What is an LCMS?

LCMS, LMS, CMS… What’s the difference?

LCMS, LMS, CMS

A next-gen LCMS can manage the entire content lifecycle

A learning content management system (LCMS) — also known as a component content management system (CCMS) — is a platform that integrates authoring, delivery, publishing, and analysis of content in a multi-user environment.
In our LCMS definition, it provides content professionals with a way to manage their content and collaborate in one centralized location.
While the primary function of a learning management system (LMS) is to administer, assign, track, and access formal learning content, it is not designed to create or manage content assets. Content lives solely inside of an LMS and any content updates or changes are managed outside of the system. The primary focus of an LMS is delivering training and managing courses.
Although a content management system (CMS) has similar features, only the ‘L’ in LCMS provides the learning mechanism possible for content professionals and subject-matter experts to create learning activities, collaborate, and reuse learning assets more efficiently. A CMS does not handle SCORM-compliant courses, reusability, or accommodate learning interactions.
Only an LCMS can manage the full content lifecycle, from authoring and publishing to delivery and analysis.

Key features of an LCMS

Centralized content management
A single-source centralized content repository eliminates content silos and maintenance headaches. Unlike other tools, an LCMS platform provides authors with the ability to create, store, and search libraries of content all in one location. From searching a keyword in a course, to jumping to a specific page — searching across the content landscape doesn’t require logging into an LMS or hunting around in multiple systems. Centralization and searchability allow for specific information to be found quickly and at the point of need. Authors can search libraries for existing chunks of knowledge of any size, from a module to a table in a paragraph. Built-in reporting allows authors to see exactly where each piece of content has been used (and reused). Powerful metadata tagging also allows authors to track their content lifecycle. With the ability to tag properties at the element level (paragraph, image, question table, etc.), data is provided on the most granular level, from who authored a particular piece of content, to when it was last modified, expired dates, and more.
  • Single-source content creation
  • Searchable media and document libraries
  • Microlearning object repository
Multi-format publishing
Separation of content from presentation
Rapid authoring and reusability
Simplified personalization
Learning interactions and assessments
Collaborative authoring and workflow reviews
Integration with other tools
Translation localization integrations
Comprehensive learner analytics

Modern organizations use a variety of technology tools to help tackle their content management problems. Content management systems (CMSs) act as a content warehouse, while learning management systems (LMSs) provide a vehicle to deliver learning content to multiple audiences.

But only learning content management systems (LCMSs) bring the entire learning content management lifecycle together, streamlining content authoring, publishing, delivery, and analysis to provide a comprehensive tool for modern learning organizations. Dive deeper into the differences between an LMS vs. LCMS.

Learn more about how Xyleme’s next generation learning content management system (LCMS) empowers content professionals to revolutionize the way learning content is both created and delivered.

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