If you’re exploring systems to support your training business, you’ve probably come across two acronyms again and again: LMS (Learning Management System) and TMS (Training Management System). At first glance, they sound similar - both help you manage training. But the reality is that they’re designed for very different purposes.
Many training providers we speak to tell us they assumed their LMS would cover everything, only to discover gaps when it comes to managing trainers, resources, finance, and customer relationships. To help you make sense of the differences, we’ve broken down how each system works, where they overlap, and why one might suit your organisation better than the other.
A Learning Management System is primarily built to deliver online learning. Its roots are in eLearning, and most are designed to:
Host and deliver digital learning content (such as SCORM or xAPI modules)
Track learner progress and completions
Manage assessments, quizzes, and certification
Provide learners with a personal portal to access content
Many LMS platforms now extend beyond this core and include extras like e-commerce, reporting, or even virtual classroom integrations. But their focus remains on content delivery and learner experience.
A Training Management System is designed not just for learning delivery, but for running the entire training operation. That includes both online and in-person learning, plus all the business-critical processes that surround training delivery:
Scheduling trainers, rooms, and resources
Handling bookings, payments, and group discounts
Managing corporate clients and accounts (CRM)
Tracking profitability and finance
Automating communications, surveys, and workflows
Think of a TMS as the operational hub of a training business, whereas an LMS is the delivery engine for eLearning content.
Here’s where it becomes clearer. While there is overlap - and some LMSs do include features like certificate generation or surveys - there’s a sharp difference in depth.
| Functionality | Typical LMS | Training Management System/TMS (e.g. accessplanit) |
|---|---|---|
| Online course delivery | ✅ Strong for eLearning (SCORM, xAPI, LTI support) | ✅ Full support for eLearning, plus integration with other delivery tools |
| In-person course delivery | ⚠️ Sometimes via ILT add-ons, but not core | ✅ Built-in support for classroom, blended, and virtual courses |
| Delegate management | ⚠️ Learner enrolments, profiles, progress tracking | ✅ Full delegate records including bookings, history, communications |
| Trainer management | ⚠️ Basic ILT scheduling tools (varies by LMS) | ✅ Trainer portals with schedules, availability, tasks, permissions |
| Resource scheduling | ❌ Rarely included | ✅ Manage rooms, equipment, materials, vehicles, and resources |
| Course booking & payments | ⚠️ Some e-commerce/self-enrolment | ✅ Online booking, payment gateways, discounts, invoicing |
| Self-service portals | ✅ Learner portals standard | ✅ Learners, trainers, and client portals with custom permissions |
| Customer management (CRM) | ❌ Not usually included | ✅ Built-in CRM for clients, accounts, leads, opportunities |
| Finance & invoicing | ⚠️ Reports on usage and completion | ✅ Invoicing, profitability, cost tracking, finance integrations |
| Reporting & dashboards | ✅ Learning data (progress, completions, assessments) | ✅ Operational + financial reporting (profitability, compliance, KPIs) |
| Workflows & automation | ⚠️ Notifications, reminders, certificates | ✅ Full automation: comms, surveys, approvals, certificates |
| Compliance & accreditations | ✅ Track completions, generate certificates | ✅ CPD points, audit trails, accreditations, expiry reminders |
| Customisation | ⚠️ Branding, fields, roles, reports (varies) | ✅ Deep configuration: fields, workflows, permissions, dashboards |
| Surveys & feedback | ✅ Post-course evaluations common | ✅ Pre-course, in-course, and post-course feedback |
| Document management | ✅ Store course materials, certificates | ✅ Document library + auto-generation (joining instructions, registers, certs) |
| Calendar & scheduling | ⚠️ Learner calendars, sometimes ILT scheduling | ✅ Central scheduling across trainers, delegates, resources, venues |
| Marketing tools | ❌ Rare in LMS (needs integrations) | ✅ Campaigns, targeted comms, CRM-driven insights |
| Integrations | ✅ Strong on eLearning standards (SCORM, xAPI, LTI) | ✅ Wider: finance, HR, CRM, virtual classrooms, open API |
| Accreditation body requirements | ⚠️ Export reports for audit | ✅ Automated submissions, workflows, audit-ready reports |
| Customer communication | ✅ Notifications, reminders, announcements | ✅ Branded, automated comms tailored by course, role, or client |
| Group bookings | ⚠️ Possible via admin processes | ✅ Bulk bookings, corporate accounts, group discounts |
| Resource conflict management | ❌ Not a focus | ✅ Real-time conflict checks for trainers, venues, and equipment |
| Profitability insights | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Profitability tracking at course, trainer, and client level |
| Customer portal for organisations | ❌ Uncommon | ✅ Corporate portals for booking, delegate management, tracking |
| Scalability | ✅ Scales well for large learner bases | ✅ Scales for high-volume bookings, multiple sites, complex operations |
There are some areas where both systems do a good job:
Online learning delivery: LMSs are purpose-built for this, but a TMS can also deliver eLearning alongside classroom or blended training.
Certificates and compliance: Both can generate certificates and track completions, though a TMS usually extends to CPD tracking, audit trails, and accreditations.
Learner communication: Both send notifications, reminders, and course updates, though a TMS adds customisation and branding.
Reporting: Both report on course progress, but LMS reporting is usually learner-centric while TMS reporting is broader (including financials and operations).
The real difference between an LMS and a TMS becomes clear when you look at the complexity of running a training business day to day. Delivering learning content online is relatively straightforward compared to managing the moving parts of in-person and blended training.
For example, training providers often need to juggle:
Multiple trainers, each with their own availability, qualifications, and workloads.
Resources and venues, from classrooms to equipment, where double-booking is a constant risk.
Client accounts and account groups, where organisations want oversight of bookings, delegate progress, and finance.
Corporate discounts, contracts, and invoicing, which need to be applied consistently across accounts.
Compliance requirements, such as CPD tracking, audit trails, and accreditation body reporting.
These layers of complexity quickly become unmanageable with spreadsheets, emails, or even an LMS that wasn’t designed for the task. The result? Admin overload, human error, and missed opportunities to deliver a seamless experience for clients and delegates.
This is where a TMS (and specifically accessplanit 😉) changes the game. Instead of piecing together multiple systems, accessplanit brings everything into one platform. That means:
Trainers manage their schedules, tasks, and courses through a dedicated Trainer Portal.
Clients book training and track delegates via a Customer Portal, with permissions tailored to their needs.
Administrators can allocate venues, equipment, and trainers without fear of clashes thanks to real-time conflict management.
Finance teams get full visibility over margins, costs, and profitability, all integrated with existing accounting tools.
Compliance becomes straightforward, with automated reminders, certificate generation, and audit-ready reporting.
The gap widens not because an LMS is “bad”, but because it wasn’t designed for the operational reality of training businesses. A TMS like accessplanit is built for that very reality - handling the messy, moving, multi-stakeholder nature of training delivery at scale.
Some organisations do choose to use both systems:
An LMS for delivering and tracking eLearning.
A TMS for running the commercial and operational side of the training business.
For many training providers, however, a TMS alone can replace the need for an LMS, since it handles both online and in-person delivery.
If you're a small organisation that delivers training exclusively online, then an LMS might just cover most of what you need. But if you:
Run classroom or blended courses,
Manage trainers, resources, and venues,
Handle bookings, payments, and group discounts,
Need to track profitability and client relationships,
…then a TMS is the better fit.
The acronyms might be similar, but the systems aren’t interchangeable. An LMS is a powerful tool for delivering online learning. A TMS is a powerful tool for managing a training business. Knowing the difference - and being honest about what your organisation needs - is the first step to choosing the right platform.
If you’d like to see how a training management system works in practice, you can book a demo of accessplanit and see how it could streamline your training operations.
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