Digital Learning
LMS vs. LJMS: Why the Future of Learning Belongs to the Journey
Let us observe a familiar scenario: a new training program has been launched, with completion rates looking promising, and yet, tangible impact remains elusive.
Weeks go by, but behaviour hasn’t shifted, performance hasn’t improved, and knowledge retention is minimal.
As far as ROI is concerned, it becomes a question with no clear answer.
Now, we know from research that up to 90% of training is forgotten within a week if not reinforced or applied (also known as the Forgetting Curve (Ebbinghaus, 1885)).
At Lerero, we’ve worked with hundreds of HR and L&D leaders who share the same frustration and who face the same forgetfulness scenarios: traditional LMS platforms simply aren’t built for learning that lasts.
That’s precisely why we’re here to reimagine what a learning platform should be.
Introducing the Learning Journey Management System (LJMS) – a new category we created not just to manage learning, but to transform it.
Let’s explore the difference between an LMS and an LJMS, and why we at Lerero believe the future of learning lies in the journey, not just the destination.
What is an LJMS?
How Lerero is different from a traditional LMS
To be fair, most LMSs fulfill their intended purpose. They facilitate the delivery and tracking of training content, and they manage the mechanics, but logistics alone don’t drive transformation.
When it comes to delivering learning that sticks, that’s where they fall short.
At Lerero, we realized we needed to build something fundamentally different – a science-based platform grounded in the way people actually learn. That’s how we created the 10-Step Learning Journey, the foundation of our LJMS approach.
Our model includes everything from onboarding and reinforcement to application tracking and continuous learning. Each step is designed not just to inform, but to transform, helping learners progress from initial exposure to true mastery.
Here’s how our platform stands apart:
- It’s not about dumping information.
It’s about guiding learners through meaningful stages that support memory, motivation, and performance.
- It’s not about course completion.
It’s about proving progress, both in knowledge and real-world application.
- It’s not one-size-fits-all.
It’s personalized because different learners and different companies need different journeys.
At Lerero, we’re not just building better learning tools. We’re building better learners.
What makes Lerero a true LJMS
So, what qualifies a platform to call itself a Learning Journey Management System?
It’s not a label we use lightly. Here’s what we believe an LJMS must include and what Lerero delivers:
I. A guided learning journey
At the heart of our platform is a 10-step framework designed to mirror how people naturally absorb and apply knowledge. It includes onboarding, reinforcement, application, assessments, and more. Each stage adds measurable value.
II. Personalized paths
Learning is never linear. That’s why we let course creators and team leads personalize journeys based on individual needs, roles, learning speeds, and career goals. Whether you’re building for a team or an entire organization, Lerero adapts.
III. Real-world application
Too many platforms stop at theory. We built tools to track how learning is applied on the job, not just in a test. Hands-on assignments, project tracking, and reflection prompts are all baked in.
IV. Progress that matters
Completion rates are nice, but actual growth rates are nicer. We provide deep analytics to track mastery, confidence, and application, so you know where your learners are improving and where they need support.
V. Science-based, new-age design
From spaced repetition (which is shown to reduce study time by up to 50% while improving retention by over 30% (Cepeda, N. J., et al., 2006)) to retrieval practice, our entire system is based on proven learning science. We’ve integrated these principles into every layer of the platform, so you don’t have to.
Inside Lerero’s 10-step learning journey
Let’s walk you through the 10 learning stages that make Lerero truly learner-centric, deeply relevant, and impact-focused. Each step is a layer in the journey, designed to move learners from exposure to mastery.
1. Onboarding
We start by making sure learners feel comfortable and well-prepared. Resources, guidance, and expectations are clearly shared upfront, creating psychological safety and direction from the start, as directed by best practices in the field.
2. Context and expectations
Before diving deep, we help learners understand why they’re here. Evidence shows that personalized surveys and background content boost engagement and motivation by up to 60% (Keller, J. M. (1987). Development and use of the ARCS model of motivational design.), setting the tone for intentional learning, so we’ve focused on integrating such elements.
3. Learning progress assessment
Here we assess growth over time. Progress reports, milestones, and confidence tracking give learners (and L&D teams) a clear picture of development.
4. Microlearning
Content is broken into bite-sized, digestible units. This is in accordance with the latest research findings, which depict how microlearning is fantastic for busy schedules because it improves knowledge retention by 20% to 60% compared to traditional learning methods (Journal of Applied Psychology (2015)), keeping learners focused and minimizing overload.
5. Course delivery
Blend instructor-led sessions with self-paced materials for ultimate flexibility. Every organization has its own rhythm – we help you find and support yours.
6. Learning reinforcement
Using spaced repetition and active recall, this stage ensures that learners retain information over time, instead of forgetting it a week later.
7. Learning validation
This is where we check for understanding. With varied assessment formats, we go beyond multiple choice, offering ways to truly validate comprehension.
8. Learning application tracking
What’s learned in theory must be applied in practice. We provide tools to track on-the-job application, making learning more actionable and measurable.
9. Proctored evaluation
When formal testing is needed, we offer a secure and fair way to assess knowledge through proctored environments, ensuring trust in the results.
10. Roadmap for continuous learning
Unlike traditional LMSs, we don’t end when the course ends. Our platform helps create long-term learning roadmaps, aligned with learners’ professional goals and your business needs.
Together, these 10 steps make up a complete learning experience, one that’s structured, adaptive, and designed for retention and application.
Why choose an LJMS over a traditional LMS?
If you’re an HR or L&D leader trying to build high-impact training programs, here’s why switching to an LJMS could be the best decision you make this year.
Better retention
❌ LMS: Focuses on content delivery.
✅ LJMS: Uses scientifically proven methods (like spaced repetition, reinforcement, and retrieval) to boost long-term retention.
Measurable progress
❌ LMS: Tracks course completions and quiz scores.
✅ LJMS: Tracks knowledge application, progress, and skill mastery, metrics that actually tie back to performance.
Personalized journeys
❌ LMS: Same path for everyone.
✅ LJMS: Adapts learning to each individual’s role, goals, and pace.
Some learners might do better with interleaving (mixing topics), and studies have shown that using such a technique yields 76% better study performance in long-term retention tests than people who study via blocks (Rohrer, D., & Taylor, K., 2007).
Real ROI
❌ LMS: Hard to prove impact.
✅ LJMS: Connects learning outcomes to real-world behaviors and business KPIs.
Continuous growth
❌ LMS: Ends at course completion.
✅ LJMS: Builds a path for ongoing development, even after the course is over.
Why we built Lerero
We’ve spent over 20 years in the learning space – as trainers, designers, consultants, and researchers. We’ve seen the patterns. We’ve studied the science. We’ve lived the challenges that HR and L&D teams face every day.
We came to one conclusion: the industry doesn’t need another LMS. It needs a new way to think about learning altogether.
That’s what Lerero is.
We’re here not just to deliver content, but to shape meaningful learning journeys, ones that stick, grow, and scale with your organization. We’re here to help you create learners who aren’t just ticking boxes, but changing how they think, act, and succeed.
Ready to see the difference?
If you’ve ever felt that your learning programs could do more to retain, prove, and inspire – you’re not alone. You don’t have to settle for traditional LMS platforms that stop at completion.
Lerero’s LJMS is the next generation of learning.
- Built on learning science.
- Backed by 10 actionable steps.
- Personalized for your people.
- Designed for ROI.
We invite you to explore a live demo, chat with our team, and see how Lerero can help you build learning that genuinely matters.
Let’s make learning stick together.
