Integrating Outside Content in an SOP-Driven Environment

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) form the backbone of training in life sciences. But when your organization is scaling fast under regulatory pressure, keeping training consistent and engaging across teams is a huge challenge. 

I’ve experienced this firsthand over my 25 years leading compliance and learning strategies at global pharmaceutical companies — and now, through my work at UL Solutions. Whether I was onboarding new hires or keeping seasoned teams up to date with regulatory changes, one thing remained true: Training had to be precise, consistent and easy to access. 

And in many cases, meeting those goals meant looking outside the organization for the right training content. 

Here’s what I’ve learned about integrating third-party content into SOP-driven environments — and how it can fuel growth while supporting a culture of learning and compliance. 

Why outsource training content? 

In a perfect world, internal teams would have the capacity to create tailored training for every department and every protocol. But that’s rarely the case. 

For me, outsourcing has always been a way to scale quickly and efficiently — without sacrificing quality. The right provider brings content that’s already designed to support how people learn best and in formats that work seamlessly with your learning management system (LMS). 

Here are just a few of the benefits I’ve seen from using third-party content:

Scalability

Add training for new departments or regions without starting from scratch.

Speed to deploy

Quickly train on emerging regulations or SOP updates.

Subject matter depth

Access expert-built courses on everything from good manufacturing practices (GMP) to pharmacovigilance.

Engagement

Interactive multimedia content improves retention. 

Cost-efficiency

Avoid the expense of idle instructional design teams or one-off content builds. 

 

The ComplianceWire® Learning and Qualification Management System, part of ULTRUS™ software from UL Solutions, stands out in this space. Its deep library of life sciences training — and flexible delivery model — helps me roll out off-the-shelf or tailored training depending on the need. 

A practical approach: Integrating external content into SOPs

SOP-driven environments require more than plug-and-play training. I’ve learned that even the best third-party content needs to be aligned with internal processes and woven into your existing documentation and delivery systems. 

When I help teams integrate external content, I typically follow a seven-step approach:

1. Audit your current SOPs and training goals

Identify gaps in content, outdated material or areas where internal coverage is thin. 

2. Select and review external content

Choose the training that aligns with your goals — not just in topic, but in tone, detail and format. 

3. Customize the content

Add internal examples, adjust terminology and align workflows — made simple with ComplianceWire®. 

4. Update SOPs to reflect training 

Reference the training directly within the SOPs — or embed links into digital SOP platforms or LMS tools. 

5. Train the trainers 

Help facilitators understand the content and how it maps to organizational processes. 

6. Pilot the new program 

Run a small group through the training. Gather feedback on relevance, clarity and ease of use. 

7. Roll out and monitor 

Launch the training companywide. Track completion, retention and feedback. Refresh as needed. 

When you take the time to align content with your procedures, you’re not just meeting compliance — you’re reinforcing it. Employees know exactly what’s expected of them, and audits become far more straightforward. 

Scaling with confidence: Real-world results 

ComplianceWire® has played an essential role in my ability to support all areas of training, from in-depth clinical topics to providing the latest GMP training whenever it is required. I’ve been able to standardize practices across organizations and within training and compliance departments.  

The platform has helped me foster a compliance-friendly environment and streamline learning to support operational efficiency and organizational growth. These practices have allowed me to utilize in-house resources to their fullest while also saving time and money. My experiences with ComplianceWire® continue to show me the value of well-chosen third-party content as part of a training strategy that’s agile, accurate and scalable. 

Building a culture of learning in life sciences 

For me, training is about more than just checking a box. It’s about giving people the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to do their jobs well — and do them safely. 

Effective training shows up everywhere: in the audit room, in the laboratory and on the production floor. It’s the foundation of quality. 

Outsourcing training content doesn’t diminish your internal team. It empowers them. With the right vendor, you can scale training across regions, respond quickly to change and keep people engaged. 

At the end of the day, it's not just about content — it's about capability. And that makes all the difference.