software as a service


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Benefits of a SaaS learning management system


oftware as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which applications are accessed through the internet, freeing companies to scale up and down as their business requires. There is no need for the organisation to maintain and install the software.


Why move learning to the cloud One of the key reasons to move to the cloud is flexibility. SaaS has transformed the way businesses operate these days. IT infrastructure that is owned, provided and managed by one or more external sources (such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure) is running through the heart of many global companies. They no longer need vast dedicated teams to build and maintain IT infrastructure, saving costs and often improving performance without the headache of uptime and security. All you need these days is a good internet connection. So why should an organisation’s learning programmes and learning


management systems (LMS) be any different? High levels of scalability and cost savings are just a few of the benefits of moving to a SaaS infrastructure. Allowing employees to access their learning anywhere, anytime reduces boundaries to learning and increases the opportunity for learning on the go. And that’s not all – depending on the SaaS learning solution, organisations are also able to implement seamless integrations and receive instant upgrades and bug fixes.


Still not convinced SaaS is the right solution? Technology can be a great driver of performance if the right solutions and people are put in place. Time and again Fuse sees its customers benefiting from the result of the perfect blend. But what are the advantages for users? Moving to the cloud allows learners to connect to the knowledge they seek from any device at the point of need. And this helps them see learning as something that they want to access both to share their knowledge and to learn new things, rather than a traditional course that they complete once (and usually only because you told them to) and never return to. Continuous improvement and upskilling of teams are the foundation of success.


So, to summarise the benefits of a cloud-based LMS are:


1. Company knowledge capital in one place. Employees own their career and personal development. Learners can access knowledge that is structured in topics and learning plans thus making learning easy and accessible.


2. More efficient learning process. Employees are not forced to attend classes or take time off work. Content is accessible on any device.


3. Teachers become learners and learners become teachers. Thanks to modern learning systems peer-to-peer learning and in-house knowledge sharing facilitates continuous upskilling. User generated content can be shared and accessed by the entire organisation or specific colleagues.


4. Agile platform maintenance. Setup and management of the platform is much easier and faster compared to in-house software implementations. Scalability and faster platform/system updates are technical benefits.


5. Easily accessible on any device. Whether it’s a computer, mobile or tablet, no one can stop your employees from learning.


How can the learning industry maximise on this? US philanthropist Rose Kennedy said “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments”. Everything that we experience and live is a mosaic of continuous moments. What about applying this concept to learning? SaaS facilitates development of its customers where agile and highly customisable approaches make training and upskilling of employees easier. Easy access allows employees to learn whenever and wherever they want.


E-learning systems are adopting a multi-tenant architecture. For instance, the


Fuse platform is one LMS that has been built on a ground-up approach, meaning it is constructed in line with a cloud-based perspective. The final issue is the total cost of ownership, an important player when comparing what kind of LMS to acquire. Simply put, a SaaS saves organisations money. So check the internet connection in your organisation, sign up and …learn.


Nora Ditrichova, content marketing manager, Fuse


e.learning age april 2016


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