One area of software that’s experiencing an enormous boom in recent years is that of learning management software (LMS), also known as learning management integration software. These software systems are built to help educate, instruct, and organize students at the university level all the way down to kindergarten, based on the software and the target audience. Learning management software is a cloud-based solution that offers students much of what they need to learn remotely when away from the classroom or enhance learning while within the classroom, and it’s helped education move into the modern era.
Another type of software system that’s been on the rise is document management software. Document management systems (DMSs) are built primarily to do exactly what their name suggests—manage digital documents effectively through a cloud-based system so that businesses, individuals, and organizations (including universities) can be better organized, more efficient, and more effective.
Learning management software and document management systems share a great deal of similarities, but they’re also distinct in some key areas that make choosing between them an important decision. In this article, we’ll address the tools and features offered by both solutions, how they compare, and how they stand apart. Ultimately, this article will help you to effectively decide which tool is most effective for your given situation.
LMS and DMS: Similarities
First, let’s address the ways in which our two target systems are similar. On a basic level, the root of both software systems is the storage and presentation of information. Users load content into a database, and users then access that information—whether it’s lessons, tutorials, or text documents.
Both systems are mainly cloud-based solutions, meaning they’re built to function and store information online, which allows users the flexibility of accessing their critical information from any device at any time. In the modern era, this is a make-or-break feature for many software solutions, and the days of being tied to a single computer where information is stored are long over.
Both LMS and DMS also offer their own tools in order to help users learn to use them effectively. In LMS, this takes the form of tutorials and lessons. In DMS, those features are integrated into the workflow of the system. Essentially, both systems can be used to help users learn any range of information effectively, allowing them to thrive and progress through the use of the software.
LMS and DMS: Differences
While DMS and LMS share several similar traits, they also differ in key areas that make them each highly distinct and catered to different uses. First, let’s take a look at learning management integration software.
LMS is a powerful tool for students of all ages. Universities can use this software to upload notes, lessons, and even entire courses so that students can access them from the cloud. Students can access practice problems, complete assessments, and receive scores based on their work.
That said, LMS is geared toward students almost to a fault—it offers little in the way of administrative tools to assist and empower faculty and staff through the use of the software. The walls and parameters inherently present in a highly student-focused software can be restrictive to administrators, employees, and even alumni who need more powerful and more diverse features to meet their far-reaching needs.
This is where a DMS can be more effective across the board for universities—particularly large, public universities with a high number of administrators, employees, and students. While an LMS offers some effective, targeted features, a DMS can offer a diverse range of powerful features that meet a wider spectrum of needs and satisfies a wider spectrum of users.
For example, DMS software offers opportunities for high-level encryption of secure documents so that sensitive information can remain safe and private. Additionally, multiple backups are stored in the cloud so that high-value information is never lost in physical or digital disasters. That way, employee and student information is kept safe.
Beyond encryption security measures, DMS software also offers the ability to select levels of clearance for various users, allowing administrators to dictate who can access information and who can edit that information. They’ll also be able to see a history of each and every document—who made changes, what changes were made, and when those changes took place.
Conclusion
Though LMS software offers some effective features for students, a document management system is overall a more powerful and robust tool that enables universities to tackle a wider range of needs and increase efficiency for students and employees alike.
In order to find out more how a DMS can transform the effectiveness of your university or organization, fill out the form on this page to receive a free 15-minute demo of eFileCabinet’s powerful document management system.