing an in-person training session translates to losing valuable learning opportunities. Not just that, this kind of training follows a “one-size-fits-all” model where all participants receive the same material, regardless of their skill level or role.
Whereas LMS training offers full flexibility. Employees of different roles or departments can:
learn at their own pace
pause and resume lessons as needed
access courses from any device.
You can create and assign courses in LMS based on an employee’s job, department, or development goals. Learners can also choose topics they’re interested in, making training more relevant and engaging. Moreover, LMS training supports inclusive and diverse learning for employees. Such ease in training and learning makes the LMS ideal for organizations with hybrid or remote work environments
2. LMS training is more cost-effective than traditional training.
To conduct conventional training, a venue, training setup, printed materials, trainers, snacks, etc, are necessary. Thus, when a new employee joins the company, the same sessions often need to be repeated. With an LMS platform, the main cost is the initial setup and course development. After that, the same content/course can be reused for many employees. There are no travel or printing expenses, making it a long-term, budget-friendly solution.
3. LMS training allows better tracking and reporting of employee progress.
In traditional training, tracking who attended, how they performed, and what they learned requires manual record-keeping. The assessment results of such training are often stored on paper, making data management difficult. However, in an LMS platform, employees’ learning activity is automatically tracked. It includes details such as employee course completion, quiz results, time spent, and progress. Supervisors, department heads, and managers can easily view reports, analyze performance, and identify areas for improvement.
4. LMS training is easier to scale than traditional training.
When organizations start growing, they have more employees. Sadly, traditional training can't match up to that level. Why? Multiple onboarding sessions, venues, and trainers for hundreds of employees are time-consuming and expensive. However, LMS does have the same limitations as traditional learning systems. LMS training can easily scale to thousands of users without added cost or effort. New employees can be enrolled automatically, and everyone can access the same quality content no matter their location.
5. LMS training content can be updated instantly, unlike traditional training.
Updating traditional training materials means reprinting handouts, revising presentations, and organizing new sessions. This process can take weeks or months. However, with an LMS, changes can be made instantly. New lessons, videos, or quizzes can be uploaded and shared with all learners in real time. This ensures the learning material/content always stays compliant to present-day needs.
6. LMS training is more eco-friendly than traditional training.
Conducting traditional training translates to distributing paper handouts, printed manuals, and travel. Although precautions can be taken for recycling, it does increase the vulnerability for negative environmental impact. But the training and learning from the LMS platform require only a digital platform. This means LMS training eliminates paper waste and travel needs. All materials are digital, helping companies reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
7. LMS training supports continuous learning, unlike traditional one-time sessions.
Due to cost complications, trainer’s availability issues, and planning a flexible date, traditional training is conducted occasionally during onboarding or scheduled workshops. Once training is over, your employees may not have access to materials for review. Unlike traditional training styles, LMS training can be accessed at any time. Employees can revisit old courses, explore new ones, or refresh their skills anytime. This helps build a culture of ongoing learning and improvement.
Final Thoughts
Traditional training includes physical training with paper-based training. Whereas LMS is an ideal learning platform for organizations that want to offer their employees flexible, cost-effective, scalable, and personalized learning. For most organizations, a hybrid model, including LMS and traditional training, can deliver the most effective learning experience.
You can implement ARKBO LMS- a preferred choice for LMS in Nepal, while also practicing traditional employee training to ensure your workforce is skilled, adaptable, and ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Read More: Complete Guide to Learning Management System (LMS)
