Open Journal Systems (OJS) is widely adopted in academia for journal management and publishing. Developed by the Public Knowledge Project, OJS has become a cornerstone in the academic publishing world, particularly for institutions and small publishers aiming to make open access publishing more accessible. However, while some may attempt to repurpose OJS for academic conferences, the platform lacks many critical features needed for efficient conference management. In this article, we will explore why OJS is not the best solution for conferences and how purpose-built platforms like Leconfe are better suited for handling the complexity of conference workflows.
OJS is designed for journals, not conference
OJS was created specifically for managing and publishing journal articles. Conferences, on the other hand, are events that involve numerous moving parts—such as organizing sessions, managing schedules, handling participant registrations. OJS simply lacks the tools required to manage these dynamic elements. While OJS is excellent for handling the lifecycle of academic papers, from submission to peer review to publication, but doesn’t support features for creating event agendas, organizing keynote speakers, and scheduling parallel events. With Leconfe, you can seamlessly manage the entire conference workflow—from creating detailed Scheduled Conference to Publishing Proceeding Paper. Leconfe offers a flexible platform where conference organizers can easily handle various needs, such as managing multiple conference, handle submission workflows, manage participants registration, publish proceedings, and archiving scheduled conference. This ensures a smooth, cohesive conference experience for both organizers and attendees.
No support for scheduled conference websites
One of the biggest needs in conference management is the ability to create and manage a scheduled conference website for each iteration of the conference. These websites provide a centralized hub for attendees to view event schedules, speaker information, registration, etc. Conferences, unlike journals, often happen annually or biennially, and each event may require its own dedicated website with updated branding, speaker lineups, and agenda. With Leconfe, you can effortlessly create and customize unique conference websites for each scheduled conference, complete with tailored designs. This ensures that attendees have access to the most current information, fostering engagement and excitement before, during, and after the conference. Plus, Leconfe allows you to manage all aspects of the website, from content updates to registration forms, making it a comprehensive solution for conference organizers.
Complex participant management and registration
Unlike journals, conferences need to handle event with various types of participants—presenters, attendees, spakers, sponsors, and more. OJS does not offer a way to manage all of that, which is a core aspect of conferences. Conferences often offer different registration types (early bird, regular, student, etc.) with varying fees and access levels. OJS provides no mechanism to create, manage, or process these tiered registrations. With Leconfe, you can efficiently manage participant registration, offering customized registration types with flexible pricing options, such as early bird rates, student discounts, or premium passes.
Proceedings publication as a secondary task
For a journal, the end goal is to publish research articles. Conferences, however, focus on live presentations, with proceedings being published after the event. OJS, centered on continuous publishing workflows, doesn’t align well with the one-time nature of a conference.
Leconfe allows organizers to run the event smoothly, while also providing options to collect and publish proceedings after the fact. This enables a more efficient, organized workflow that prioritizes the event but still facilitates the publication of research outputs when the conference concludes.
Inadequate sponsorship management
Sponsorship plays a vital role in many academic conferences, with sponsors providing financial support and adding value through booths, presentations, and branded sessions. OJS does not have built-in tools for managing sponsors, promoting their presence.
Leconfe include features that allow sponsorship management, giving sponsors visibility throughout the event. This makes it easy for sponsors to engage with participants, which is crucial for the success of a sponsored conference.
Conclusion
While OJS is excellent for managing scholarly journals, its design and feature set make it unsuitable for academic conferences, which require robust tools for participant management, event logistics, submission workflows, and interactive elements. Choosing a platform built specifically for conferences ensures that organizers/publisher have the flexibility to deliver a smooth, engaging experience for conferences.