After a stall in 2020 EdTech industry is quickly regaining development tepmo. As a software agency with solid expertise in engineering eLearning solutions we are witnessing an increasing demand for custom software development of eLearning applications. We decided to illustrate how the typical process of creating a custom eLearning solution may look like to give the idea of main development stages.
Discovery
Custom LMS (learning management software) development may include dozens of various features to satisfy the needs of a particular target audience. So at the beginning of any development process we start with the discovery phase where we clarify the objectives for the platform, client goals, target audience and desired timeline.
Whether you have detailed requirements, wireframes and designs, MVP - or just an idea, we’ll help you define the major aspects required for the efficient development.
Tip: It’s always a wise idea to create a product vision canvas prior to developing an eLearning platform. It helps to polish the idea, put thoughts into words and accelerates alignment with your software development partner. In future you’ll be able to tweak the vision or pivot entirely, but we’ll have to start from somewhere.
Prototyping and Design
Following in-depth requirements analysis or requirements creation we visualize the product first with high-level wireframes and then with UI/UX design. We then prioritize product features into a roadmap, set milestones and create a task backlog that will serve as a preliminary plan which will guide the project.
Engineering
Releasing features early and often means less risk and bugs, while frequent feedback gives the ability to iterate, learn from the customers and respond to the market.
Working shoulder to shoulder with the client and having direct communication with product stakeholders, our team releases every 2-4 weeks which helps keep the development efficient, flexible and predictable.
Tip: the end result is always better when a client is involved in the process of creating a software solution. Involvement can include attending regular demos, reviewing priorities and backlog, allocating some time slots for regular calls with the team to address the questions they may have.
Our recent case study will help illustrate the process of creating an EdTech product.
How long does it take to build a custom eLearning solution?
Project scope and team size are the main factors that influence the time required to develop an eLearning solution. The scope depends on the project goals - whether it’s an MVP aimed at testing the market, raising investment and finding product market fit, or it’s a refined product built to last. For the former, a team of 2-3 developers will cope with the task within 3-6 months. For a more sophisticated and performant platform the same team may need 12-24 months of active development. If you are a startup without an in-house development team it is important to find a reliable software development partner you can trust. It will take a fair amount of time and research to come up with an idea of what to look for and how to choose software development company to make your software project succeed.