Why Custom eLearning Software Is Better Than Ready-Made
Nowadays, eLearning offers many advantages, including flexibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, as the world becomes more virtual by the second. Students and professionals can now learn at their own pace and convenience from anywhere in the world.
Thanks to the growing demand for online education, elearning development companies have experienced a remarkable rise. As a result, various tech solutions and approaches have become available.
Why Ready-Made?
A ready-made solution is a concept that boils down to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Vendors typically offer this kind of tech solution as a finished product to numerous clients.
These days, elearning companies prefer to go for ready-made elearning solutions. There are some vital reasons for that.
Ready-Made Solutions SWOT Analysis
Firstly, off-the-shelf platforms offer a range of advantages that can save you time and effort.
Secondly, quick implementation is one of the biggest perks. No need to spend hours trying to reinvent the wheel. Everything is already set up and waiting for you, like a laid-out buffet.
Thirdly, let’s not forget about cost-effectiveness. Ready-made solutions help businesses skip all the tedious hassle and save some money.
All in all, ready-made eLearning solutions offer a pocket-friendly way to get started. No wonder businesses consider them a trusted sidekick in the elearning world.
Yet, there is a major downside. They are designed to cater to a wide range of users, which means they’re pretty generic. They don’t take into consideration your specific needs, goals, or vision. It’s like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole – it just doesn’t work.
What’s more, ready-made solutions often come with restrictions on functionality. Sure, they have all the basic features you need, but what if you want to add something extra? That’s where customization comes in handy.
Customization: Daunting But Worthwhile
Every company has a unique set of requirements based on its business model, projects, organizational culture, and finances. Customization takes all these into account.
Yet, creating LMS/LXP from scratch may seem like an uphill battle.
Let’s see why it makes businesses feel this way.
Resistance to Change
Change can be a bitter pill to swallow. Elearning companies are accustomed to their existing systems, which may not be cutting-edge, but are still infallible.
However, we live in a rapidly evolving world. By resisting change, they are missing out on countless opportunities to innovate, adapt, and stay ahead of the game.
The Fear of the Unknown
Resistance to change goes hand in hand with the fear of the unknown. Companies are comfortable within their familiar territory and stepping into uncharted waters might simply scare them.
Risk of Failure
On top of that, there’s a fear of failure and reluctance to take risks, especially if a common approach works fine.
There are also factors that can be seen as potential threats. For example, dependence on a development team. But if you choose a trustworthy vendor, you won’t be bothered by that.
Thus, development from zero is challenging. But efforts usually pay off, allowing companies to build a unique brand identity and stay ahead in the market.
Сhallenges can become easier with an adaptive approach to customer needs and by investing in research and development, collaborating with experts, and utilizing existing resources.
7 Reasons to Consider Customization
Better User Experience
Customization allows elearning companies to cater to the unique needs of individual learners. We all learn differently. Some of us are visual learners who benefit from captivating graphics and videos. Others prefer the written word to soak up information.
According to Gartner, organizations that focus their personalized messaging around helping consumers can expect 16% more impact on commercial outcomes than those that don’t.
Enhancing Retention Rates
Keeping users engaged, customization boosts retention rates. When content is personalized and interactive, learners feel connected and more invested in their education.
Personalization goes beyond just content. It extends to the navigation, user interface, and assessment tools.
According to McKinsey, the shift to more interactive and diverse learning models will likely continue. The pandemic pushed the need for a new learning experience online. So, it’s high time to take advantage of that.
Aligning with Branding
When LMS matches the company’s branding, it creates a seamless user experience. It’s all about staying consistent and maintaining that brand identity.
Competitive Advantage
By investing in development from scratch, you can create LMS/ LXP that is unique. Innovative solutions will stand out from other eLearning companies’ products. This can give you a competitive advantage in the market and help you attract more clients.
Integration with Existing Systems
Customization allows for integration with existing systems. By customizing an elearning solution, you can ensure that it integrates smoothly with the existing systems utilized by the company. It’s like the pieces of a puzzle fitting together perfectly.
Better Support
With a ready-made solution, you may have to rely on the vendor for support. With development from scratch or customization, you have more control over LMS and can provide better support to your clients.
Flexibility
Development from scratch or customization allows you to have more control over the LMS/ LXP and make changes as needed. A big advantage is that you can customize your platform at any moment.
Custom Solutions SWOT Analysis
Reassuring Examples
Now let’s take a look at some real-life examples of eLearning companies that have embraced development from zero.
- LearnItAll is a start-up that began with a small team and a big vision. They decided to challenge the traditional methods of elearning to create innovative and engaging content. LearnItAll not only unleashed their creativity and innovation but also built a unique brand identity that resonated with learners.
- KnowledgeNow is an established elearning company that decided to adapt to evolving customer needs and start from scratch. They understood that to stay ahead in the market, they needed to constantly evolve and offer fresh content.
- As a result, KnowledgeNow was able to create cutting-edge courses and go ahead of the competition.
- EduMaster is a company that invested in research and development. They collaborated with industry experts to continuously improve their offerings. Using an interactive and agile approach, EduMaster was able to refine their content, making it more relevant and engaging for learners.
- And, of course, there are some custom eLearning platforms and solutions created by our team that we are truly proud of.
These examples show that creating a successful LMS from scratch is not some kind of pipe dream but a very real goal. It’s a path paved with challenges, but the potential rewards are truly worth it.
Is There a Middle Ground?
Both custom and off-the-shelf solutions have their weak spots. Custom software can take a year to build, while off-the-shelf solutions aren’t tailored for specific requirements.
We built the Aristek eLearning Ecosystem to get the best of both worlds.
On one hand, this is a completely ready platform. The LMS has a teacher & student suites, content builder, analytics, and everything else an LMS needs.
On the other, we provide full customization. Any feature or integration you need, we can make it happen. We can even rebuild the ecosystem with a different tech stack. Our framework will help us develop fully custom EdTech software, but much faster.
Whether you need fully custom software, or Aristek eLearning, Aristek Systems will be glad to help you. We have plenty of successful projects under our belt and are happy to share our expertise. For more information, get in touch with us.
