Key takeaways:

  • The most important features to look for in an LMS are centered around optimizing the user’s learning experience, including blended, social, mobile, and asynchronous learning modalities.
  • Other essential LMS capabilities include gamification, reporting, integrations, course creation, custom assessments, and certification management.

Jul. 18, 2023: We revised the copy for accuracy, clarity, and style. We also updated the product screenshots and added dynamic page elements to improve navigation.

Ready to find the perfect LMS? Explore popular solutions and expert recommendations in our LMS Software Guide.

10 must-have LMS features for your training program

  1. Course creation and content management
  2. Mobile learning
  3. Built-in reporting and dashboards
  4. Custom assessments
  5. Native integrations
  6. Blended learning
  7. Asynchronous learning
  8. Social learning
  9. Certification and accreditation management
  10. Gamification

1. Course creation and content management

It seems like course management features would be included in all LMS platform options, but the most basic functions of a learning management system do not include course creation. Some tools require you to bring your own content from a third-party platform, which means you’ll need to build training materials in a separate system and import them into the LMS program.

An LMS that includes native course-building features will help streamline your processes and simplify your tech stack.

Suggested platforms: Canvas, Bridge, 360Learning

Canvas displays course creation dashboard.
Canvas helps you create custom training courses from scratch. Source: Canvas
Visit canvas

2. Mobile learning

When your LMS offers a mobile-responsive design or a native mobile app, an employee can participate in training from any location. It also gives employees the flexibility to access training materials from the devices that work best for their unique accessibility needs and learning styles.

Mobile learning is especially helpful for distributed teams and certification programs that engage in training across multiple locations. For example, a retail business can use a mobile LMS app to conduct hands-on product training in all of its stores at once.

Suggested platforms: Cornerstone LMS, Litmos LMS

SAP Litmos displays learning modules on desktop and mobile apps.
SAP Litmos offers content to learners on desktop and mobile apps. Source: SAP
Visit SAP

3. Built-in reporting and dashboards

One of the greatest advantages of working with an LMS is administrators and team managers can access a single platform to track participation, completion, and general performance across employee training content. A customizable dashboard with detailed visualizations and charts is an essential feature for reporting and analytics, while other features — like individual progress tracking and check-in data — are also nice to have.

Suggested platforms: 360Learning, Adobe Learning Manager, Absorb LMS

360Learning dashboard displays analytics for courses, training participants, and skills assessments.
360Learning provides detailed analytics about courses, learners, and skills. Source: 360Learning
Visit 360Learning

4. Custom assessments

Whether your training program is optional or required, exams and assessments are the most effective methods for testing learner engagement and knowledge retention. The best learning management systems give administrators the option to assign pre-built assessments or create their own evaluations.

Suggested platforms: Cypher Learning, 360Learning

Cypher Learning displays training assessment data.
Cypher Learning lets you see assessments for all training participants in one place. Source: Cypher
Visit Cypher

5. Native integrations

Depending on your organization’s needs and the goals of your training program, the right LMS integrations will help with tracking and managing the learning experience.

Some platforms integrate with communication and collaboration tools, like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack, to create blended and interactive learning experiences. Others integrate with department-specific platforms like Salesforce or to support on-the-job training.

Suggested platforms: Docebo, Canvas, Litmos

Docebo integrates with Salesforce to streamline sales training.
Docebo integrates with popular platforms like Salesforce to streamline department-specific training. Source: Docebo
Visit Docebo

6. Blended learning

Blended training courses are delivered both online and in person, allowing employees to choose the format that works best for their location, schedule, and learning style.

A blended program might adapt the same training materials for each setting or use one approach to supplement the other. For example, an online lesson might leverage a tutorial video to provide the same instruction as a live demonstration, or employees might participate in online role-play simulations to practice skills they learned in person.

Suggested platforms: TalentLMS, Moodle, Adobe Learning Manager, iSpring

iSpring displays a role play simulation training.
iSpring’s role play simulation trainings provide real-world interactions in a controlled, coachable environment. Source: iSpring
Visit iSpring

7. Asynchronous learning

One of the best features for improving engagement and knowledge retention is asynchronous learning — the ability for learners to complete coursework at their own pace. This means they don’t have to attend a lecture or work with an instructor at a set time.

An effective LMS organizes training videos, online readings, and discussion forums to maximize the impact of your training materials.

Suggested platforms: LearnUpon, Grovo

LearnUpon displays a list of recommended courses.
LearnUpon uses machine learning to recommend asynchronous courses based on user activity. Source: LearnUpon
Visit LearnUpon

8. Social learning

Learning is a fundamentally social experience, so your LMS should include features that help team members learn from one another through proven social learning methodologies. This not only enhances the learning process but also reduces the strain placed on your trainers.

By adding messaging boards and social learning features, your students can ask and answer questions in a forum setting and interact with their colleagues. The best way to show you understand a topic is by teaching it, so let your students teach each other.

Suggested platforms: TalentLMS, LearnUpon

Watch TalentLMS’ discussion forums in action:

Visit TalentLMS

9. Certification and accreditation management

Certification and accreditation management are important LMS functions for nearly every kind of user. It’s nice to train your employees, but you’ll have no baseline for measuring performance and improvement if you aren’t tracking skills development and certifications — or at the very least, course completion.

These LMS features can increase government compliance by consolidating your learners’ completed and pending certifications in a single exportable spreadsheet. Tracking skills and certifications also gives you the power to report on learner progress, showing the immediate return on your efforts.

Suggested platforms: Cypher Learning, Arcoro

Arcoro displays controls for managing employee training certifications.
Arcoro helps keep track of all training certifications across your organization. Source: Arcoro
Visit Arcoro

10. Gamification

LMS gamification features like leaderboards, badges, and levels can turn learning into a more enticing experience. According to 2023 research from Zippia, gamification improves employee productivity by 90% and makes companies seven times more profitable than those that don’t use it.

While game elements may not make the subject matter itself more interesting, they help improve knowledge retention, completion rates, and overall engagement when implemented well.

Suggested platforms: Thought Industries, Docebo

Thought Industries displays badges and a leaderboard for gamified learning.
Thought Industries engages learners with a leaderboard, badges, and other gamification features. Source: Thought Industries
Visit Thought Industries

Also read: 8 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement with Your LMS

Nice-to-have LMS features to consider

In addition to the LMS features covered above, consider finding a solution that offers the following:

  • Automated workflows.
  • Notifications and reminders.
  • Surveys.
  • Multi-tenancy through multiple learning portals.
  • Automated user and assignment management with dynamic rules.
  • Smart scheduling.
  • User roles and permissions.
  • Personalized learning paths with designated learning path groups.
  • Data migration.
  • Multilingual feature with translations.
  • Single sign-on (SSO) and other cybersecurity controls.
  • Course categorization and tagging.
  • Offline learning trackers.
  • Centralized document storage.
  • Customer success and education.
  • Adherence to SCORM and industry-specific compliance requirements.

LMS FAQs

An LMS, also called a learning management system, is a type of software or application that can be used to administer online learning resources, mandatory and optional training, and certification programs.

The modern LMS comes in different shapes and sizes. Some platforms focus more heavily on employee experience, while others may specialize in industry compliance training, certification coursework, DEI training, or customer success.

A robust LMS solution not only includes content management modules but also administrative tools to track course completion, performance, and other important metrics across your organization’s e-learning program.

An LMS offers a range of benefits to trainers and trainees alike.

Administrators can use an LMS to collect employee progress and performance data, which helps determine future training opportunities. The centralized nature of an LMS also adds efficiency and consistency to training programs more broadly. Trainers can update resources in one place to ensure everyone has access to the most up-to-date information.

From the learner’s perspective, an LMS offers flexibility to choose the training style, format, and timing that works best for them. A well-implemented LMS also creates a single access point for essential company documentation as well as certification and accreditation materials. This helps teams fill critical skills gaps and empowers employees to advance in their careers.

Ready to find the perfect LMS for your business? Get started by watching our video overview of the top platforms:

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Shelby Hiter Avatar
Shelby Hiter
Shelby Hiter has worked as a technology editor and writer for TechRepublic, LinuxToday, Webopedia and SoftwarePundit, among other sites in the TechnologyAdvice portfolio. Her work has also appeared in online publications such as eSecurity Planet, Datamation, Enterprise Networking Planet, CIO Insight, AllBusiness.com, and SiteProNews. Beyond B2B content strategy and editing, she also specializes in marketing and communication strategies and the occasional photo collage of her dog.