Compliance e-learning is no longer seen as a sheep dip solution for staff compliance.
Companies want to use every training intervention as an opportunity to engage with employees. They want the content to reflect the real world in which their employees operate and the real risks and dilemmas they face. This is sometimes just not possible with off-the-shelf courses.
Depending on your aims and circumstances, you can opt for off-the-shelf (OTS) courses, ask a provider to come up with custom e-learning solutions for your business, or a hybrid combination of the two.
Off-the-shelf digital training content
Some e-learning courses can be bought ready to use with little need for customisation. Perhaps they only need your company logo adding, and not much else.
Advantages of off-the-shelf digital training content
If off-the-shelf gives you everything you need, why not? It will be cheaper and less risky because you can see the end product
Courses can be rolled out immediately with little or no setup time
You're usually able to customise with company branding
Ideal for topics that are fairly universal, such as health and safety training or GDPR
Disadvantages of off-the-shelf digital training content
Not tailored to the specific needs of your business
Your employees may fail to connect to content that isn't specific to your business operations
Custom e-learning content
These are either heavily customised or built from scratch. This process can take from a few days' preparation to several months before being ready.
Advantages of custom e-learning training content
Ability to tailor every aspect of the course, so you can create personalised and relevant content that engages staff
Can be aligned to your business's unique training objectives and needs
Just like that tasty gourmet meal, it's a richer experience with opportunities to select rarities. You can focus on details that really matter to your company or business area. And hopefully you can delight and tempt lucky recipients (learners) to try something new (whether that be ideas, initiatives, or best practices)
Usually easy to adapt, update, and revise when necessary
Ideal if you have a specialised approach to a topic, want to share internal knowledge or best practices firm-wide, or want to tackle myths or preconceptions that are common in your business or organisation – such as situations where off-the-shelf just won't cut it
Disadvantages of custom e-learning training content
Usually involves higher upfront costs
Takes longer to get setup and running
Requires you to invest time to find internal experts and an external partner to create the most effective solution for your needs
Inherently more risky because you don't know what you could end up with
Hybrid eLearning training solutions
Want a solution that offers more personalised and relevant content for your staff, but don’t want to invest in a completely custom solution? Well, there is a middle ground.
Some e-learning providers will allow you to tailor OTS modules which can give you a head start. You'll be able add your brand logo and colours so that it blends in with the rest of your compliance training, but there may also be more scope to incorporate your content.
For example, you might add a custom module to it, tailor the content to reflect regulations where you are, or adapt scenarios to fit your own working practices.
How to choose your e-learning training solution
There's no right or wrong option. It all depends on your aims, individual circumstances and – to a lesser extent – personal choice. In reality, most organisations use a combination of off-the-shelf and custom types for different things.
Factors to consider
Budget
Timescale – how soon do you need it?
Learning objectives
Topic – generic or firm-specific?
Availability of internal subject matter experts
If you do invest in an off-the-shelf training course, it’s important to choose one that allows you to tailor certain elements. For example, matching it to the look, feel, and tone of your company, or adding examples that make it more relevant to your staff.
Key questions to ask your solution provider
If you opt for a custom solution, there are some important questions (besides costs) to bear in mind when finding the right partner:
How long does it take to deliver a custom solution?
What does the process involve?
Do you have the relevant subject matter expertise?
Have you worked on similar projects with other clients? If so, ask to see examples.
What is your track record – what are their clients saying about them?
Will features like diagnostic reporting be built in as standard?
Sketch out your ideas and consider your own intentions and needs.
Shop around. Reach out to likely partners and arrange a demo. It's an important decision so you need to take some time to find the best fit for you.