Standard e-learning platforms often lack the flexibility to meet unique organizational needs, while fully custom-built LMS solutions are expensive and difficult to maintain – even large companies and governments tend to avoid them. The smarter middle ground? A customisable learning management system. Here is what to look for and which platforms deliver.
Custom LMS vs. customisable LMS: which one should I choose?
First, let’s clear up an important distinction: a custom LMS is built from the ground up for a specific organization. While the idea of having something tailor-made might seem appealing, it is rarely the best move. Even major companies like Toyota, Samsung, EasyJet, Alexa, Lexus, Nike, Disney, Amazon, Pepsi, and Deloitte steer clear of this approach.
Why? Because building an LMS from scratch is not only incredibly expensive but also difficult to maintain. Adding new features later can be a slow, costly process, and keeping the whole system running smoothly takes serious effort and resources.
That is why many organizations that find off-the-shelf e-learning platforms too limiting choose a customisable LMS instead. These systems offer a solid set of features right out of the box and give you the flexibility to adapt them to your needs using built-in tools or affordable plugins. Custom branding is easy too, thanks to pre-made themes and flexible design options.
What are the most important customisable learning management system features?
A customizable learning management system allows you to tailor the platform’s appearance, functionality, reporting, and more to fit the specific needs of your organization. Whether you are using an LMS for internal training or as a standalone business, having the flexibility to make it your own can add a lot to the learning experience.
Branding options
Why settle for a generic, out-of-the-box design when you can fully align your e-learning platform with your brand? A customisable learning management system allows you to change the layout, colors, logos, fonts, and more to match your organization’s identity.
Multilingual support
Many off-the-shelf LMS platforms offer limited language options. But what if your learners or instructors do not speak English? A customizable LMS typically allows you to add language packs or translate content into your preferred language, making it accessible for a global team.
Adding new features with a few clicks
Would you like to make onboarding more engaging through gamification? Or automate bi-weekly progress reports? Maybe you would like to generate special certificates for students who score above 90%? These types of custom features can be difficult or costly to implement in standard LMS platforms. With a customisable learning management system, you can easily add plugins or modules to extend functionality without starting from scratch.
Seamless integration
A customizable LMS often integrates seamlessly with other business tools such as HR systems, CRM software, and data analytics platforms. This makes it easier to:
- import student data from external databases,
- sync user profiles with HR systems,
- automate task assignments,
- consolidate reporting and analytics,
- and even more.
Custom learning paths
Out-of-the-box LMS platforms often provide limited options for customizing learning journeys. But what if your organization wants to automatically assign a specific set of courses to new employees joining a particular department? A customisable learning management system lets you build tailored learning paths based on roles, teams, skills, or even performance milestones, helping learners stay on track and aligned with business goals.
Here are two LMS options that check all the boxes
Totara and Moodle are both highly customizable platforms that tick all the boxes we have discussed and offer even more.
Totara
Totara is a flexible, open-source LMS designed for businesses that want full control over their learning environment. It supports advanced reporting, competency-based learning paths, and seamless integrations with existing HR and business systems. With its rich plugin ecosystem and strong community support, Totara is ideal for organizations looking for both power and adaptability.
Learn more about Totara Customization!
Moodle
Moodle is the most popular LMS in the world, trusted by schools, universities, and companies alike. It offers extensive customization through themes, plugins, and integrations. With built-in support for multilingual content, mobile access, and scalable learning paths, Moodle adapts easily to your evolving training needs.
Learn more about Moodle customization!
SKOLL: LMS solutions tailored to your needs
Need help customizing your LMS? With over 15 years of experience, Skoll has the expertise to deliver full Totara and Moodle implementations and custom development solutions. We tailor our services and pricing to match the unique needs of each client.
