We are here to treat your headache by helping you find the right learning management software.
Finding the right eLearning technology can be very challenging. If you have already assessed various technologies and platforms for the purpose of online training. Then you have certainly arrived on the right page.
We are here to treat your headache by helping you find the right learning management software. Learning Management System has been one of the most popular and reliable platforms when it comes to providing eLearning solutions. With the help of this platform, trainees can get access to the learning materials from any location, and the trainers can track the progress.
But, even a learning management system is categorized into two types. It is:
- Open Source LMS
- Closed Source LMS
It is difficult to decide which type of LMS is ideal for the business. Every platform has its own set of pros and cons, and it is important for the business to check which ticks all the boxes before hiring LMS Development Services.
Before we compare both these types of LMS development services, it is important to go through their definition first. Let’s get started!
Open Source Learning Management Systems
When it comes to Open Source LMS solutions, it gives authority to get the source code modified as per the specific purpose or requirement. This type of software is generally developed by the developer’s community or the organizations that are known for adding new attributes or codes as and when required.
Few Examples: Take a look at a few of the examples of open-source LMS:
- Moodle
- WordPress
Closed Source Learning Management Systems
As the name suggests, it is completely the opposite of an open-source LMS solution. This type of learning platform cannot be modified freely. The ones who have developed the respective software can only have access to modify or add something new.
If you desire to make the changes, then you must first have a license to do the same. You can purchase the license on a per user basis or the commercial ones when you have to deal with large volumes.
Here the software is basically cloud-integrated. This means you are going to use the online platform to upload and administer your data and trainees. School management software development companies are going to host and manage the platform as per your specific needs and requirements.
This type of solution is tailor made for larger organizations that are planning to provide internal training solutions and manage the performance within their team. But, this doesn’t mean that small enterprises can’t use the respective facility.
For Example: Take a look at the examples of closed source LMS below:
- Litmos,
- aNewSpring,
- iSpring Learn,
- LearnUpon.
Pros And Cons of Each Form Of LMS
Now when you are clear about bot the type of LMS solutions, let’s dig in deep and understand their advantages and disadvantage to make the decision a lot more confidently. It can help us understand whether to hire the best LMS developers for an Open source platform or a closed source platform.
Open Source LMS:
Pros
>>No Charges for Licence: One of the biggest advantages of opting for an open-source platform is that you don’t have to compensate a single penny for a license.
>>Not Being Dependent: Another major advantage that comes with open-source software is that you are not dependent on a specific LMS development services provider. Platforms like WordPress and Moodle are taken into consideration as primary open-source platforms as you get a number of developers and vendors at your service.
So, this shows that you are not stuck with one particular vendor. It allows you to select an approach that sounds mature and is more commonly used. It won’t be wise to integrate LMS that is only supported by a few in the business.
>>No Extra User Charges: When the demand takes a leap, this platform won’t charge you extra for adding more users. You only have to compensate for infrastructure consideration that includes hosting and also for the maintenance and support of the platform. These compensations are very much consistent over a period of time.
>>Flexibility: With time, your business is going to grow, and so the demand for online learning solutions is also going to expand. This type of LMS development helps you have the flexibility to modify the platform as per your business requirements.
Not only this, but it also helps you with the flexibility to deliver training solutions with additional third-party software. This can enhance the learning experience significantly. This third-party software often comes in the form of plugins that can be integrated into your learning platform with ease.
Cons
>>Higher Investment: You might not have to pay for a license to operate an open-source LMS platform, but it does need up-front investment in the form of money and time. You need to hire the best LMS developers and pay them for all the possible steps to get the same installed.
Responsibility: The responsibility of making the software run smoothly is on the business owner. The owners can work with the third part to ensure that the software is updated and running properly. This helps you have the right skilled expert to take complete care of the software.
Now let’s assess what makes the Closed source LMS platform an ideal choice for all.
Closed Source:
Pros
>>Smaller Investment: Compared to open-source LMS software, this model doesn’t require much initial investment. Here you only need to pay for the number of users who are going to use the system.
Initially, you might only need a few administrator accounts so that you can configure the system as per your needs and get the data added. The LMS development services providers provide similar technology for different customers, so to set up the same, you don’t have to pay a hefty amount for using the same.
>>Low Development Charges: When it comes to proprietary platforms, it comes with several pre-built functionalities. This is why the development costs are quite low.
>>No Technical Infrastructure Related Stress: With this option, you might not have to worry about the technical infrastructure as the vendor itself takes care of the technical changes, and it is included in your license fees.
So, if you are looking for LMS development services with no technical headaches, a closed source platform is the way to go.
Cons
>>Reliance On One Vendor: It can get very challenging to change the vendor or the platform once you or your customers have started learning the same. Your learners and data are all shared with the respective vendor so, it can be very daunting for you to make the changes again in terms of vendor or software.
>>Restrictions In Functionality: You are restricted by the functionalities provided by the vendor itself. They develop software keeping a large customer base in their mind. This approach might not fill your needs completely.
Summary
This shows you how open-source LMS development services have their own share of pros and cons when compared to closed source LMS. It completely depends on the business needs and budget when it comes to choosing the better LMS type for training solutions. Make your decision wisely.