High Favorability Ratings for the LMS

Regarding HR leaders' perceptions of their LMS, the study revealed the following:

• Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed rated their current LMS provider moderately favorable (21%) to very favorable (56%).
• Survey respondents gave their current LMS an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +9 (-100 to +100). This is significantly higher than previous Net Promoter evaluations of the industry, such as the 2018 Starr Conspiracy Report, in which organizations gave their current learning technology an average NPS score of -57.

Despite overall findings pointing to a significant improvement in HR leaders' perceptions of their current LMS, an NPS score of +9 is considered a medium NPS score versus a high score in the 30 to 100 range. This shows that LMSs have come a long way since the 2018 reports, but there's plenty of room and opportunity for LMS providers to improve their standing with current customers and prospects.

The Learning Systems Pulse survey also revealed HR and training leaders see their current LMS provider in a positive light when it comes to market perception:

• Seventy-three percent of those surveyed rated their current LMS as an industry leader (37%) or gaining momentum (36%) in the marketplace. Additionally, HR and training leaders feel they are doing right by their organizations and employees.
• Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said that the training programs they're implementing are always (46%) to frequently (33%) effective.

Looking ahead, 76 percent of those surveyed said they plan to increase their training budget in FY2021.

The LMS still dominates the learning technology stack

When asked which software was currently in their organization's learning technology stack, survey respondents shared the following insights:

• LMS - 63 percent
• eLearning course library - 52 percent#
• Training-delivery platform - 44 percent

Breaking the learning technology stack data down further, 72 percent of those surveyed said their organization had three or more learning software systems installed.

"The favorable perceptions HR and training leaders shared about learning systems is encouraging, especially the dramatic improvement in the NPS score for LMSs, which is a crucial benchmark for gauging customer and user sentiment," said Richard Wyles, CEO of Totara. "This survey also shows how far the LMS has advanced in its evolution to become the hub of a thriving learning ecosystem. The key to success going forward is to simplify the stack with fewer or single platforms that are able to provide the full range of the learning, performance, and engagement capabilities that organizations need."

The need for LMS adaptability

Returning to Net Promoter Scores, we can see the important need for LMS adaptability and scalability in some of the quotes collected from survey respondents who gave their LMS lower-than-average NPS ratings.