In today’s fast-moving business world companies face big challenges like managing large training programs keeping up with changing rules and helping employees grow—all while staying ahead of the competition. A recent GSDC Research Report shows that only 21% of employees feel their company’s training programs are good enough leaving plenty of room for improvement. At the same time 84% of employees want to improve their skills allowing businesses to better match their training with what employees need. This is where Learning Management Systems (LMS) can make a real difference for business leaders HR professionals and learning managers looking to make training programs more effective ensure compliance and drive long-term growth. So what exactly is an LMS? In simple terms it is a tool better say software used to manage employee training. It is like a digital in-company school where you can organize courses deliver learning materials and keep track of who’s completed what. It sends reminders to the “students” and reports helps with compliance and adds some interactive features to the training. There are plenty of such platforms in the world so to help you to select the ideal learning platform for your organization we have turned to Murali Krishna Raju Penmetsa a seasoned expert in enterprise learning technologies. He has more than 18 years of experience for which he was invited to be a member of the jury panel at Braintech Awards 2023. Murali has helped global organizations roll out scalable LMS solutions navigate complex compliance requirements and boost learner engagement. On top of that he holds an ITIL Foundation certification showing his deep understanding of how to align IT services with business goals. His insights can be helpful for any businesspeople who want to revamp their learning strategy. Here are 3 steps from Murali to choose the right LMS for the business. Understand Your Organization’s Needs Obviously to choose anything in the world one must understand why they need it. Choosing an LMS an organisation must pursue the same idea. Are you trying to stay ahead of compliance requirements? Boost employee engagement? Or maybe you’re managing large-scale training programs across teams? Whatever the case having clear goals upfront will make your decision much easier. There is a great assortment of LMS platforms available to anyone’s taste. For example cloud-based systems which are easy to access from anywhere or self-hosted systems which give you more control (though they do require a bit more upkeep). Some of the better-known platforms include SAP SuccessFactors which is strong on compliance training; Moodle an open-source option you can fully customize Cornerstone OnDemand for talent development and Workday LMS if you want to integrate it into your HR tools. One of Murali’s most impressive achievements is his custom reporting solution built with SAP SuccessFactors Report Designer. It’s a game-changer in how companies handle employee training and compliance in highly regulated sectors like Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences particularly. Unlike typical LMS platforms this solution offers tailored reports that address the specific challenges these industries face. With real-time insights into training progress certifications and regulatory requirements it not only simplifies compliance but also gives organizations powerful analytics to align learning programs with their bigger strategic goals. Designed to scale and adapt the system easily handles large volumes of data and supports global teams — with multilingual features and compliance tools tailored to local regulations. Murali’s custom reporting solution both streamlines training and helps organizations make smarter decisions and see real results. Its impact speaks for itself: companies like Luxottica Retail North America have adopted it to improve efficiency strengthen compliance and support employee development on a whole new level. Once the needs of the organization are identified and the right type of LMS is explored there is one more thing to keep in mind — your choice shouldn’t just solve today’s problems it should also support your future goals. That brings us to the next big question: how well does the LMS handle compliance and security? Because in the long run that can make all the difference. 2. Prioritizing Compliance and Security In highly regulated industries staying compliant and ready for audits at any time is a top priority for most businesses. “Staying on top of regulations can feel like juggling while walking a tightrope — there’s no room for mistakes” Murali says. “But the right LMS makes the balance a lot easier. With it you don’t simply tick boxes. But it helps simplify audits cut down on errors and lets your team focus on doing their jobs without constantly looking over their shoulders.” For example at CSL Seqirus a subsidiary of CSL Limited Murali successfully managed compliance in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors where following strict rules is critical. To make things easier he integrated document management software (EDMS) with the LMS. This way he automated training for more than 5000 employees — making sure they stayed up to date on critical procedures and safety guidelines. It’s a smart solution that shows how Indian businesses too can adopt similar strategies to stay compliant without putting extra pressure on their teams. By meeting GxP standards — rules that ensure quality in pharmaceutical production and research — Murali helped significantly lower the risk of non-compliance. This is especially important at present when regulations are getting stricter in countries India included. They say many Indian pharmaceutical companies once known for leading the way in regulatory compliance are now finding it harder to keep pace with new global standards. once known for leading the way in regulatory compliance are now finding it harder to keep pace with new global standards. For Indian companies looking to modernize this is an example of how technology can turn a compliance headache into something that makes your company stand out. Next step is the focus on building the learning system itself. It must be engaging user-friendly and motivate students to be more productive. 3. Ensuring Seamless Integration Finally it’s important to make sure your LMS plays well with the systems you already use. A solid platform should connect seamlessly with tools like document management systems HR software that handles employee data and Single Sign-On (SSO) setups that let people log in once and access everything they need. When these systems work together things just run smoother. Nobody needs duplicate work and extra logins and will appreciate just a simpler more efficient experience for everyone involved. Murali’s work at Luxottica Retail is a great example of how smart tech choices can simplify processes without compromising security — even for a workforce of 24000 people. He implemented Single Sign-On (SSO) method with the help of tools like SAML 2.0 which shares login details across systems without a failure and OAuth which allows users to access apps without having to share passwords (like when you use one account to register everywhere). Plus he connected document management systems with training platforms like Engine Room so employees automatically received training updates whenever key regulatory changes came through. The result? Easier logins better compliance and a more efficient system that kept everything running smoothly while staying audit-ready. “Things like SSO and platform integration might sound technical on the surface but the real impact is on people” Murali says. “When employees aren’t stuck trying to remember their login and password for each program or chasing down updates manually they can focus on what really matters—doing their jobs well. I still remember the look of relief when teams saw their training assignments automatically update with the latest regulations. That kind of reaction reminds me why I do this—because in the end it’s about making technology work for people not the other way around.” Choosing the right LMS isn’t just a tech decision. It can provide your company with a reliable roadmap to long-term success. First you understand what your business really needs then whether that’s staying compliant keeping users engaged or managing training across a global team. Look for a platform that can grow with you integrates easily with the systems you are already familiar with and supports your broader goals. Based on Murali Krishna Raju Penmetsa’s experience platforms like SAP SuccessFactors LMS Saba or Engine Room are great options for handling complex compliance and driving user engagement. Workday LMS on the other hand shines when it comes to smooth integration and scalability. With the right plan in place the right platform won’t just solve today’s problems—it’ll help you stay ahead of tomorrow’s. As Murali puts it “The right LMS drives innovation compliance and engagement across the board while making learning easier and faster.”