How to Pick the Right Development Partner for Your Learning Platform

A Checklist to Pick the Right Partner for Your Publishing Platform

Take a look! Here’s a checklist to help you spot the partner who can take your platform from “meh” to mind-blowing with some out-of-the-box considerations:

First Clue on the Map

First impressions matter.

What makes a vendor stand out in this area is their willingness to work as an extension of your team. Some platforms offer “as-needed” support, while others truly become partners, offering strategic guidance, roadmap planning, and help in scaling as your business grows.

A well-established vendor is likely to have dealt with different problems but more importantly, to have found some unique pathways to address them. They should provide you with solutions you did not know existed.

How have they worked with educational publishers before? Understand the vendor’s history, the types of projects they’ve handled, and their success stories.

Have a Clear Focus on Content Structure and Optimization

Content is the foundation of any publishing platform, and how it is structured and optimized plays a significant role in both user experience and search engine performance. You are good to go with a partner who knows how to implement a system where content is broken down into distinct components. They should be able to optimize content for SEO, ensuring that all technical elements such as URLs, meta descriptions, and alt texts are addressed from the beginning.

Framing Questions for You

When selecting a vendor, you need to assess their ability to integrate a variety of multimedia content (videos, animations, quizzes, etc.), support interactive features, and ensure that the platform’s scalability is flexible.

Key Technical Considerations:

• Flexible Architecture: Look for a platform built on a modular design that can be easily expanded or altered as your needs grow. For example, when adding more courses or subjects, your platform should be able to handle the influx of content without affecting performance.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Is the platform cloud-based? This ensures that your content is available anytime, anywhere, which is especially important for remote learning environments.
• Mobile Compatibility: You need the platform to function seamlessly across mobile devices. Responsive design is non-negotiable, especially with the rise of on-the-go learning.

Do They Prototype Fast, or Do They Take Forever?

Think of this as the “speed dating” of software development. Your partner should know how to whip up a working prototype fast. Test early, fail early, and tweak till it’s perfect.

Ask them: “How quickly can you get a beta version in front of real users?” Bonus points if they talk about co-designing with educators and students.

Education isn’t all neat and tidy. Some ideas will sound a little crazy—like using AI to create dynamic quizzes or gamifying learning journeys with AR treasure hunts. You need a partner who says, “Let’s try it!” instead of, “That’s not in scope.”

User Engagement

A platform is only as good as how long people stick around. Your partner needs to understand how to keep users hooked.

• Micro-interactions: Do they know how to use small, rewarding interactions (like confetti for completing a course or motivational nudges)?
• Personalized journeys: Can they design content that adjusts to a user’s learning speed?
• Futuristic vision: How scalable is this platform for millions of users? If their tech feels like a house you can build extra rooms onto, they’re a keeper.

If they’re not talking about engagement metrics like they’re the pulse of the app, they’re missing the point.

Prioritize Data Ethics and Privacy

Some vendors look at security as a mere formality, but you want a partner that takes it seriously. Looking for a partner that is proactive in investing in security measures like real-time intrusion detection systems and offers a rapid-response security team to tackle potential breaches becomes necessary. Make sure your encryption requirements, multi-factor authentication set up, and security audits take place.

Do They Share Your Mission?

This is the dealbreaker. The best partner doesn’t just see you as a paycheck—they genuinely care about education and your mission. If they geek out about empowering learners or gush about the power of accessible learning tools, you’ve found your match.

The right partner will “get it” and push you to think even bigger.

So, what do you think? Ready to start your search with this checklist in hand? If yes, then connect with us here to find out more about it.