Introduction
Migrating to a new Learning Management System (LMS) is more than a software change—it’s a strategic initiative that can redefine how your company approaches employee development. It offers the chance to align your Learning & Development (L&D) strategy with business goals and improve learning impact across the organization.
1. Align L&D Strategy With Business Objectives
Before choosing a new LMS, revisit your L&D goals. Ask how employee training can directly support your organization’s long-term plans. The
most effective L&D strategies are those closely integrated with business growth, performance, and culture.
2. Assess Your LMS Migration Needs
Identify what’s lacking in your current platform—whether it’s user experience, analytics, integrations, or scalability. Define must-have features such as mobile learning, social elements, or SCORM compliance. Set a realistic budget and timeline based on business priorities.
3. Choose the Right Platform for Your Needs
Not all LMS platforms are created equal. Research vendors whose solutions align with your goals. Ensure they support seamless data migration, including content, user profiles, and learning history. Confirm they offer technical support and adaptability for future growth.
4. Involve the Right Stakeholders Early
Successful LMS migration requires input from various teams. Assign roles clearly: L&D leaders guide learning goals, IT ensures technical integration, and departmental managers validate usability. Early collaboration prevents delays and misalignment later in the project.
5. Communicate the Transition Effectively
Change can create resistance. Communicate clearly with employees about why the migration is happening, what changes to expect, and how it will benefit them. Use internal newsletters, meetings, or collaboration platforms like Slack or Teams to keep everyone informed.
6. Migrate Data and Content Carefully
Organize your existing LMS data—user profiles, certifications, analytics—and clean it before migration. This is also a good time to retire outdated courses or reformat existing materials. Make sure SCORM files, media, and documents transfer correctly to the new system.
7. Test and Validate Before Launch
Before going live, run comprehensive tests. Make sure learners can access courses, reports are functional, and user profiles are intact. Involve a test group from different departments to catch any issues early.
8. Train Employees to Use the New LMS
User training is essential for adoption. Offer live demos, video tutorials, and a helpdesk for ongoing support. Don’t forget to train admin users and content creators so they can maximize the platform’s capabilities from day one.
9. Measure Performance After Migration
Monitor platform performance post-launch using key metrics: login frequency, course completions, and user feedback. Tie this data back to business KPIs such as employee productivity or training ROI. Use insights to continuously optimize your learning strategy.
Case Study: Mangopay’s LMS Migration Success
Fintech company Mangopay, with over 500 employees, transitioned from Looop to 360Learning to better support upskilling and compliance training. The migration yielded immediate results: a 99% training course relevance score and improved workforce engagement.
Mangopay established departmental learning groups, appointed content authors and admins, and fostered collaborative learning. These efforts provided both transparency and control over learning progress.
Keys to Their Success:
- Mangopay maintained consistent communication with the vendor through regular check-ins to ensure project alignment.
- They formed an internal migration group within the new platform to facilitate real-time collaboration.
- Lastly, they used the migration as an opportunity to update their overall L&D strategy, making thoughtful improvements along the way.
Conclusion
LMS migration is a major undertaking—but one that can pay dividends across the organization. When executed with strategic alignment, stakeholder involvement, and careful planning, a new LMS can transform your learning culture and support long-term business success.