LMS, LCMS, and LXP – these acronyms regularly appear in the context of digital learning platforms. Additionally, terms such as "Learning Experience," "Authoring Features," or "Gamification" are floating around, which can cause some confusion. In this article, we explain the three different types of learning platforms and how they differ from one another.

(The original version of this text from 2020 was updated in May 2024.)

E-learning and digital education courses are still booming. Therefore, many companies are looking for a tool that simplifies further training. In particular, learning platforms support you as a training manager in preparing, managing, and delivering learning content to your employees. Depending on your needs, there are various systems with different functions or orientations.

To help you find the right learning platform, we will introduce the three most well-known systems and their differences today: LMS, LCMS, and LXP.

If you want to learn right now which category the blink.it learning platform belongs to and how you can use it, please feel free to schedule a free initial consultation with us via the button below:

LMS

Probably the Learning Management System (short: LMS) is the most well-known form of a learning platform. Traditionally, LMS helps organizers of training sessions with the general management of learning content, final exams, and participant lists.

As a training manager, you can therefore integrate and centrally manage E-learning courses. Some LMS even allow you to create courses directly within the system. In other cases, you need to connect a special authoring tool to create courses.

Most of these systems are cloud-based, so every participant and your admins can access the platform anytime and anywhere via the internet. LMS also enable extensive participant management, which is particularly important when there are many course participants (e.g., in large companies). You can view information about your learners, such as which courses have been completed or which learning materials are available to whom.

Disadvantages of LMS

Classic LMS are sometimes "spaceships": huge systems with countless buttons and functions. Sometimes, the user interfaces at the admin level are not very intuitive either. This complicates the onboarding and operation for content creators and managers.

LCMS

The transition from LMS to LCMS is fluid, as both systems focus on delivering learning content. LCMS represent the next level of the classic LMS: In Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS), the creation of learning content is the focus. Thus, LCMS are more geared toward the admins of training sessions who manage knowledge and later present it to employees.

In contrast to classic LMS, they feature functions resembling an authoring tool, or they are an all-in-one solution with an integrated authoring tool. As an admin, you can create your own courses directly in the LCMS, allowing authors and tutors to work within the same system. You can save and manage the necessary files directly in the system, making team collaboration even easier.

Most LCMS also allow you to provide this content directly to your employees. So, similar to an LMS, you usually don’t need an additional tool, but can manage everything in one place. LCMS are particularly suitable for extensive knowledge content that should be used from different locations. An LCMS is also ideal when different admins need to collaborate.

Disadvantages of LCMS

LCMS are very diverse, and so are their disadvantages. Some LCMS offer many functions for content creation but very little management. Others have only a few author functions, but a complex participant management system. Therefore, it is important to find a balanced mix for your company with an LCMS.

LXP

In contrast to classic LMS or LCMS, a Learning Experience Platform (short: LXP) focuses directly on the employees. They can navigate much more freely and flexibly on such platforms, shaping their learning environment and personalizing it according to their own needs.

The motivation of the employees plays a particularly important role in the LXP: For you as a training manager, this means that you provide learning content for different learning types, allowing them to assemble their further training themselves. LXP also enable active participation by your employees: They can also create and upload their own content. To ensure the quality of your training, you can track the learning activities of your employees in most LXP and respond accordingly.

To enhance interaction between learners, most LXP have a chat and comment function. This allows colleagues to quickly and easily answer questions themselves without relying on you as the course leader.

However, a particularly popular feature of the Learning Experience Platform is the so-called gamification: This refers to entertainment elements that make the learning process more enjoyable (quizzes, surveys, game elements, leaderboards, etc.).

Disadvantages of the LXP

The complex LXP are often very costly and consist of extensive functions, making it quite complicated for you to create and manage courses. For the goal of participation to work, the learners also need to be well-informed about how to use the platform and motivated to participate.

LMS, LCMS, and LXP on the scales

All three types of learning platforms, LMS, LCMS, and LXP, naturally pursue the same goal: they want to implement further training in the digital space. Only the orientation and focus change. Depending on what is most important for your company and your employees, you should choose your perfect learning platform accordingly.

👉 Of course, there are also platforms that combine different types. For example, the blink.it learning platform is a combination of all 3 categories:

• LMS: comprehensive participant management, assessment of learning progress, and certificates

• LCMS: easily create and design content and courses directly on the platform

• LXP: employees as co-course creators, chat between learners and course leaders, as well as gamification elements

Thus, blink.it is an all-in-one tool that meets the needs of all parties involved: course creators, course managers, and learners. And all this with high functionality and ease of use.

Does that sound interesting to you and would you like to learn more about blink.it? Then test our platform for 30 days free of charge as LMS, LCMS, and LXP. Just click on the image below to get started!

We hope this article has provided you with some useful information. Have lots of fun and success in creating your next online courses!