The 2025 ISG Buyers Guides™ for Learning and Development, produced by ISG Software Research, reveal enterprises are prioritizing learning management systems (LMS) that balance compliance with modern, engaging user experiences. The research underscores a shift toward unified platforms integrating LMS and learning experience platform (LXP) capabilities to deliver personalized learning while maintaining governance. The finance card above shows ISG (Nasdaq: III) stock at $5.78, reflecting a year-to-date increase from $3.08, aligning with its growing influence in AI-centered research.
Enterprises demand LMS platforms that enforce compliance, prepare for audits, and offer mobile-first, personalized experiences. The ISG Buyers Guides note a convergence of LMS with LXPs, enabling features like recommendations and consumer-grade interfaces to meet employee expectations for tailored learning paths. Integration with human capital management systems is critical for cohesive workforce strategies.
Employers seek broader visibility into organizational learning to identify skill gaps, risk areas, and actionable steps for managers. By 2027, ISG predicts one-third of enterprises will adopt platforms with skill and job ontologies to optimize learning paths and boost engagement. By 2028, two-thirds will leverage generative AI for personalized skill recommendations and learning plans.
Companies increasingly prefer single platforms supporting internal employees and external audiences like partners and customers, reducing overhead while ensuring data coherence and governance. This extended-enterprise functionality streamlines operations across diverse groups.
“Companies want fewer systems to do more work,” said Matthew Brown, director of research, Human Capital Management, ISG Software Research. “They want to deliver engaging learning experiences to multiple audiences while keeping the compliance features at the heart of an LMS.”
“Learning is part of everyday work and should no longer be separate,” said Mark Smith, partner and chief software analyst, ISG Software Research. “It needs to constantly inform and guide employee potential for the needs of the organization and the individual.”
The ISG Buyers Guides, based on extensive research, provide enterprises with detailed assessments across usability, manageability, reliability, capability, adaptability, validation, and TCO/ROI to guide LMS investments. For more details, visit the ISG Software Research website.
ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.