{"id":8609,"date":"2026-01-07T10:46:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T09:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/blog\/?p=8609"},"modified":"2026-01-07T11:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T10:21:46","slug":"buy-or-produce-an-e-learning-module-the-guide-for-making-the-right-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/blog\/en\/buy-or-produce-an-e-learning-module-the-guide-for-making-the-right-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Buy or produce an e-learning module: the guide for making the right decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Buying or Producing an E\u2011Learning Module: How to Make the Right Choice in 2026?<\/h2>\n<p>In 2026, the learning function is caught in a vise. On one side, executive management demands proof of business impact, cost reduction, and time to competence. On the other, L&amp;D, instructional design, and HR teams have to deal with very extensive e\u2011learning catalogs, increasingly powerful authoring tools, and business units who want \u201csomething concrete\u201d and \u201ctailor\u2011made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the middle, one question keeps coming up in learning committees: <strong>Should we buy \u201coff\u2011the\u2011shelf\u201d e\u2011learning modules or invest in a custom e\u2011learning module?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This question seems simple, but in practice it blocks many budget decisions: should you invest in an authoring tool like <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/authoring-software-vts-editor\/\">VTS Editor<\/a>, sign recurring budgets with external agencies, or capitalize on ready\u2011to\u2011use catalogs via a platform like <a href=\"https:\/\/vtplace.seriousfactory.com\/en\/\">VTPlace<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>The goal of this article is to offer a <strong>useful method for L&amp;D managers, instructional designers, and HR leaders<\/strong> in order to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clarify the situations where buying is relevant<\/li>\n<li>Identify when custom development becomes indispensable<\/li>\n<li>Build an <strong>intelligent mix<\/strong> between buying, in\u2011house production, and outsourcing, relying on VTPlace and on an authoring tool like VTS Editor<\/li>\n<li>Decide when a <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> is the best investment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For an overview of our immersive solutions, you can also visit the page <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/\">Revolutionize your E-Learning strategy with Serious Factory<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Before Buying or Producing an E\u2011Learning Module: Clarify Needs, Use Cases, and Constraints<\/h2>\n<p>Before you look at any catalog or brief a provider, the first question to ask is not \u201cWhich module are we going to use?\u201d but \u201cWhat do we really need for behaviors to change in the field?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A successful e\u2011learning project almost always starts with a <strong>pedagogical and business scoping phase<\/strong>. Without this step, you risk buying a brilliant but useless module, or launching an in\u2011house production that fizzles out because of a lack of clear vision.<\/p>\n<h3>Clarify the Learning Objective and the Required Level of Customization<\/h3>\n<p>To decide between buying and producing, start by classifying your projects into three main families. This simple typology will help you answer questions you are probably already asking yourself: \u201cDo I really need custom work for this topic?\u201d \u201cHow far do we need to contextualize?\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Generic Awareness: When Customization Isn\u2019t Useful<\/h3>\n<p>Here, the goal is to inform, warn, and disseminate a consistent message on a large scale. You are not trying to radically transform practices, but to instill basic reflexes and protect your organization on cross\u2011functional topics.<\/p>\n<p>A few concrete examples you often encounter:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>GDPR for all employees<\/li>\n<li>Cybersecurity awareness<\/li>\n<li>Prevention of harassment or discrimination<\/li>\n<li>Eco\u2011gestures or basic CSR<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In these cases, the content is largely <strong>shareable across companies<\/strong>. The risk of misalignment with your context is relatively low. This is the ideal playing field for <strong>off\u2011the\u2011shelf<\/strong> modules, easily accessible on a platform like VTPlace.<\/p>\n<p>Studies on online learning also show that for standardized content (compliance, prevention, etc.), well\u2011designed standard modules produce results comparable to custom content in terms of basic knowledge (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.compedu.2018.01.007\">academic source<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3>Upskilling in Job\u2011Specific Competencies: The Realm of the Personalized E\u2011Learning Module<\/h3>\n<p>Here, you move away from purely generic content. You need to support real professional tasks:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Using a CRM specific to your sales network<\/li>\n<li>Applying a sales methodology unique to your company<\/li>\n<li>Diagnosing a breakdown on equipment only your technicians operate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You are entering a \u201chybrid\u201d zone where:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Part of the content is generic (sales principles, basic maintenance concepts, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Another part absolutely has to be <strong>contextualized<\/strong> to your processes, tools, and vocabulary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is typically the area where a <strong>buy + produce mix<\/strong> becomes optimal. You might, for example, buy a module on sales fundamentals, then develop <strong>interactive scenarios<\/strong> with <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/authoring-software-vts-editor\/\">VTS Editor<\/a> based on your own scripts, customer objections, and field cases. VTPlace then serves as a <strong>reservoir of content and resources<\/strong> that you enhance with custom material.<\/p>\n<p>To illustrate this type of approach, you can explore the Novartis case, which implemented an immersive medical visit simulator in e\u2011learning: <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/case-studies\/novartis\/\">Novartis \u2013 Customer Case<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Behavior Change, Culture, and Advanced Soft Skills<\/h3>\n<p>This is the most sensitive area for an L&amp;D manager or HR leader, because these are often the programs that are visible to the Executive Committee and tied to your strategic priorities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rolling out a customer\u2011centric culture<\/li>\n<li>Transforming middle management<\/li>\n<li>Supporting a merger by working on collaborative mindsets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In these cases, a standard module, even a well\u2011designed one, is no longer enough. Your employees will immediately detect the mismatch between generic messaging and their real field constraints. You need <strong>realistic scenarios<\/strong>, <strong>immersive role\u2011plays<\/strong>, and serious games that speak their language.<\/p>\n<p>This is exactly what VTS Editor enables: building conversation simulators, interactive role\u2011plays, and learning paths with precise feedback and scoring. And this is also where VTPlace, through its expert partners, can handle the design of high\u2011value\u2011added solutions while still letting you manage updates.<\/p>\n<p>Research on immersive learning shows that these approaches foster retention and transfer to real\u2011life situations (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jcal.12207\">academic source<\/a>). This is precisely what a <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> dedicated to soft skills or leadership culture is aiming for.<\/p>\n<h3>Decision Rule for an L&amp;D Manager<\/h3>\n<p>The more critical the objective is to your strategy and the more specific the content is to your context, the more <strong>custom production<\/strong> should come into play. Conversely, the more generic the topic, the more rational it is to buy an existing module.<\/p>\n<p>To go deeper into these trade\u2011offs, you can read the white paper <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/white-papers\/the-10-challenges-for-a-chief-learning-officer\/\">The 10 Challenges for a Chief Learning Officer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Understand Your Audiences Before Choosing a Custom or Off\u2011the\u2011Shelf E\u2011Learning Module<\/h2>\n<h3>Taking Actual Learner Behaviors into Account<\/h3>\n<p>Another key question you often ask is \u201cWhy isn\u2019t this module being completed even though it\u2019s good?\u201d or \u201cWhy do people drop out halfway through?\u201d The answer often boils down to one thing: <strong>you didn\u2019t sufficiently take the reality of your audiences into account<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Before deciding to buy or produce, clearly note:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who will be taking the module (roles, seniority, digital fluency)<\/li>\n<li>In what conditions (on a fixed workstation, on a smartphone in a workshop, in a store between customers)<\/li>\n<li>With how much real time available (10 minutes on the go, 1 hour in a classroom, micro\u2011learning spread over time)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The same module on \u201ccustomer reception\u201d will not have the same success:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If it\u2019s taken by in\u2011store salespeople, on a smartphone, in three 5\u2011minute chunks with scenarios close to their reality<\/li>\n<li>Or if it takes the form of a long 45\u2011minute theoretical course designed for HQ managers on a PC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The value of VTS Editor and the VTPlace ecosystem is that they allow you to <strong>combine<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Existing modules for the fundamentals<\/li>\n<li>Short, targeted adaptations (new dialogues, new cases, new videos) tailored to each population<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Instead of asking yourself \u201cBuy or produce?\u201d, ask \u201cFor this specific audience, what do I need to adapt for it to really make sense?\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Adapt Formats, Durations, and Levels of Gamification<\/h3>\n<p>Research on engagement in e\u2011learning shows that duration, pacing, and interactivity are key factors in course completion (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.compedu.2017.09.002\">academic source<\/a>). A <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> allows you precisely to adjust:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The length of sequences (micro\u2011learning, long paths, blended learning)<\/li>\n<li>The level of gamification (scores, badges, role\u2011plays, branching scenarios)<\/li>\n<li>The vocabulary, characters, and settings so they are close to learners\u2019 daily reality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To see concrete examples of highly audience\u2011adapted immersive experiences, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/case-studies\/\">client cases<\/a>, especially Thales on cybersecurity or Basic\u2011Fit for onboarding.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Factor in Timeline, Budget, and Volume<\/h2>\n<h3>Making Trade\u2011Offs Based on Urgency and Target Size<\/h3>\n<p>As an L&amp;D manager, you often have to make quick calls: \u201cThe Executive Committee wants a cybersecurity module for everyone by the end of the quarter; what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Three parameters must factor into your decision framework:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The actual timeline you have<\/li>\n<li>The budget available for this project<\/li>\n<li>The size of the target audience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A large\u2011scale, urgent need with a tight budget will naturally tilt toward <strong>off\u2011the\u2011shelf purchase via VTPlace<\/strong>. A strategic project with a reasonable timeline and a critical target will justify a <strong>custom production<\/strong> (in\u2011house or external).<\/p>\n<p>This economic framing is not at odds with pedagogical quality. It simply prevents you from aiming for \u201cpremium custom work\u201d for a one\u2011off, low\u2011strategic\u2011value use.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t Underestimate the Cost of Updates<\/h3>\n<p>Beyond the initial cost, think about the total cost over several years:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How often procedures, tools, and regulations are updated<\/li>\n<li>The availability of subject\u2011matter experts to validate the content<\/li>\n<li>Your team\u2019s capacity to evolve the module without starting from scratch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In many cases, a <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> created with VTS Editor becomes cost\u2011effective after a few updates, because you retain control over the scenario and media. For large\u2011scale projects, the VTS Editor + LMS combination <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/vts-perform\/\">VTS Perform<\/a> also lets you accurately track usage and impact, so you can adjust your investments.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Buy an E\u2011Learning Module, Produce It In\u2011House, or Outsource It: An Operational Comparison<\/h2>\n<h3>Buying Off\u2011the\u2011Shelf Modules: A Reflex to Professionalize<\/h3>\n<p>Buying modules happens in every organization, but rarely in a strategic way. Modules are sometimes purchased because \u201cit\u2019s mandatory\u201d or \u201cthe price is good,\u201d without checking whether they fit into a global vision.<\/p>\n<p>To get the full benefit, it\u2019s better to view purchasing as a <strong>structuring lever<\/strong> in your digital learning offer. On VTPlace, for example, you can select modules that will make up your <strong>core transversal skills base<\/strong>: compliance, generic soft skills, office productivity, digital culture.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of producing yet another introductory module on cybersecurity in\u2011house, you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buy a proven module that\u2019s updated regularly<\/li>\n<li>Roll it out in a few days across the entire organization<\/li>\n<li>Save your energy to design, via VTS Editor, a <strong>specific role\u2011play<\/strong> focusing on fraud cases specific to your activity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Buying doesn\u2019t replace instructional design; it frees up your time from what doesn\u2019t need to be reinvented.<\/p>\n<h3>Producing a Custom E\u2011Learning Module In\u2011House: From Tinkering to Industrialization<\/h3>\n<p>Many L&amp;D teams have already tried in\u2011house production, sometimes with repurposed office tools or basic authoring tools. The experience is often mixed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The first modules are exciting<\/li>\n<li>Then teams burn out on technical, graphic, and UX aspects<\/li>\n<li>Updates become heavy to manage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The difference in 2026 is that tools like VTS Editor are designed so that this is no longer \u201ctinkering,\u201d but a <strong>mastered activity<\/strong> within the learning function.<\/p>\n<p>With VTS Editor, your instructional designers work with:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Basic blocks (Speak, Message, Quiz, Sentence Choice, Video, Sound)<\/li>\n<li>Advanced mechanisms (Score, Conditions, Flags, Variables, Badges) to create <strong>adaptive learning paths<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Gamification features (feedback, countdowns, rewards)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The benefit for an L&amp;D or HR leader is twofold:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You gain the ability to handle <strong>highly specific topics<\/strong> in\u2011house (processes, tools, internal cases)<\/li>\n<li>You remain in control of the content over time: your teams can tweak a dialogue, change a business rule, or update a video without starting over<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Combined with VTPlace, this setup is not reserved for large instructional teams. You can start with a modest scope, get support on your first projects, then gradually internalize more work.<\/p>\n<p>To secure this ramp\u2011up, our <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/trainings\/\">Training &amp; support<\/a> programs help you structure your in\u2011house production, from onboarding to advanced gamification.<\/p>\n<h3>Outsourcing to Experts: Securing High\u2011Stakes Programs<\/h3>\n<p>Even with good tools, an L&amp;D team cannot do everything alone. Some projects combine:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High political stakes<\/li>\n<li>High pedagogical complexity (blended paths, prerequisites, assessments, data)<\/li>\n<li>Strict brand or design constraints<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Continuing to manage everything in\u2011house on this type of project is risky. However, <strong>outsourcing without retaining control<\/strong> is just as risky.<\/p>\n<p>The power of VTPlace lies in connecting you with <strong>experts in scripted and gamified e\u2011learning<\/strong> who work natively with VTS Editor. They can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Design a complete solution (scenarios, media, animations, quizzes, scoring, SCORM integration)<\/li>\n<li>Deliver not only the modules but also the VTS Editor source projects<\/li>\n<li>Allow you to maintain and adapt these contents afterwards without depending on them for every detail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You combine the security of professional production with <strong>ownership of your content<\/strong>. For an HR or L&amp;D leader, this is a crucial long\u2011term argument.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to entrust the creation of a <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> to our teams, you can learn more about our dedicated offer here: <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/tailor-made-elearning-module\/\">High-Quality, Customized E-Learning Courses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Build a Coherent Mix Instead of Picking a Side<\/h3>\n<p>Most organizations that successfully manage their digital transformation in learning are neither \u201c100% catalog\u201d nor \u201c100% custom.\u201d They orchestrate a <strong>portfolio of solutions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>One concrete way to think about it is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buy what is generic and urgent<\/li>\n<li>Outsource what is strategic and visible<\/li>\n<li>Produce in\u2011house what is specific and evolving<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>VTPlace is specifically built to support this logic:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You\u2019ll find existing modules there<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll access expert partners there<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll connect your VTS Editor authoring tool there<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The \u201cbuy or produce\u201d debate then gives way to a more strategic question: \u201cWhich mix will optimize the pedagogical impact and total cost of my learning solution?\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>5. A 5\u2011Step Method to Decide on Your Projects Calmly<\/h2>\n<h3>Map Your Projects by Strategic Importance and Specificity<\/h3>\n<p>Start by listing your e\u2011learning projects for the next 12 to 18 months. For each one, rate on a simple scale:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strategic importance (Low \/ Medium \/ High)<\/li>\n<li>Job and cultural specificity (Low \/ Medium \/ High)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You will naturally see clusters emerge:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Low importance and low specificity: excellent candidates for purchase on VTPlace<\/li>\n<li>High importance and high specificity: obvious candidates for custom work with VTS Editor, in\u2011house or via VTPlace experts<\/li>\n<li>Intermediate areas: projects to manage in hybrid mode (for example, purchased module + custom extension)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This map lets you explain your trade\u2011offs to your leadership by showing that <strong>every euro is invested according to the expected impact<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Compare Business Models Without Illusions<\/h3>\n<p>For each priority project, compare three realistic scenarios:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buying an existing module<\/li>\n<li>In\u2011house production with VTS Editor<\/li>\n<li>Outsourcing via a VTPlace expert<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Don\u2019t aim for absolute precision, but for an order of magnitude that includes the time of the L&amp;D team and subject\u2011matter experts. You will often find that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buying is unbeatable for high\u2011volume generic topics<\/li>\n<li>Outsourcing is cost\u2011effective for complex solutions that would take too long to prototype in\u2011house<\/li>\n<li>In\u2011house production becomes very competitive as soon as the content needs to be updated regularly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>VTPlace can help you quickly estimate these scenarios by combining existing modules, expert quotes, and tooling costs.<\/p>\n<h3>Equip Your Team So It Becomes a Producer of Value<\/h3>\n<p>Without a suitable authoring tool, in\u2011house production relies on the goodwill of a few passionate profiles, who risk burning out. With a tool like VTS Editor, your team gains real <strong>industrial capacity<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rapid prototype creation to convince internal sponsors<\/li>\n<li>Development of interactive modules integrating dialogues, quizzes, serious games, videos, and audio<\/li>\n<li>Fine\u2011grained feedback and score management to feed your LMS or VTS Perform reports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Backed by VTPlace, this capability is reinforced by templates, tutorials, sample scenarios, and even targeted coaching on your first projects.<\/p>\n<h3>Establish a Common Pedagogical Quality Baseline<\/h3>\n<p>Whether you buy, produce, or outsource, your learners only see one thing: <strong>the experience they have when they log in<\/strong>. Your role is therefore to guarantee a consistent quality baseline: clarity of objectives, variety of interactions, readability, mobile compatibility, LMS integration.<\/p>\n<p>By building your offering around VTPlace and VTS Editor, you give yourself a coherent technical and pedagogical framework while remaining free to vary formats and approaches.<\/p>\n<p>To explore these issues in depth, our white paper <a href=\"https:\/\/seriousfactory.com\/en\/white-papers\/immersive-learning-the-missing-link-in-training\/\">Immersive Learning \u2013 The Missing Link in Training<\/a> details best practices for designing truly engaging solutions.<\/p>\n<h3>Pilot on a Small Scale, Measure, Adjust<\/h3>\n<p>Instead of radically changing your model, you can manage the transition on a sample of projects:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 100% catalog project<\/li>\n<li>One custom external project with VTPlace experts<\/li>\n<li>One custom in\u2011house project with VTS Editor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By comparing completion rates, satisfaction, managerial perception, and internal effort, you will have very concrete data to refine your buy\/produce mix.<\/p>\n<p>VTPlace can then become, beyond a content platform, a <strong>partner for steering<\/strong> your digital learning strategy.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, the question \u201cBuy or produce an e\u2011learning module?\u201d does not call for a binary answer. For an L&amp;D manager, instructional designer, or HR leader, the real challenge is to <strong>manage an ecosystem<\/strong> in which:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The off\u2011the\u2011shelf catalog serves as a generic foundation<\/li>\n<li>Custom work, in\u2011house or external, tackles your critical issues<\/li>\n<li>An authoring tool like VTS Editor, integrated with VTPlace, gives you the ability to evolve your content at the pace of your organization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By structuring this combination project by project, you will be able to calmly answer the question your leadership is asking more and more often: \u201cWhat is the best investment to ensure training really changes practices in the field?\u201d And for your most strategic projects, the <strong>custom e\u2011learning module<\/strong> will often remain your best ally for creating a high\u2011impact learning experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buying or Producing an E\u2011Learning Module: How to Make the Right Choice in 2026? In 2026, the learning function is caught in a vise. On one side, executive management demands proof of business impact, cost reduction, and time to competence. On the other, L&amp;D, instructional design, and HR teams have to deal with very extensive e\u2011learning catalogs, increasingly powerful authoring&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":8610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[893,899,1035],"tags":[628,1201,1204,634,683],"class_list":["post-8609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-learning-en","category-instructional-design","category-vts-editor-en","tag-digital-learning-en","tag-on-demand-projet","tag-vtplace-en","tag-vts-editor-en","tag-vts-perform-en"],"_elementor_source_image_hash":null,"_wp_attachment_image_alt":null,"_thumbnail_id":"8610","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":null,"_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":null,"_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":null,"_product_image_gallery":null,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"custom e-learning module","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Custom or off-the-shelf e-learning module: how to choose the right one?","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Buy or create a custom e-learning module? 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