You've come to the realization that your training just isn't working. In fact, you've known that for a while, but now you're ready to act! You've been through all of the typical off-the-shelf options, but none of them speak directly to your learners. You need more than just a list of rules; you need something that shows your team how these issues manifest in their specific environments. It's time to find a vendor who builds custom content, but what should you be looking for?

By Peter Grossman

*Above: Professional appearing to decide on what compliance vendor is right for them.*

What makes a custom compliance training vendor worth hiring?

Creativity, however you define it, is of course a necessary trait when looking for a custom content training vendor. Your job is to know the rules, enforce them, and investigate when necessary – someone else should be handling the creative ways of engaging your audience! But there are systems in place you need vendors to work within both technical and otherwise and no amount of creativity is a replacement for failing to do so. You’ll need to find a communicative partner as well, as collaborative content creation is a two-way street. Let’s talk about each of these in a bit more detail…

What should a custom compliance training vendor actually do for you?

In short, it should be to make your life easier and to produce something significantly more effective than what could be generated in house. You can create dull training that contains all the lessons but creating something ‘fun’ that doesn’t actually teach your learners is equally problematic. In order for any vendor to have success, they need to find balance between the content and the presentation.

Your custom content vendor should be able to talk with you about the fine details of your policies as if they were a member of your team but also possess the skills to present those lessons in an engaging experience for your audience.

And they need to do the work. For example, not only should your vendor know your policies, they should also have the storytelling ability to write the script and the background to create meaningful interactions within the experience to help make the learning stick.

What good communication looks like from a compliance training vendor

There are elements to finding the right vendor that are similar to dating. Does this person listen to me? Do they show an interest in what I'm saying? Do my thoughts and words impact the conversation moving forward? Being a good listener doesn't just make for a good date; it's a necessary trait for your custom content creator as well.

You should be asked a lot of questions about your program and what scenarios your staff typically find themselves in where the issues you need to train on arise. The vendor should inquire as to who makes up the audience for each piece of content and tailor the learnings accordingly.

Remember, you are the expert on your company and the topics at hand. Your vendor should be the expert on making the experience. They need to get to know you in order to truly provide something meaningfully custom so look out for anyone who starts off believing they know what you need without asking.

What file formats should a custom compliance training vendor deliver?

The only acceptable answer here is ‘the kind that I need!’

There is a difference between custom content and a custom solution. If you’ve got something that works for you in other capacities, such as a functional LMS that performs well, there’s no need to move away from it.

It’s critical that your vendor be able to adapt to your current technical setup. For example, trainings distributed to larger audiences are typically delivered as SCORM, the industry standard, so that is the format you should expect. If you need to track things like completions and test scores, you need a solution that provides that within your system.

The same goes for material that needs to be translated and adhere to accessibility standards. Be sure that learners who speak other languages or learn in different ways are given an equal experience.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey into custom content creation or looking for the right vendor after a series of wrong ones, be sure to take into account the communication styles, technical competency, and approach to the lessons as much as a potential vendor’s creativity. Working with a partner who meets all of those standards can take your training to the level you imagine – and hopefully beyond!