When it comes to academic publishing, Open Journal Systems (OJS) has long been the go-to solution for managing scholarly journals. Indeed, with its powerful tools for submission management, peer review, and publication, Universities, research institutes, and publishers worldwide widely adopt OJS. However, when it comes to choosing the right conference platform, many institutions ask: Is OJS suitable for managing conferences, or is a dedicated conference platform like Leconfe the better choice?
Table of Contents
OJS vs Conference Platforms: Understanding the Difference
OJS was developed to support journal publishing workflows. In particular, its features are designed for:
- Manuscript submission and review.
- Editorial decision-making.
- Continuous or issue-based publishing.
- Long-term archiving and indexing of journal articles.
Therefore, OJS excels in building sustainable journal ecosystems. On the other hand, it may not fully cover the unique needs of academic conferences, which often involve shorter timelines, structured sessions, and interactive participation.
Why a Dedicated Tool Works Better for Conferences
While OJS can be adapted in some ways for conference use, nevertheless, there are several challenges:
1. Scheduling Limitations – Conferences require tools for session planning, panel arrangements, and time-bound programs, which OJS does not natively support.
2. Registration and Payment – Unlike journals, conferences involve participant registration, fees, and ticketing. As a result, OJS lacks built-in registration workflows.
3. Presentation Management – Conferences need features for assigning papers to sessions, managing oral/poster presentations, and publishing proceedings seamlessly. Consequently, this is difficult to achieve with OJS.
4. User Experience – Conference participants (authors, reviewers, and attendees) expect a streamlined, event-focused interface, not just a journal-style submission portal.
These gaps make OJS less than ideal as a dedicated conference management system.
Why a Dedicated Tool Works Better for Conferences
This is where specialized conference platforms come in. Unlike OJS, these systems are built specifically for events, offering:
- Abstract and full paper submission.
- Peer review tailored to conference workflows.
- Session scheduling and program management.
- Registration and payment integration.
- Proceedings publication in one place.
As a result, such features ensure smoother management for organizers and a better experience for participants.
Leconfe: The Best Conference Platform for Academic Events
Among various options, Leconfe stands out as the best academic event platform for researchers and institutions. Built with the needs of academic communities in mind, Leconfe provides:
- A simple submission process for abstracts and papers.
- Transparent peer review and editorial workflows.
- Built-in registration and secure payment options.
- Dynamic conference scheduling and program visibility.
- One-click publishing of conference proceedings.
Unlike OJS, which is primarily journal-oriented, Leconfe is designed from the ground up for conferences. This makes it the best choice for universities, research centers, and organizers who want a platform that blends academic standards with user friendly technology.
Essential Features for Successful Academic Conferences
While OJS is powerful for journal management, here are key features that only a dedicated conference platform like Leconfe offers:
- End-to-end event scheduling.
- Integrated participant registration.
- Real-time program updates.
- Customizable conference landing pages.
Conclusion
While OJS remains the gold standard for journals, it is not the most effective tool for conference management. In fact, academic events require unique workflows and tools that go beyond the scope of journal publishing. Therefore, for institutions looking to host successful, professional, and streamlined conferences, Leconfe is the best platform to meet these needs.
As Openjournaltheme and Leconfe are part of the same company, if you need installation services for Leconfe, you can easily access them here:
👉 Conference Installation Service
