Ever since eLearning has gained traction in the corporate L&D space, organizations want to incorporate eLearning in their training frameworks. However, maintaining an in-house eLearning design and development team full of talent and versatility is a challenge. But to overcome this stumbling block, eLearning outsourcing is here to save your day!
→ Download eBook: Selecting the Right Vendor for eLearning Development Outsourcing
Table Of Content
- Why Should You Consider eLearning Outsourcing?
- What Elements to Outsource in eLearning Development?
- What are the Crucial Factors to Consider Before Outsourcing eLearning?
- What Next?
Why Should You Consider eLearning Outsourcing?
1. Reduced Development Costs
One of the biggest advantages of eLearning outsourcing is it cuts down the cost in various ways. It helps in decreasing costs and increasing turnover. An expensive in-house development team might not suit every organization, it is better to outsource eLearning. Hiring a team for eLearning development, managing other required resources, and the cost to maintain and update courses is an expensive affair. Outsourcing eLearning will not only help you in saving costs but also get professional help for the project, the resources and tools required by organizations to develop custom eLearning solutions also cost a significant amount, by outsourcing it is easy to cut down those costs too. You can have multiple courses in the pipeline, all of that at lower costs.
2. Specialized Expertise
PwC's 2024 Digital Trends in Operations Survey reveals that 64% of companies use third-party vendors to address skill gaps.
eLearning outsourcing brings specialized expertise to the table. It is better to go with the professionals when an important part such as training is involved. If you hire an eLearning developer, you are utilizing their skills, knowledge, and experience. An eLearning development professional will likely have software developers, graphic designers, and curriculum developers ready to do the task. While as an organization you will have to hire such professionals in-house and spend time and effort to manage them. All these eLearning development experts know about the latest eLearning trends and tools available to them.
3. Reduced Risks
If you decide to develop courses in-house there is a risk involved. There is a possibility that the alpha version may not always be perfect and you might have to redo the whole thing, which will involve added cost, time, and effort. But leaving the eLearning design and development process in the hands of highly specialized professionals, such risks are significantly reduced, as they will work on the final project until approved by you. Professionals will closely work with you until you are satisfied with the completion of the project. It is also easy for an organization to focus on the core responsibilities rather than the added responsibility of eLearning development.
A Practical Guide to Outsourcing E-Learning Design & Development
Tips and Best Practices for an Effective Outsourcing Journey
- eLearning Elements that can be Outsourced
- Tasks Before Outsourcing
- Tips for Selecting the Right eLearning Vendor
- Ways to Support your Vendor
4. Faster Implementation
Working with timelines is something every organization aims at. Managing multiple deadlines is also okay. Developing and delivering eLearning solutions within the given timeframe also leads to effective learning, as learners get training at the time of need. It is advisable to outsource eLearning development if you have tight deadlines to meet and multiple eLearning courses to deliver. As for an eLearning outsourcing vendor developing eLearning courses is their primary job and they will make sure to give you a high-quality product within the given timeframe. If you are hard-pressed for time and need to meet the timelines of eLearning implementation, then outsourcing eLearning might be an ideal solution for you. Working in such a dynamic environment, keeping up with the current trends is a necessity. Employees should be kept updated and for that courses have to be kept updated frequently. Leaving it in the hands of professionals seems like an ideal solution.
5. More Focus on Core business
What brings revenue is the core business of an organization. Allocation of maximum resources and efforts towards your core business is a profitable decision. eLearning outsourcing can help your team make room for essentials that drive towards the bigger purpose. Your employees will be able to focus on customer-centricity and innovation, to scale performance and profits.
What Elements to Outsource in eLearning Development?
You've seen the benefits of eLearning outsourcing. But what exactly can you outsource to maximize these advantages? Here's a quick look at the key elements you can delegate to create impactful eLearning experiences.
What are the Crucial Factors to Consider Before Outsourcing eLearning?
Planning to Try eLearning Outsourcing?
Here are 4 things to do:
- State Learning Objectives
- Evaluate Outsourcing Vendors
- Verify Content Availability
- Evaluate eLearning Development Budget and Timelines
1. State Learning Objectives
Learning objectives play a key role in describing what the learners will learn by the end of the course. So, it’s crucial to set performance-based learning objectives which are aligned with adult learning principles as learning objectives form the basis for deciding:
- Scope of content
- Choice of instructional design strategy
- Assessment method
- Duration and cost
Ensure that the learning objectives are precisely defined so that the learners are aware of the eLearning course’s vision and mission.
The learning objectives are about what you want to achieve from the eLearning course. In other words, the objectives explain the expected outcomes from the learners (the defined KPIs) after the creation of the eLearning course.
By clearly stating learning objectives before outsourcing eLearning, you get a clearer picture of
- What is to be expected from the eLearning course?
- Who are the learners for the course?
- What are the specific skills that learners will acquire?
2. Evaluate Outsourcing Vendors
Extensive research about the eLearning vendor is an important factor to consider to understand their work and position in the industry. When selecting an outsourcing partner for custom eLearning, it is crucial to take some time to go through their testimonials, talk to their existing and former clients to get a clear picture of their ability to work across time zones, deal with cultural differences, handle large projects, and other aspects. Additionally, it’s important to take into account their track record of completing projects on time and within budget, the data security procedures they adhere to, and the simplicity of working with the eLearning outsourcing vendor.
Search for eLearning companies that:
- Create engaging eLearning courses utilizing effective instructional design principles.
- Keep the spirit of the classroom alive in eLearning
- Utilize the latest eLearning authoring tools and AI tools
- Work closely with you without regard to time or cultural constraints
Struggling to find the perfect outsourcing vendor for your eLearning needs? Here's how to make the right choice!
3. Verify Content Availability
Diving deep into the available content in the form of PDFs, PPTs, guides or whitepapers is crucial. Identifying and filling content gaps with the help of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and then updating the obsolete parts of content, makes it ready to be sent to the eLearning outsourcing vendor.
Another important factor to consider when dealing with available content is to check its relevance. It’s crucial to critically analyze content because it is a high determining factor for the success of any eLearning but if done incorrectly it can be a bottleneck in the process of eLearning outsourcing.
It’s important to strike a balance for the right content because too much content is a problem and too little relevant content is also an issue.
Make the content ideal for eLearning outsourcing by-
- Filtering content using defined learning objectives.
- Eliminating content that is not aligned with learning objectives.
- Identifying and addressing eLearning content gaps.
4. Evaluate eLearning Development Budget and Timelines
The amount of time it takes to create and deliver eLearning modules is also crucial, especially in contemporary work settings where ongoing learning is required! Rapid eLearning development and delivery are therefore essential. No matter what the format of eLearning is it is important to consider the timeline of the course development where the course is developed in a stipulated timeframe without compromising on the quality of the eLearning course.
Another factor to be closely considered in addition to timelines is budget. Here it’s important to consider both – the cost of the eLearning development and the cost for distributing it to the learners which includes the platform to deliver training such as a Learning Management System (LMS).
Although outsourcing is typically less expensive than employing an in-house team, it is crucial to monitor how much is to be spent on it. Considering this, you need to come up with a budget and then consider if outsourcing eLearning fits in your budget.
What Next?
Choosing eLearning outsourcing is a solution to challenges related to resources, experience, and expertise while developing a custom eLearning course. The above-discussed factors are sure to provide you with initial guidance to start outsourcing eLearning. And if you are looking for more tips and best practices for selecting eLearning outsourcing companies, dig deep and gain insights with our eBook. Download it right away!
