Introduction
Custom elearning is an elearning project developed specifically for an organisation’s exact requirements.
Everything is built to match those needs, from the graphics and audio to the interactions and platform. Each element will be designed and created from scratch.
The size, project, price and complexity can all change with the process including a raft of decisions before the final project can be made live. At the very basic level the project team needs to decide the platform, size and the level of interactivity, much of which is determined by project budget.
A few of the decisions that you’ll need to make include writing the script, selecting voiceover artists, deciding on the authoring tool, and whether the course should be scored or used on specific technology like a touchscreen.
Not every custom elearning project needs to be a SCORM project and sit on an LMS – it could be a standalone web project that you have on a touchscreen. If you are building a custom project the restrictions are often only your timeline and budget!
Key Market Data and Trends
Market Size & Growth
- Custom elearning accounts for ~29% of global elearning services revenue in 2024 (Future Market Insights).
- The global elearning market was valued at ~$400 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed $600 billion by 2029 (Statista, Global Market Insights).
- Corporate elearning alone is expected to grow from $245 billion in 2022 to over $460 billion by 2027 (Research and Markets).
- 900% growth in elearning between 2000 and 2020 (KPMG, Global Industry Analysts).
- 14–17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expected globally (Technavio, Fortune Business Insights).
Key Growth Drivers
- Digital transformation: Organizations are investing in online learning for upskilling and workforce training (McKinsey & Company).
- Efficiency & cost savings: elearning requires 40–60% less time than in-person training and can reduce training costs by up to 50% (Brandon Hall Group).
- Higher knowledge retention: elearning increases retention rates by 25–60% compared to traditional methods (The Research Institute of America).
- Personalization: Demand for tailored content specific to industries and businesses is driving custom elearning growth (Docebo Report).
- Technology advancements: AI, gamification, and mobile learning are increasing engagement and adoption (IDC, Gartner).
- Remote work & pandemic acceleration: COVID-19 normalized digital learning, boosting long-term adoption (Harvard Business Review, World Economic Forum).
Industry Adoption Trends
- Corporate sector: 90%+ of Fortune 500 companies use elearning, with high adoption in finance, healthcare, and manufacturing (Forbes, Training Industry Report).
- Higher education: 54% of undergraduates and 53% of graduate students take online courses in the U.S. (National Center for Education Statistics).
- Government & public sector: Growing use for compliance training and skill development initiatives (OECD, UNESCO).
- Healthcare: Increasing use of elearning for medical training and certifications (Global Market Insights, AMA).
Regional Trends
- North America: Largest market; 10–13% growth per year, with 93% of U.S. enterprises expected to use elearning by 2025 (Statista, Research and Markets).
- Europe: ~14% CAGR, with strong corporate and academic adoption (European Commission, Docebo Report).
- Asia-Pacific: Fastest-growing region (17–20% CAGR), driven by China, India, and Southeast Asia (Technavio, World Bank).
- Latin America & Africa: Emerging markets with increasing adoption due to rising internet access and mobile learning (UNESCO, HolonIQ).
Custom eLearning is fully tailored, unlike off-the-shelf courses. It’s ideal for unique content, in-house training, or specialized needs. Companies choose it to ensure seamless integration with existing tech or an LMS.
The result is a learning experience designed specifically for the organisation’s needs, ensuring that everything from branding to interactivity is customised for its users.
Why Choose Custom Elearning?
Organisations choose custom elearning when they have specific training needs that off-the-shelf content doesn’t cover.
One of the main reasons is that the content is unique to the organisation, training that only they use or need to keep in-house.
Some businesses develop custom elearning because their required content simply doesn’t exist in an off-the-shelf format.
Others want complete control over their material, ensuring it aligns with their internal processes and security requirements.
Another key reason is technology compatibility.
Off-the-shelf content might not work with a company’s existing platform, so a custom-built course ensures it functions correctly. For example, some organisations need their content on specific technology like AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), or touchscreen devices. If available elearning options don’t support these platforms, a custom solution becomes necessary.
Some companies also choose custom elearning when they’ve explored the market and found that existing options don’t meet their quality or content expectations. If the available solutions aren’t at the right standard, organisations may decide to build their own to maintain quality and relevance.
The choice between custom and off-the-shelf elearning ultimately comes down to control, technology needs, and content specificity. When these factors are critical, a custom-built course provides the flexibility and alignment that an off-the-shelf course cannot.
The Custom Elearning Development Process
The process of developing custom elearning involves multiple stages, ensuring that every aspect is designed to meet the organisation’s specific needs.
The creation of anything has a number of stages, and the success involves going through each stage. This isn’t necessarily a linear process, you might do some of the stages at the same time. You might also combine some of the stages. This is a guide for some of the stages that you’ll need to consider when developing your custom elearning project.
If you are working on an elearning project you might work in collaboration with a partner that will see you both taking responsibility for specific stages.
1. Specification and Planning
One of the most critical steps in custom elearning development is creating a detailed specification.
Without a clear specification, organisations won’t know what they are building, and costs will be difficult to estimate. The specification outlines every element of the project, including the script, voiceover, graphics, interactivity, and platform requirements. It also defines whether elements like scoring, results, what authoring tool you are going to use, where the final project is going to be deployed and what other technology tools are you going to be used.
2. Content and Instructional Design
Once the specification is in place, the next step is designing the content.
This includes writing the script, selecting a voiceover artist, and creating the graphics and interactivity. There might be some resources available, so you won’t be working from scratch. You might find existing training material, brand guidelines, mood boards or an existing voiceover artist – you’ll need to do some research to find out what’s available.
Some organisations also need to consider their branding, ensuring the course aligns with their tone of voice, visual identity, and terminology. Branding doesn’t just stop at graphics, branding can cover writing and programming. Check to see what brand guidelines are available.
Organisations must also decide which authoring tool to use, such as Articulate Storyline or Rise 360.
If the company already has an internal platform, they may need to ensure the new content is compatible with that tool. Choosing the right tool is important because it affects how the course is developed and maintained.
This might even extend to the development tools that are used – for example, ensuring that Adobe Creative Cloud is used for asset creation.
3. Development and Testing
During the development phase, all elements are put together to create the final product. This stage involves programming, interactivity design, and ensuring the course meets technical specifications.
A key part of development is making sure that the course works on the required platform, whether that’s an LMS, LXP, or another system. You need to do a test early so that you can resolve any compatible issues. You might still have problems at deployment, but early testing helps.
Testing is a crucial step before deployment. This involves checking the voiceover, interactivity, and graphics to ensure they function as expected.
Testing also includes verifying that the content runs smoothly on the organisation’s platform and meets accessibility and usability requirements.
Ensure that you have the technical specification before you’ve started the development.
4. Deployment and Evaluation
Once development and testing are complete, the course is deployed to its intended platform.
Organisations must ensure that the course integrates properly with their LMS or LXP and that learners can access it without issues.
After deployment, feedback is gathered to assess how well the course meets learning objectives. Adjustments may be required based on user responses, ensuring that the course remains effective and relevant over time.
This is an outline stage process that you can follow, it will be different for each project and each organisation.
If you follow a structured process, organisations can ensure that their custom elearning project is well-planned and effectively developed. Ensure that each stage is signed off and approved, this will give you the opportunity to ensure that the project will meet the specification .
Pros and Cons of Custom elearning
Custom elearning provides organisations with a tailored learning experience that aligns with their branding, technology, and training objectives. Remember this is only as good as the specification document.
However, while it offers several advantages, it also comes with challenges that must be considered before committing to a custom project.
Pros of Custom elearning
- Designed for Specific Needs – Unlike off-the-shelf content, custom elearning is built purely for the organisation’s objectives and workforce. It ensures that the training aligns with company policies, processes, and industry-specific requirements.
- Full Control Over Branding and Content – Organisations can integrate branding, tone of voice, and terminology, ensuring the course reflects their identity. This includes visual elements, button styles, and language consistency.
- Higher Engagement and Relevance – Custom content aligns with an organisation’s learning goals, making it more engaging and effective, especially for critical topics like cybersecurity, compliance, and internal processes.
- Flexibility in Design – Custom elearning allows for interactive modules, simulations, and personalised learning paths. It can also be adapted for different formats, such as bite-sized learning or large-scale training programmes.
- Scalability and Adaptability – Custom content can be developed to support multilingual or cultural adaptations, ensuring it works across global teams.
Cons of Custom elearning
- Higher Cost – Custom development requires more time, resources, and budget compared to off-the-shelf courses. Costs increase based on the level of interactivity, branding, and multimedia elements.
- Longer Development Time – A custom project takes longer to build because it involves multiple stages—from planning and scripting to development, testing, and deployment.
- Risk of Project Overruns – Custom Elearning projects often run long due to unclear specs, scope creep, and too many stakeholders. Poor scope management can drive up costs and delay completion.
Custom elearning is an investment in creating highly relevant training, but organisations must weigh the benefits against the time and budget required.
When to Choose Custom vs Off-the-Shelf elearning
Deciding between custom elearning and off-the-shelf content depends on the organisation’s needs, budget, and objectives.
While off-the-shelf courses can be a quick and cost-effective solution, there are cases where a custom-built course is the better option.
When to Choose Custom elearning
Organisations often choose custom elearning when they need training that is:
- Highly specific to their organisation – If the content is unique, not available in an off-the-shelf format, or needs to be kept in-house for security or compliance reasons.
- Aligned with company branding – Custom courses allow organisations to control branding, tone, voice, and terminology, ensuring consistency across training materials.
- Built for a particular technology – Sometimes, the content available in the market doesn’t work on the organisation’s platform. Custom development ensures compatibility with LMS, LXP, AR, VR, or touchscreen solutions.
- Designed for a multilingual workforce – If a company operates in multiple regions, they may require specific translations and cultural adaptations that aren’t available in off-the-shelf content.
When to Choose Off-the-Shelf elearning
In some cases, off-the-shelf courses may be a better choice:
- If the required training already exists in a high-quality, ready-made format.
- When speed is a priority—off-the-shelf content can be deployed immediately.
- If the budget is limited, since custom development takes longer and costs more.
Blended Approach
Some organisations find value in modifying off-the-shelf courses to add company-specific elements rather than building everything from scratch. This can be a cost-effective way to balance speed, quality, and relevance.
By understanding the strengths of each approach, organisations can choose the right solution based on their learning objectives, technology, and budget.
Conclusion
Custom elearning is developed to meet specific organisational needs, offering flexibility in content, branding, interactivity, and technology integration.
Unlike off-the-shelf courses, which provide standardised training, custom elearning ensures relevance by aligning learning experiences with organisational objectives.
The key benefits of custom elearning include enhanced engagement, brand consistency, and tailored content. However, challenges such as higher costs, extended development timelines, and scope creep must be carefully managed. Clear specifications, stakeholder alignment, and cost tracking are essential to maintaining project focus and efficiency.
Deciding between custom and off-the-shelf elearning depends on factors such as content specificity, branding requirements, technology compatibility, and budget constraints. A blended approach—modifying off-the-shelf content—can sometimes provide a practical balance between cost and customisation.
While custom elearning requires investment, a well-planned approach delivers a tailored, engaging, and effective learning experience that meets an organisation’s precise needs.
Q&A
What is custom elearning?
Custom Elearning is online training built for a company’s unique needs. Unlike generic courses, it tailors content, design, and technology to align with company processes, branding, and goals for maximum relevance and impact.
What is the meaning of elearning?
Elearning (electronic learning) is education or training delivered digitally, often through computers, tablets, or mobile devices. It allows learners to access courses anytime, anywhere, and can include videos, quizzes, and interactive activities.
What is customised training?
Customised training tailors learning content to specific business or individual needs. Unlike standard training, it includes company-specific examples, branding, and targeted outcomes, making it more relevant and effective.
What is a custom LMS?
A custom LMS is a tailored learning platform designed to meet a company’s specific needs. It features personalised tools, integrations, and branding to support targeted training goals and tech requirements.
