Running a training function inside a large organization isn’t easy. It’s like managing a busy airport: you’ve got flights taking off and landing, crews to schedule, resources to assign, and passengers to keep safe and happy.
Now imagine doing all that without a control tower—or without a plan for where new routes should open next. That’s what many learning teams face today. They’re asked to run large-scale training programs, but they’re juggling spreadsheets, disconnected tools, and incomplete solutions.
Administrate can take care of these operational tasks, no problem. But here’s the truth: running training well also requires a different kind of system, one focused on the business of learning operations.
That’s where Cognota, the world’s first LearnOps® platform, comes in.
This blog explains why training teams need both TMS and LearnOps to succeed, why Administrate and Cognota are the two best-in-class providers, and why this partnership matters now more than ever.
What a TMS Does Best
A Training Management System (TMS) is the backbone of training logistics. Administrate was built to handle the operational complexity of enterprise-scale training programs.
With a TMS, training teams can:
- Streamline planning and scheduling with AI-powered automations.
- Identify and fix errors and conflicts.
- Package and sell training.
- Automate repetitive admin tasks.
In short, a TMS is the control tower. It ensures every session is on time, every resource is in the right place, and every learner has a smooth experience. Without a TMS, training teams drown in spreadsheets, struggle to scale, and waste precious time on manual coordination.
What LearnOps Does Best
But training logistics are only half the story.
Learning leaders also need to manage the business of learning operations:
- Intake of training requests from across the company
- Prioritization and planning
- Budgeting and capacity management
- Aligning programs with business goals
- Measuring impact and outcomes
This is where LearnOps comes in. Cognota created the first platform purpose-built to manage learning operations—just like Finance has ERP systems and Marketing has automation platforms.
If the TMS is the control tower, LearnOps is the airline’s strategy office. It decides which routes to open, how to allocate aircraft, and how to ensure every flight connects to the overall business strategy.
Without LearnOps, companies may deliver training—but they can’t show whether it’s the right training, tied to the right goals, or delivering measurable value.
And Where the LMS Fits
Of course, there’s also the Learning Management System (LMS)—the platform where learners actually consume content. The LMS is where people log in, take a course, watch a video, or complete an assessment.
So the complete ecosystem looks like this:
- TMS (Administrate): Manages the logistics and operations of running training.
- LearnOps (Cognota): Manages strategy, planning, budgeting, and measurement.
- LMS: Delivers online, self-paced training content to learners.
Each has a clear role. None replace the other.
Why Both Are Needed Together
Some providers claim to do both training management and learning operations in one platform. But when you look closer, you see the cracks:
Their scheduling tools are shallow.
Their planning features don’t connect to strategy.
Their reporting doesn’t provide meaningful business insights.
It’s the “jack of all trades, master of none” problem.
Administrate and Cognota are different. We each specialize in what we do best—and together, we cover the full spectrum.
This means training teams get:
- World-class logistics (Administrate’s TMS)
- World-class strategy and planning (Cognota’s LearnOps)
- Seamless integration with their LMS for delivery
Two platforms. Two leaders. One complete ecosystem.
Why This Matters Now
Why is this so urgent? Because the demands on learning teams have never been higher:
- Budgets are shrinking. Every dollar must be accounted for, and leaders demand ROI.
- Pace of change is accelerating. New technologies, new compliance needs, new skills—L&D must respond faster than ever.
- Impact is expected. Learning can no longer be a cost center. It must drive measurable business results.
Without strong operations systems, training teams risk being reactive, fragmented, and overlooked. With Administrate and Cognota, they can:
- Run training efficiently at scale.
- Align programs to business priorities.
- Show real value and outcomes.
It’s not just about saving time—it’s about ensuring learning has the operational backbone to thrive.
A Simple Example
Imagine you run a sports team. To succeed, you need:
- A game schedule (TMS): when and where matches happen.
- A front office strategy (LearnOps): who to draft, how to spend the budget, how to align to long-term goals.
- A stadium (LMS): where the games are played.
You wouldn’t expect one tool to cover all of that. You need specialized systems that work together. That’s exactly what Administrate and Cognota provide.
Why Administrate + Cognota Are Best in Class
Both companies bring deep expertise:
Administrate (TMS):
- Proven at scaling complex training operations globally.
- Designed to eliminate manual admin and streamline logistics.
- Trusted by some of the world’s most demanding enterprise training teams.
Cognota (LearnOps):
- Pioneered the LearnOps® category.
- Helps L&D plan, budget, and measure learning like any other business function.
- Built to elevate learning teams from reactive to strategic.
Together, Administrate and Cognota give learning leaders clarity, control, and confidence.
Why Other Solutions Fall Short
Let’s be direct: many vendors blur the lines between TMS and LearnOps. They say they offer both, but usually it’s:
- A TMS with weak planning features.
- Or an LMS with some scheduling bolted on.
- Or an “all-in-one” tool that underdelivers on everything.
The result? Frustrated training teams, wasted budgets, and systems that don’t scale.
Only Administrate and Cognota, working side by side, deliver a complete and uncompromised solution.
The Bottom Line
Running a training function without both a TMS and LearnOps is like flying without a control tower or a strategy office. You might get some planes in the air, but you won’t scale, you won’t optimize, and you won’t prove value.
That’s why Administrate and Cognota partnered. Not as a single platform—but as two best-in-class platforms that belong together.
Together, we provide the clarity and power training teams need now:
- TMS to run training logistics.
- LearnOps to manage learning operations.
- LMS to deliver learning content.
No shortcuts. No watered-down features. Just the right systems for the right jobs, working together.
Because learning deserves the same rigor and operational excellence as every other business function. And with Administrate and Cognota, now it finally has it.
