When your LMS is not anymore fulfilling your e-learning or training needs after years of usage, it’s time to switch to a new one.
But there will be challenges to switching from one LMS to another although it will be a great decision for enhancing your learning experiences. The new LMS platform will be able to provide an upgraded user experience, interface, and support for modern learning approaches including social and microlearning.
Doesn’t matter if you want to just upgrade your current LMS system or migrate to another, this LMS migration guide will help you out. Let’s first learn the basics of LMS data migration and the reasons behind it.
Defining LMS Data Migration
The process of moving from your current LMS to a new one is known as LMS migration. It involves transferring data like learner and user progress and course content.
The process of moving from an old LMS to a new one can be difficult and costly. However, this becomes important when businesses discover new learning requirements that the existing system cannot serve to force them to modernize their learning and development (L&D) programs.
For instance, you could require a new learning management system (LMS) with improved real-time metrics and statistics if you are having trouble monitoring learner progress and outcomes. Even while this might be a wise move, moving all of your content, users, and course materials to a new LMS can be very difficult.
Why Do Businesses Switch to a New LMS?
Undoubtedly, migrating learning management system data can be an expensive and challenging procedure. Why then do businesses create migration strategies and proceed?
Even if the move is challenging, there are situations in which moving to a new LMS is the best course of action for your business, your employees, and your overall corporate learning initiatives. Here are a few of the key reasons for companies to search for a new LMS provider.
1. Their LMS Is Not Sufficiently User-Friendly
Training the administrators and learners will take time, regardless of the LMS solution you use. However, certain LMSs are easier to use than others.
Even in situations when you lead a methodical introductory session, users may nonetheless make mistakes and bombard administrators with inquiries. These are the telltale indicators of a poorly designed learning management system.
For your L&D programs, switching to an LMS that is easier to use might be very beneficial.
2. They Are Using an Outdated LMS
The field of e-learning is dynamic, with new ideas and methods appearing frequently. Who would have guessed that social media would be around for 20 years, much less be used for education? Additionally, mobile learning platforms enable students to access and finish online courses at any time and from any location.
It could be time to go if your LMS is outdated and cannot accommodate these new features. Alternatively, if you utilize an outdated custom system, you must choose if it is more cost-effective to hire a development team to modernize it or to simply switch to a more contemporary SaaS solution.
3. There Are No Features or Integrations in Their LMS
A “tech stack” is the collective term for all the many platforms and applications you employ. And this stack is usually built rather high at most companies. Jira can be used for project planning and tracking, Salesforce for customer relationship management, and a variety of other applications that facilitate communication, teamwork, and powerful learning.
Integrations are essential if you want all of this to be easier to use and more efficient. Integrations enable various software programs to “talk” to each other and exchange data using clever small objects known as APIs (application programming interfaces).
4. Different Use Cases Are Not Supported by Their LMS
Although employee training is arguably the most well-known application of an LMS, there are many uses for it. Businesses utilize LMSs to facilitate stakeholder training and onboarding. An LMS that supports numerous use scenarios is therefore always preferable.
The expenses and inconveniences mount if your business utilizes different Learning Management Systems (LMSs) for employee, compliance, and channel partner education. Moving to a new all-in-one solution that serves all of your needs is preferable in that situation.
Now, let’s head into the 3 easy steps followed for LMS migration.
3 Easy Steps for Switching LMS System
1. System Mapping
Firstly, it is checked if the data types on both the systems, i.e., old and new are the same. Then the field mapping is done by upgrading the new LMS system according to the old one’s data.
2. Migrating Archived Data
The data size and data format are checked to know how much active data and archive data (not used for a long time) there is in the old LMS system. Then the archived data is migrated to the new LMS system.
3. Delta Period
The old system is accessible but no data update is allowed during the delta period. The active data is moved to the system during that time period. For this, the old system is kind of closed to migrate all the active data to the new LMS system which is validated afterward.
Process of Migrating Data During LMS Switch
During the manual data migration, the data from the old system is downloaded in an encrypted format (zip format) which is then decrypted. The data is then visible in the form of quizzes, courses, etc. which can now be migrated to the new LMS system.
We should avoid manual migration of data due to human errors. Another way of data migration is through Scripting which is done through the machine for automating the mapping of the data and migrating it to the new LMS system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the intricacies of LMS migration is crucial to improving learning experience. Even though there are obstacles to overcome, switching to a more feature-rich, integrated, and user-friendly system usually pays off. MapleLMS has successfully migrated data from various LMS companies including Moodle, TalentLMS, Blackboard, and many others.
When migrating the data using the three-step process described here ensures a smooth transition, allowing businesses to successfully adjust to changing e-learning requirements. A successful LMS migration in 2024 will depend on your decision, so make sure to take user-friendliness, updates, integrations, and support for a variety of learning scenarios into account. For more information, connect with our LMS experts now!