Learning System Award Winners 2019

If you were in the nineties here in the states, and had a postal address, you likely received the Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes.  I know I did. And every time I got it, I dreamed that a scratch card here for more choices, scratch card there – “What even more drawings?”, I knew this would be the year.   I mean it said no purchase necessary, but come on, deep down you have to buy one crummy magazine, because wink wink, that’s your ticket in.

And so you and millions of your fellow human beings mailed it in.  And waited. 

Well, wait no more.   Ed McMahon is not back (he’s dead after all), but in his honor, and without you having to buy an overpriced magazine,  I present you with early award winners in various learning system categories, for 2019. 

But first…

What is a Learning System?

Because of the size of the market and split out of types of systems, it made sense to create an umbrella term and then place the main four types of systems under said umbrella.  

Hence, learning systems.   The biggest market in size and scope are LMSs (Learning Management Systems).  LCMSs are not LMSs, nor do they see themselves as one, just an fyi.   The second market in size are LEP/LXPs – Learning Engagement Platforms/Learning Experience Platforms.  The third market are learning platforms – these are folks who have many of the standards, include training/learning components, but are not an LMS (and often are more streamlined).  A training management system for example, would slide under learning platforms, same as a training operations system.  Knowledge Reinforcement systems?  Learning Platforms. 

The fourth category are what I call, Other.   Yes, very original I know.   In this category, you will find Performance Mgt or Talent Mgt systems with a learning/training component or module.  These systems do not see learning/training as number on in their solutions, and usually go with a module approach.   Sales Enablement Platforms which have a training and/or learning component – now slide into this category. A coaching system which incorporate training/learning modality, fits here.

The Top 50 Learning Systems for 2019

The official rankings, report and posts will happen in January of 2019.  I will let you know that all 50 of them will be in FindAnLMS.com, assuring that the best of the best can be found in one central location – for you to contact them, schedule demos, send RFPs and more.    Actually, as of today, 48 of them are in the system, with the last two arriving by Jan, 1, 2019.

However, since the holidays are nearly upon us (I mean you might be reading this for the first time in late Dec.),  I’d like to announce who are in the Top 50 Learning Systems for 2019.   They have not been notified yet, so it is like finding out the PCH winner is based in neverheardofyou small town, planet earth.

Type of Learning System will be noted.   Methodology will be coming in the post with the final rankings, and breakdowns.

In no particular order, but for folks wondering what type of learning system they are, the first group are in the LMS market

• eLogic, Growth Engineering, Litmos by SAP, CrossKnowledge Learning Suite, MATRIX, Kokm, Roundtable Learning, SumTotal Learning Management, Cornerstone Learn, GyrusAim Learning Cloud, Tessello, Agylia
• Unicorn LMS, Upside LMS, IMC Learning Suite, Torch LMS, glo Learn
• Spoke, Eurekos, Thought Industries, Schoox, LMS 365, Instancy On Demand Learning Platform
• Fuse, Workday Learning, LearnUpon, BizLibrary LMS, Create LMS, Talent LMS, eXact LCMS, Kallidus Learn, Accord LMS
• Docebo, Asentia LMS, Syfadis Experience, Saba, G-Cube, Brainier LMS, Persona Learning Management, SkyPrep, Blackboard (Corp version), 

LEP/LXP market

• Learn Amp, Percipio by Skillsoft, Degreed, TILE by Toolwire, EdCast LXP and Knowledge Cloud, Coorpacademy LEP, 360Learning, Looop, Springest Go

After seeing the latest version of Saba and talking to execs, and the recent acquisition of Lumesse with me:time too, Saba returns to the Top 50. 

I can state that two LEP/LXPs are in the 2019 Top 10 Learning Systems, err 11. Because for the first time ever, a tie at #10. Here they are in no particular order (sorry, you will have to wait for final rankings in Jan).

• eLogic, Litmos by SAP, Growth Engineering, SumTotal Learning Management, Coorpacademy, Unicorn LMS, Docebo, CrossKnowledge Learning Suite, Fuse and Learn Amp and Brainier LMS.

 

Early Award Winners in various categories

Folks always ask me who is the best in gamification or extended enterprise.  Who is NexGen? (already announced, but will re-announce here)  What about mobile?  True NetFlix like experience?  Fun for the whole family – err fun for learners?  Edtech?  My vertical in Software or Retail or Dog snacks?

Because these breakouts could go longer than an Oscar speech, the majority will be the category followed by the vendor. In a couple of cases, #2 and #3 may be mentioned.  When * is seen, this indicates that the vendor is in FindAnLMS. 

I will bring back our favorite announcer, ED…. Mc…Marley!

– Ed McMarley

“Salutations! Big night here. Big night. I know you are waiting with anticipation, so envelopes, please!!!”

“And the winner is….”

K-6 (Education) – Frog Learn  .  Simply, the best K-6 LMS on the market.  Not even close.

6-12 or you want the K-12 whole package –  Schoology   Very slick and strong system for the education.

Higher Education – “and the nominees are….

• Blackboard Learn,  D2L, NEO LMS

“And the winner is…”   NEO LMS *. Go with the “Enterprise edition”, which yeah, I agree is not a term that is used or should be used in the education market, this is the edition that the win is tied too.

Award Winners

Best Learning System for Gamification –   There were plenty to select from this year, but in the end it came down to three systems, one is Coorpacademy an LEP, who offers battles as part of their gamification, Gameffective, strong in gamification, and Growth Engineering which is an LMS wrapped around gamification (but quite robust).  GE also has battles, games and the usage of Knowledge Arcade. 

“And the winner is..”

Growth Engineering*.  As the Iron Chief would say, “Reigns supreme”.  

Best Learning System for Social Engagement  – Fuse*

Best Learning System for mobile –  Edapp aka Ed*.

Best NetFlix like experience –  Yes, many say they are – but are they really? Sure, none offer recommended content that you would never take, because they either made it themselves or it is “Cookies made of meat,” which besides sounding disgusting, isn’t something I’d watch.  Anyway..

“And the winner is…” – Coorpacademy *  Their site does not do the product justice.  Workday Learning was a close second.

Best LEP/LXP for 2019 – Learn Amp *

#1 NexGen LMS for 2018-19 – Litmos by SAP *.   Fuse and Cornerstone were neck and neck for #2 and #3.

Best LMS for Extended Enterprise – eLogic *.  Unlimited tenants (no additional charge), same with skinning each tenant too. Robust e-commerce, robust platform period.  I’ve seen the roadmap, and can tell you, this behemoth feature rich system is on track for even bigger things.

Best LMS for Compliance and Regulatory – Cobent! Wait..They were acquired a long time ago, and their new owners are not as strong, so nope, Cobent you are out.

SumTotal Learning Management * takes home the prize.   Unicorn LMS * a very good LMS rumbled in at #2. 

Top Three LMSs when budget is extremely tight and you still want a very solid system.  I could call this most affordable LMS category.  I focused on mid-size numbers i.e. 6000 end users tied to affordability.  Features had to be a min. of 70% of my LMS RFP Template. 

• Talent LMS *  – Very affordable, Solid system.
• BizLibrary * – you get a lot for a very good price point
• UpsideLMS *  – You get a lot for the price. 

I had Bridge LMS a very close fourth, and Abara LMS *finishing off at #5.  Again, this is based on 6,000 user base. 

Why 6,000?  Some vendors go with a price range, and thus a 5,000 might slide into a range of a vendor going up to 5,999.  6,000 tends to slide into a completely different price range, than one at 5,000.   Anyway, that was my approach to pricing.

Verticals!  Verticals!

These are vendors who score high in certain verticals.   Not every vertical is listed, because there are so many of them (verticals) that is. 

#1 LMS for Financial Services – Unicorn LMS.*  If you are in FS, this is the system to select. 

#1 LMS for Consumer Goods – Spoke *

#1 LMS for Retail – eLogic *

#1 LMS for Technology (Software) – Litmos by SAP *

#1 LMS for Manufacturing – SumTotal Learning Management * . Saba was #2. For Cornerstone fans, finished in the top five.

The Following Categories will be announced in Jan. as part of the Top 50 Learning Systems for 2019

• Enterprise
• B2B/B2C  (External only)
• Innovation (new category)
• Associations
• Hospitality
• Non-Profit
• Government
• Content with the system (new category) – Means the system comes with content that is no cost to you.
• Content and Learning Tech marketplace – Which vendor has the best marketplace for content and learningtech?
• Analytics –  What is the best system for robust analytics, data with forward-thinking type of analytics?  You will find out here.  Interesting to note, the winner and runner-ups all have an LRS.  Wait, all that were in this category, have an LRS
• Best Learning System for Coaching (new category)
• Best Learning System for AI/Machine Learning (new category)

Bottom Line

If you did not want to buy a magazine, but wanted to enter Publishers Sweepstakes, all you had to do was find an index card with a specific size followed by rules of doing it this way, not that way, before mailing it off.

It was irksome. 

Good thing the early award winners here and top 50 noted above, require none of those things.

Well, maybe

an index card.

E-Learning 24/7

Upcoming post – Percipio by Skillsoft Product Review with screenshots too!