Choosing between a standard platform and a custom solution is rarely an obvious decision. We have developed our own platform and therefore have experience from both perspectives. We know what opportunities a tailored solution gives, but also what investments it requires in development, maintenance and operations. That is why there are situations where we actually recommend a standard platform. This guide helps you decide which path fits best.
Buy standard when the need is standard
For training in areas such as compliance, onboarding or internal skills development, there are many well-developed LMS platforms. The needs are often similar and the features proven. In those cases it is rarely justified to build your own solution.
When you evaluate different options, the focus should be on how well the platforms support your most important workflows in practice. Features on a list say less than how the solution actually works for administrators, training producers and participants.
Build when learning is part of the offering
If training is part of your business — for example through a customer academy, certifications or training integrated into a digital service — a standard platform can quickly become limiting. The same applies if you have unique workflows, extensive integration needs or high requirements for design and user experience.
In such situations a custom solution can create competitive advantages that are hard to achieve with a standard platform.
The middle path: compose
For many organisations the choice is no longer either buy or build. A composable setup combines established components for, for example, video management, identity, learning data and integrations with a custom-built user experience.
Standards such as xAPI, cmi5 and LTI make it possible to replace individual parts over time without having to replace the whole solution. Regardless of which path you choose, it is wise to ensure that you own both your content and your data. That gives greater freedom if needs change in the future.
Count the full cost
A standard platform often means a lower initial investment, but costs grow gradually through licences, user fees, implementation, customisations and add-on features.
A custom solution, on the other hand, requires a larger investment from the start. At the same time, development is only one part of the total cost. Maintenance, operations, security and further development are at least as important to factor in.
To make a well-founded decision, the comparison should be made over at least five years, not only based on the cost in the first year.
Seven questions before you decide
1. Is learning an internal support process or part of your offering? 2. Which workflows are business-critical and must work really well? 3. Which systems does the platform need to integrate with? 4. Who owns the content and the learning data if you choose to switch platforms? 5. What does the total cost look like over the next five years? 6. Do you yourselves, or a partner, have the capacity to maintain and further develop the solution? 7. What do the people who use the platform every day think about the experience?
We help on both sides: requirements and procurement of a standard platform, or design and development of a custom solution — and we say honestly which path we believe in for you. Get in touch and we can talk it through without preconceived conclusions.