{"id":3026,"date":"2018-08-01T10:30:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T07:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.talentlms.com\/?p=3026"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:09:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:09:58","slug":"your-lms-why-saas-and-how-saas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/your-lms-why-saas-and-how-saas\/","title":{"rendered":"SaaS and eLearning: Why a SaaS LMS is the best LMS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s on the cloud.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

That phrase has become more commonplace as we\u2019ve trusted more of our data and content to the cloud in recent years. And it applies to training more and more these days.<\/p>\n

The learning and development industry had to adapt to the changing work landscape along with the rest of the world. And for many, that meant turning to SaaS LMS solutions to keep their organizations up and running.<\/p>\n

Hosting your training on a SaaS learning management system is a great option for reaching your training objectives, no matter what your working environment looks like. But what exactly does it entail?<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll cover everything you need to know, from what a SaaS LMS is to why the format is so popular to the advantages it offers your training strategy.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll address five commonly asked questions around SaaS LMS:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What is SaaS?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. What is a SaaS LMS?<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Why are SaaS learning management systems so popular?<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. What are the advantages of a SaaS LMS?<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Is a SaaS LMS always your best option?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/a>
    \nLet\u2019s start at the beginning.<\/p>\n

    1. What is SaaS?<\/h2>\n

    SaaS, or Software as a Service, is essentially the concept of cloud computing put into practice. Companies pay a fee or subscription to access software solutions available on the cloud instead of hosting them locally.<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s no need anymore to be in a specific geographic location or own a program on your computer to use the software of your choice.<\/p>\n

    SaaS is used across industries for eCommerce, collaboration, applications, file sharing, and learning management systems<\/strong><\/a>. Sharing software this way lowers costs for users<\/strong> and increases availability<\/strong>. These benefits make SaaS highly competitive, and standalone software is quickly going the way of the dinosaur.<\/p>\n

    So how does the cloud impact corporate training?<\/p>\n

    2. What is a SaaS LMS?<\/h2>\n

    A SaaS LMS is a learning management system available on the cloud<\/strong><\/a>. Before the rise of cloud computing, the only choice companies had for eLearning was to buy software and install it on their servers.<\/p>\n

    But with a SaaS learning platform, organizations don\u2019t need to invest as much money or human resources in the technical part of their training efforts. Companies can subscribe to systems hosted by LMS vendors and enjoy the perks of online learning without the hassle of managing the system internally<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s take a deeper look at how a cloud-based LMS differs from an internally hosted system.<\/p>\n

    SaaS vs. hosted learning management system<\/h3>\n

    A self-hosted LMS will let you customize training more extensively. But it will also require your IT department to install, maintain, and update the system as needed.<\/p>\n

    With a cloud LMS, product updates<\/a> and maintenance are all handled by the LMS vendor<\/strong>. Don\u2019t forget that the second \u201cS\u201d in SaaS stands for \u201cservice.\u201d Automatic upgrades and ongoing support are part of that service.<\/p>\n

    The vendor should also ideally offer round-the-clock support to keep your training efforts moving forward\u2013no matter where your employees are located.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Move your training on the cloud with TalentLMS
    \n<\/b>Forget about maintenance costs and long implementation times.<\/span>
    \nFocus on actual learning by using the best SaaS LMS.<\/span>    \"Create<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    3. Why are SaaS learning management systems so popular?<\/h2>\n

    You may be wondering by now: Why is the market so thirsty for a SaaS learning management system? Why are there so many SaaS LMS providers?<\/p>\n

    As companies grow and the importance of employee development becomes more apparent, people are looking for solutions that can help them achieve their training goals. Users want options that let them customize their learning strategies and use the latest technology. SaaS models allow them that kind of access and also offer the promise of keeping up with growth and expansion, all at more reasonable prices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    As more and more companies move to remote or hybrid work models, cloud-based learning management systems fill the need for scalable training with little to no learning curve.<\/p>\n

    They\u2019re often equipped with easy-to-use features<\/strong><\/a> so someone with no programming experience can easily create an eLearning program and launch it. A SaaS LMS essentially hands over control of your learning management system to you.<\/p>\n

    4. What are the advantages of a SaaS LMS?<\/h2>\n

    Now that you know the basics of a SaaS-based LMS and the reason the model is so popular, you\u2019ll want to know how you can benefit from investing in a SaaS learning platform. Here are seven of the top reasons to choose a cloud-based learning system.<\/p>\n

    1. It\u2019s quick to set up<\/h3>\n

    With a cloud LMS, everything\u2019s ready to go as soon as you sign up. You don\u2019t have to worry about creating a user interface or uploading content. That means you can get employees up and running on day one.<\/p>\n

    2. It\u2019s user-friendly<\/h3>\n

    SaaS LMS vendors build in features that give end-users greater control<\/strong> over their eLearning programs. And they make them simple to use. This means that you won\u2019t need a dedicated IT person or access to an IT department to launch your eLearning program.<\/p>\n

    3. It\u2019s focused on the learner<\/h3>\n

    SaaS applications are user and learner-centered. Development solutions are fine-tuned to ensure you meet the immediate and long-term needs of the end-user without any hassles and system downtime.<\/p>\n

    4. It\u2019s flexible<\/h3>\n

    A SaaS LMS is accessible to your learners<\/strong> whenever and wherever makes the most sense for them. The vendor offers continuous support to users across time zones.<\/p>\n

    Easy-to-use features also let you customize the learning experiences to meet your corporate learning goals<\/strong><\/a>. And any changes can be undone or redone to suit your growing organization.<\/p>\n

    5. It\u2019s scalable<\/h3>\n

    With a cloud-based system, you can roll training out to as many (or as few) employees as you need to all at once. You can choose a plan sized right for your organization<\/strong><\/a>. And as you grow, increasing your bandwidth to add more users is a quick and easy process.<\/p>\n

    Scalability is built in so you don\u2019t need to deal with upgrading systems. Simply update your plan or subscription.<\/p>\n

    6. It costs less up front<\/h3>\n

    You won\u2019t have to worry about budgeting for everything it takes to get an LMS up and running. This can include things like salaries for IT specialists, hosting services, and hardware. When you go with a cloud-based solution, all those costs are covered and your initial financial investment is much more manageable.<\/p>\n

    7. High bandwidth means unlimited content<\/h3>\n

    Cloud-based systems generally offer you unlimited content uploads. This means you don\u2019t need to limit your design and can include high-quality graphics and videos without having to host them yourself.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Deliver your training with TalentLMS
    \n<\/strong><\/span>The training platform that users consistently rank #1<\/span>
    \nEasy to set up, easy to use, easy to customize.<\/span>
    \n    \"Create<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    5. Is a SaaS LMS always your best option?<\/h2>\n

    Whether or not a SaaS LMS is the best solution for your company depends on your training needs and resources. The differences between SaaS and self-hosted options largely amount to control versus ease of use<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Here are a few instances where hosting your own system could make more sense than using a cloud-based solution.<\/p>\n