Howdy friends, I’ve implemented a few different LXPs (Degreed, Stream by LearningPool, and EdCast…which is now part of Cornerstone). I too was skeptical at first with LXPs, but I grew to appreciate the value they add to a learning experience. A couple of things from my experience:
LXP is uniquely different from a LMS. I have not seen an experience where you can say…we’ve outgrown our LMS…we need a LXP. While they are similar, they are different enough and each serves a specific purpose. There are elements of a LMS that are not addressed (or addressed very poorly by a LXP). Conversely, there are elements of a LXP that a LXP does very well and that an LMS struggles with.
So the best scenarios I’ve seen play out is using both a LXP in combination with a LMS. The LXP sits on the front end of the learner experience and severs as a portal/front door to the overall ecosystem. When the time calls for a more formal / compliance-driven training event, the user is sent to the LMS to deliver that training.
Actually, coming back to that word portal…I think it probably the best way to think about a LXP. It is a portal catch-all experience for any conceivable learning content. Did someone listen to a podcast, watch a youtube/ted talk video, attend or watch a webinar, read an article on HBR, Inc, MindTools, read a book, etc, etc. Think about each of those experiences that the user is consuming content as a training and development experience. Reading an article is not a formal training event, but if a person reads and article and is leveled up from that experience, this is precisely where a LXP adds value. It serves as a platform to let a user record all of these more informal, “learning in the flow of work” type experiences.
Those experiences are typically not something a LMS handles well. A LMS can handle SCORM files and more formal / official training events exceptionally well. But when you want to capture more of training “resources” as opposed to formal “courses”, the LXP can handle that exceptionally well.
Wow, I didn’t mean for this response to be so long. If you’re still reading, I’d go back to I think the best and most optimal experience is when you combined both the LXP as the front door portal experience and integrate it with a more back end delivery of a LMS.
Whew, I think I’m done. 