LMS that handles eLearning modules but can't combine them with ILT sessions and on-the-job tasks in the same learning pathway?
Compliance training certification records living in the LMS but not in the HRIS, so the audit response requires pulling data from two systems and reconciling them manually?
Custom LMS Development
Your training catalogue has outgrown the LMS you bought three years ago. The vendor's configuration options don't accommodate your blended learning model. Compliance reporting requires exporting data to a spreadsheet and reformatting it manually every quarter. The admin interface was designed for a different type of organisation.
We build custom LMS platforms from the ground up -- course catalogue and content library management, learner enrolment, SCORM and xAPI content delivery, completion tracking, certification management, and the instructor and admin interfaces that make the L&D team self-sufficient without ongoing vendor support.
Course catalogue and content library management built for your training structure and delivery model
SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and xAPI content delivery with full runtime compliance and LRS for xAPI statements
Completion tracking, progress reporting, and certification management with automated expiry and recertification
Mobile-first learner experience with offline access for field and frontline workforce training
RaftLabs builds custom learning management systems for L&D teams that need more than an off-the-shelf LMS can deliver -- course catalogue management, learner enrolment and pathway management, SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 and xAPI content delivery, completion tracking, certification management with expiry and recertification, and the instructor and admin interfaces that make the L&D team self-sufficient. Most custom LMS builds deliver in 12--16 weeks at a fixed cost.
100+Products shipped
·24+Industries served
·FixedCost delivery
·10-16Week delivery cycles
An LMS built around your training operation, not the vendor's template
Off-the-shelf LMS platforms are built for the median L&D team. The catalogue structure, enrolment workflows, reporting schema, and admin interface reflect what works for most organisations. The problems start when your training operation diverges from the median -- blended learning programmes that mix eLearning, instructor-led sessions, virtual classrooms, and on-the-job tasks, compliance certification requirements that need data flowing into the HRIS, or a learner population that includes frontline workers who need offline access on a mobile device.
A custom LMS is built around the operational reality of your L&D team. The catalogue structure reflects your training taxonomy. The enrolment workflows match your delivery model. The reporting surfaces the data your stakeholders actually ask for. The admin interface lets your L&D team manage the platform without raising a support ticket every time something needs to change.
What we build
Course catalogue and content library
Course catalogue management built for your training taxonomy -- by topic, role, department, compliance area, or any structure your L&D team actually uses. Content library supporting multiple asset types: SCORM packages, xAPI content, video, PDF, VILT session records, and blended learning pathway components. Metadata tagging and search so learners find relevant content without browsing the full catalogue. Bulk content upload and management tools for L&D administrators. Version management so updated content replaces old versions without breaking completion records for learners who completed the previous version. Featured content curation for new hire onboarding, regulatory updates, and seasonal training priorities.
Learner enrolment and pathway management
Enrolment workflows covering self-service registration, manager-assigned training, automatic enrolment based on role or department, and compliance deadline-triggered assignment. Learning pathways that sequence eLearning modules, ILT sessions, assessments, and practical tasks in the right order with prerequisite enforcement. Cohort management for group-based programmes. Waitlist management for ILT sessions with capacity limits. Due date tracking with automated reminders to learners and managers for overdue training. Pathway progress visualisation so learners see where they are in a programme at a glance, not just a list of incomplete modules.
SCORM and xAPI content delivery
SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 runtime supporting the full API communication specification -- completion status, success status, score, suspend data, session time, and learner response data. Content player tested against common authoring tool outputs from Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, iSpring, and Lectora. xAPI support with an integrated Learning Record Store receiving and storing statements from LMS-delivered content, mobile apps, simulations, and external learning experiences. Statement querying for advanced analytics on learner behaviour beyond completion. Error handling and diagnostic logging for content that doesn't communicate correctly with the runtime.
Completion tracking and certification
Completion tracking at module, course, and pathway level with the data stored in a way that survives content updates and catalogue changes. Certification management for compliance training -- issue date, expiry date, and automated recertification enrolment triggered before the certificate lapses. Digital certificate generation with the learner's name, course title, completion date, and validity period. Certification records exportable in formats your compliance or audit team requires. Manager and HR dashboard views showing team certification status and upcoming expiry dates. Integration with your HRIS so certification data lives in the employee record, not only in the LMS.
Instructor and admin management tools
Admin interface that lets the L&D team manage the platform without involving a developer for routine tasks -- adding content, creating enrolments, adjusting due dates, pulling reports, and managing user accounts. Instructor interface for ILT and virtual classroom facilitators -- session roster, attendance marking, assessment grading, and learner feedback. Bulk user management and bulk enrolment tools for large cohorts. Role-based access control separating L&D admin, instructor, manager, and learner access. Reporting and data export for compliance audits, stakeholder updates, and integration with external analytics tools. Configurable notification templates for enrolment, completion, and overdue alerts.
Mobile-first learning experience
Mobile-responsive learner interface that works on the device the learner actually has, not just a desktop computer. Native mobile app option for organisations with frontline or field workforce who need training on a phone or tablet. Offline access for learners who complete training in areas with limited connectivity -- content downloaded when connected and completion data synced when back online. Push notifications for new enrolments, upcoming due dates, and manager-assigned training. Progress saved mid-module so learners can pause and resume on any device. Accessible design meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards for learners with accessibility requirements.
Frequently asked questions
SCORM 1.2 is the most widely supported standard and works with virtually all authoring tools and LMS platforms. It tracks completion status, score, and a small amount of suspend data. SCORM 2004 adds more granular completion logic and interaction tracking but has less universal authoring tool support. xAPI (also called Tin Can) is the most flexible -- it can track learning experiences outside a traditional LMS including simulations, mobile apps, on-the-job activities, and social learning. For most organisations with a standard eLearning catalogue, SCORM 1.2 is the practical choice. If you need tracking beyond the LMS or your authoring tool generates xAPI output, we build xAPI support alongside SCORM. The decision comes down to what your authoring tools produce and what data you need to capture.
A blended learning pathway in a custom LMS treats eLearning modules and ILT sessions as components of the same learning journey rather than separate systems. A learner enrols in a programme and sees all the components -- eLearning modules to complete before the session, the ILT or virtual classroom booking, post-session assessments, and any follow-up tasks -- in a single pathway view. ILT session management handles scheduling, room capacity, waitlisting, attendance marking by the instructor, and completion recording. The pathway tracks completion across all component types so the overall programme is marked complete only when every component is done. Reporting covers the full blended programme, not just the eLearning portion.
Compliance certification in a custom LMS records the completion date, issue date, expiry date, and any score or pass/fail outcome for each learner who completes a certification course. Expiry dates are calculated from the completion date based on rules you define per course -- annual, biennial, or a specific number of days. Automated reminders go to the learner and their manager at configurable intervals before expiry -- typically 90, 60, and 30 days out. When a certificate lapses, the learner is automatically re-enrolled in the recertification pathway. HR and compliance teams see a real-time view of certification status across the workforce, filterable by course, department, and expiry date. Records are exportable for audit purposes.
A core LMS covering catalogue management, learner enrolment, SCORM content delivery, completion tracking, and certification management typically runs $25,000 to $70,000. A more complete build adding xAPI support, blended learning pathway management, mobile app, HRIS integration, and advanced reporting typically runs $70,000 to $180,000 depending on the depth of each module and integration complexity. We scope the project before pricing it, so you receive a fixed cost based on your specific requirements rather than a budget range that grows during build.
Tell us your current LMS, training catalogue structure, and the capabilities you need that your current platform can't deliver. We will scope the right system and give you a fixed cost.
