For Learning and Development (L&D) Directors, building an effective elearning library goes beyond selecting a set of courses.
It’s about finding a content provider that offers clear, accessible, and flexible solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of your organisation.
Here are the essential factors to consider that can simplify your decision and ensure your investment aligns with your long-term learning goals.
Make sure what you are paying for is key – that top line figure of thousands of resources might be packed full of PDF files, PNG and Infographics – does that really reflect the price per user you are paying?
Keep Pricing Simple and Transparent
One of the biggest barriers to buying learning content is complex pricing.
If a provider’s model isn’t straightforward, it makes it difficult to budget effectively and fully understand what you’re paying for.
Ideally, a provider’s pricing should be clear, scalable, and flexible enough to adapt as your needs grow.
Do you really want to be involved in a complex pricing model? Number of people x number of seats x number of courses? There might be a nice corporate party, tickets or dinners – but who pays for this – it’s built into your end price!
- Scalability is Key: As your organisation grows, so should your elearning library. Avoid pricing models that become prohibitive as you add users or courses. Instead, choose models that are easy to understand and navigate, enabling you to manage costs without surprises.
- Balance Cost and Value: Avoid providers that push you into a rigid, all-or-nothing structure that may exceed your budget or leave you with unused content. Ask: “Is this model flexible if our needs change?”
A provider that lets you scale your investment gradually, as needed, is invaluable.
The goal is simple: a pricing model you can understand, that scales with your team, and lets you focus on the value of learning content rather than deciphering costs.
How do you get the content?
Access to the content isn’t just about obtaining files. It’s about a seamless experience where your team can easily retrieve, integrate, and update content.
In many cases, high-quality content comes with technical barriers that hinder deployment.
- Smooth Integration is Essential: Ensure your provider’s content is compatible with your LMS standards (like SCORM or xAPI) to avoid delays in deployment. A smooth integration not only saves time but also ensures that your team can readily access content where and when it’s needed.
- Accessible Metadata and Thumbnails: Supporting materials, like thumbnails and metadata, should be readily available. You don’t want to be waiting for months.
Files, data – consistency makes it easier to incorporate content into your system. Find out how you get files, it should be easy.
Easy access to content and supporting materials is essential for rapid deployment and minimal disruption to your operations.
Do a test. Get some content and upload it to your platform. Avoid NDA contracts at this stage – the content is already in the public domain, you should need an NDA for testing some files.
Preview Content Thoroughly
When reviewing elearning libraries, don’t just rely on a few showcase courses. While providers may guide you toward their “best” examples, you need a comprehensive view to ensure consistent quality and alignment with your goals.
- Review a Range of Content: Dive beyond a few samples and take time to explore content across multiple categories or departments.
For example, a compliance course might need to engage non-technical staff as well as IT professionals, or a leadership module should appeal to various management levels. This ensures that quality spans across all your needs.
- Understand the Format Variety: The best libraries offer a mix of formats like videos, quizzes, infographics, and interactive modules. A variety of content types engages different learning preferences and reinforces objectives effectively.
Choosing the right provider isn’t just about high-quality content but about content that fits your organisation’s learning culture and goals.
Smart Budgeting: Avoid the All-or-Nothing Trap
A flexible approach to budgeting can help you meet your learning needs without being tied to a single library or a static selection of courses. While a comprehensive library may seem appealing, there’s no point in paying for access to content that you don’t actually use.
- Consider a Blend of Library and Custom Content: For many L&D teams, a combination of custom and off-the-shelf content is the ideal mix. Custom content can be specifically tailored to your unique organizational needs, while off-the-shelf courses are more quickly accessible and often cost-effective.
- Leave Room for Future Needs: Avoid spending your entire budget upfront on one provider, especially if your team’s learning needs could evolve. Instead, leave some budget unallocated to allow for flexibility as new training demands emerge.
Smart budgeting means not locking into a rigid all-or-nothing model but maintaining flexibility to adjust as new needs arise.
Avoid Overpaying for What You Don’t Need
It’s tempting to sign up for a large library with hundreds of courses, but if much of it goes unused, you’re likely to be overpaying.
The goal is to find the right balance between access and budget. Check that you are not paying for a load of PDF, infographics and podcasts that your researchers could get for free.
- Evaluate Specific Needs Carefully: Don’t just choose the largest library available; focus on content that directly benefits your team.
Providers often offer demo access, so use this to curate a targeted list before you commit.
Work out what you need. The provider might provide learning pathways, but are they what you need? Do you need a one hour toolbox talk on how to lift a box?
- Flexible Options: Some teams may need only high-level summaries, while others require in-depth training, making modular content an efficient solution. Work out what you can get.
The most effective library is one that balances budget, breadth, and relevance. A targeted approach can save resources and improve content ROI.
Do you know what your ROI is? Speak to your finance director. Check out the numbers see what the total cost of investment is?
Know Your Support Options: Refunds, Returns, and Flexibility
Sometimes content just doesn’t work out as planned.
Knowing your options if content falls short of expectations can protect your investment and keep things running smoothly.
If the content doesn’t work for you can you just cancel?
- Understand the Support Structure: Different providers have various support policies, some offering a grace period for content exchanges or additional help if you encounter issues.
Clear terms of support ensure you’re backed by responsive, helpful service if content needs adjustment.
- Options for Returns or Adjustments: Some providers may allow content returns or offer contract adjustments if certain items don’t meet standards. This flexibility is key to a low-risk investment, ensuring you’re not locked into unsuitable courses or content.
Upfront knowledge of support options can save frustration and provide peace of mind in your content investment.
Content Roadmap: Influence Future Content
Many providers operate with a content roadmap detailing upcoming releases and updates. This roadmap is an opportunity for you to have an input into what might be released in the future.
- Input on the Roadmap is a Key Benefit: Some providers actively seek client feedback to shape their roadmap, ensuring that future content aligns with what organisations actually need.
If your team anticipates specific needs—like new compliance requirements or skill development initiatives—having input can help ensure this content is prioritised. - Monitor Update Frequency: A roadmap with regular updates demonstrates the provider’s commitment to keeping content fresh and relevant. Providers who are responsive to evolving industry needs offer a long-term partnership rather than a one-time solution.
Consider Customisation Options: Providers often offer clients the chance to co-create content that later becomes part of the larger library. For example, you might need a tailored compliance course. Some providers will offer custom or co-branded versions that serve your unique needs and contribute value to the broader library.
Find the right partner and you’ll get new content and the option to develop your own content at a reduced cost.
Choosing a provider with a responsive, adaptable roadmap ensures the library continues to meet the needs of your growing organisation. Make sure you are not just getting a load of PDF and Infographics as well.
Choose a Partner, Not Just a Provider
The right content provider will offer transparency in pricing, easy content deployment, high-quality resources, and flexibility to grow with your organisation.
They’ll also involve you in shaping the content roadmap, ensuring future courses align with your needs.
Sounds a bit boring, but the right person will also value your partnership and listen to your feedback. Picking the right provider doesn’t need to take months and you might need to select more than one, but it’s not as difficult as you’d think.
