Although eLearning outsourcing has been adopted widely and is on the rise, organizations are still skeptical about it and hesitate to outsource their eLearning for a plethora of reasons. To outsource eLearning or develop it in-house still remains a puzzling question for them.
Organizations are increasingly using eLearning solutions to meet their company’s critical training objectives. Sometimes, the task of building these solutions can seem daunting, especially for organizations that have no experience in this field. On the other hand, even if organizations do have in-house capability, other considerations such as lack of time, the need for faster rollout, etc., can lead to them taking a decision to outsource the eLearning requirement to vendors.
What are the Common Objections Stalling eLearning Outsourcing?
Here are a few:
- Data Confidentiality Issues
- Inadequate Quality and Expertise
- High Costs
- Poor Communication
- Project Management Concerns
- Lack of Latest Tools and Technologies
Let’s Find Solutions to Them!
eLearning outsourcing is an everyday reality today. However, in the minds of most customers, the very word sometimes conjures up popular misconceptions, and pre-conceived notions (particularly in the context of offshored outsourcing, which is a somewhat sensitive issue) and rarely do individuals participate in any outsourcing debate without a pre-determined stance. Even before doing the relevant research on its necessity, viability, feasibility, potential savings and the hard ROI, individuals are either for it or against it.
6 Common Objections to eLearning Outsourcing
Let’s look at a couple of common objections when it comes to eLearning outsourcing:
1. Data Confidentiality Issues
Objection- Data is at stake because trusting an external vendor with confidential data and proprietary information is risky.
Solution- But today, it’s something not to worry about because data protection is now a legal requirement when outsourcing. So, organizations are making it mandatory when outsourcing, to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the vendor to safeguard confidential data. Furthermore, safeguarding data with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) has also become common.
Outsourcing becomes significantly less risky when the proper mitigation measures are taken to prevent data breaches. Data security is guaranteed when outsourcing is treated as the primary concern rather than a last-minute whim.
2. Inadequate Quality and Expertise
Objection- Outsourcing vendors don’t have a solid understanding of the principles and ideas behind high-performing eLearning and lack subject matter expertise.
Solution- This is a basic objection that arises in the very initial stages of considering eLearning outsourcing, but with proper evaluation of the outsourcing vendor’s portfolio and going through similar eLearning projects they have worked on, their experience in the field can be understood. Asking for a prototype will help too.
Vendors specialized in eLearning are always on the cutting edge of trends and technology, and work within a well-defined development process. Definitely, something to look out for! Moreover, today most vendors use the Successive Approximation Model (SAM), an agile and adaptive development process, which is an assurance of quality delivered by expert eLearning outsourcing vendors.
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3. High Costs
Objection- eLearning outsourcing runs the risk of unexpected costs.
Solution- Tight budgets and high costs contribute as a prime reason for outsourcing and cost saving is its primary benefit. It’s important to plan the project plan and the costs associated with it in order to prevent unanticipated costs from emerging mid-course development. It is necessary to take into account each contributing factor when estimating the costs. For instance, if the eLearning course includes strategies like gamification, simulations or scenarios, the cost will comparatively be higher. Use of different authoring tools also leads to variations in costs. Knowing the cost per learning hour is the best way to choose the right eLearning course price.
Therefore, to fully benefit from eLearning outsourcing, you must set aside a budget that has been carefully considered. A clearly stated budget also provides the eLearning outsourcing vendor with a clear picture of the project’s scope.
4. Poor Communication
Objection- Communication with the outsourcing vendor isn’t smooth and dealing with a distant vendor presents problems and communication gaps.
Solution- Good communication is crucial for any outsourcing arrangement to succeed. When any issue arises, with effective communication, it can be resolved. Sharing of information in a proper and effective manner ensures there is clarity of objectives and interests on both sides.
Continuous communication eliminates confusion and fosters a relationship with the outsourcing vendor that will last over time. This guarantees that the eLearning course is delivered according to our specifications. Furthermore, an ideal eLearning vendor has the ability to promptly respond to queries which streamlines the procedure.
5. Project Management Concerns
Objection- Organizations lose control of project management and the process becomes rigid because the outsourcing vendors have their own policies in place and may not encourage flexibility.
Solution- Project management is made simpler, as is handling difficulties skillfully and coming up with the best solutions to issues when there is adequate knowledge of the vendor’s development process, the flexibility of their work, and their turnaround time. The process of eLearning design and development is finished precisely when the targets and objectives are stated clearly.
When there’s adequate knowledge about the vendor’s process of development, the flexibility of their work and also their turnaround time, project management becomes easier in addition to handling challenges seamlessly and finding ideal solutions to problems. When the targets and objectives are stated clearly, the process of eLearning design and development is completed with precision. The quality assurance procedure and operational system of the eLearning vendor will give you an idea about their adherence to quality of service and project management skills.
6. Lack of Latest Tools and Technologies
Objection- eLearning outsourcing vendors lack access to the latest tools and technological developments.
Solution- Outsourcing vendors are investing AI tools and technologies to enhance their way of working because the emerging and promising field of Artificial Intelligence on the global market is projected to reach $331 billion by 2025. In order to optimize their operations, find new opportunities, and arrive at wise decisions, outsourcing vendors are therefore utilizing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to design and develop top-notch eLearning solutions.
The need for real-time insights and data-driven decisions is greater than ever in light of recent technological advancements. the capacity to continuously monitor and evaluate performance metrics. With the help of real-time analytics, outsourcing companies are able to quickly pinpoint performance problems, evaluate the efficacy of their processes, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their operations and make the process easy for both parties.
To Conclude!
Overcome these objections and leverage eLearning outsourcing to create high-quality, learner-centric eLearning courses on time and within budget. Discover tips and best practices for an effective eLearning outsourcing journey with our eBook. Download your copy today!
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in June 2011 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
