Unravelling the ‘hidden’ essence of modern content aggregation companies

Today, nearly every organisation that deals with large quantities of digital or e-learning materials has the same goal: to provide a content aggregation and distribution platform. They aim to create an easy-to-find one-stop shop that offers users personalised or targeted teaching materials. What they want is to enable users to find materials and personalise them in a smart way. But here’s the catch: although modern aggregation companies may seem to differ on the outside, they’re all built on the same three pillars. These form the so-called ‘hidden’ essence of their core business. Let’s have a closer look at these pillars!

Pillar 1: Modular content creation and ingestion

You know how Netflix creates its own material and adds external content to its library all the time? This is what modern content aggregation companies aim for, too. The thing is, if you're very good at modular content creation and ingestion, you’re off to a good start. That’s why said companies ensure their offer is as comprehensive as it is varied. Teaching materials can be anything from PowerPoint presentations to PDF files — no matter the format, they create and find the right materials and collect them in their respective libraries.

Pillar 2: Rights clearance

Anyone who’s going to ingest and spread materials from third parties should make sure they own the rights to do so. That is why modern content aggregation companies make sure they get their facts straight: which materials are freely available and which aren't? Before disclosing teaching materials on a large scale, they acquire the licences and rights they need.

Pillar 3: Platform for content distribution

Whether companies use the platform as a search engine or as a personalised learning environment, users should be able to find materials in an efficient, personalised way. The latter means the platform monitors user data, which it then uses to recommend personalised content. Modern content aggregation companies achieve this by offering materials in the form of modular components.

Want to learn more about the three pillars?

Do you want to know more about each of these pillars? Be sure to read the next blog posts in this five-part series.

Can you think of any organisations that excel at all three pillars? And where does your business currently stand?