There are two different trackers to track your application. One is called
ECAS (now it is called old ECAS) as it appears only paper applicants have access to it, there you could see when your application had been received "Application received", when your application went in to "In Process" this is when they have actually started processing your application by initiating the BG check (criminality / security) and your file is transferred to your local office, when documents like fingerprints were requested (if the applicant actually needed to submit them, not all applicants are required to do go through this step), Test Invite, and when your application went into "Decision Made".
It appears that online applicants only have access to the new
Dashboard where your application will appeared to be In Progress from the moment your file is created (AOR) in the system until your application is closed.
Therefore the meaning from the ECAS "in process" is completely different than the new Dashboard "In Progress. Does this help answering your question?