It’s no secret that employee training has become an essential part of every successful business. Providing quality training helps your organization attract and retain new talent. Providing quality learning experiences also increases both productivity and your revenue.
In fact, companies who invest in employee training have 24% higher profit margins than those who do not(1). Ineffective training can be just as expensive costing companies $13.5 million a year per 1,000 employees(2).
Why are so many training programs ineffective? The learning landscape is continuously changing. Advances in technology have played a huge role and eLearning programs have become a necessity.
It takes a considerable amount of money to purchase the tools needed to deliver training content in modern learning environments such as virtual classrooms or other web-based training formats such as webinars and simulations. This is one of the many reasons organizations choose to outsource their training delivery needs.
Outsourcing training delivery also increases the efficiency of your business. Outsourcing projects reduces the workload of your HR staff. This allows your HR team to focus on other core objectives instead of spending time trying to learn about the latest training delivery trends and tools.
Organizations who choose to outsource their training delivery also reduce risk. When you outsource you no longer have to worry about IT problems or having a back-up plan if the instructor who delivers your training content is sick. Your outsourcing partner will assist you with any training delivery challenges that arise which keeps your training program running smoothly with minimal effort on your part.
Outsourcing has many benefits however not every L&D company is the same. Their offerings can vary greatly. To help you select the most suitable training delivery partner we have put together a list of factors you should consider before choosing an L&D partner.
Do They Have the Necessary Experience and Knowledge?
One of the major factors you should consider when choosing a training delivery partner should be the amount of experience and knowledge the organization has. More specifically, do they have experience with the methods of training delivery you are looking for?
Most organizations use the blended learning model to develop their corporate training programs. This model uses a blend of different types of training from online learning to classroom training.
It is important that your training partner has the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to help you develop the most effective training delivery strategy.
Can They Deliver Customized Content?
Another factor you should consider when looking for a training delivery partner is whether they have the ability to create customizable training.
One of the most popular training trends currently is personalized training programs. AI enhanced training programs are able to adapt and create custom learning paths for individual users. This helps learning and development teams overcome the challenge of creating training plans that appeal to diverse audiences and skill levels.
Can They Provide Content Delivery Across Multiple Platforms?
You should also look into is whether your potential learning partners have the ability to provide training content across multiple platforms including computers, mobile phones and devices such as tablets. Increasing access to training content on all devices is a popular trend this year.
Removing barriers and increasing access to learning content for all learners increases employee engagement. This is especially useful for organizations who have a growing remote workforce. This empowers your distributed teams by giving them the ability to access training content in real time wherever they have an internet connection.
Do They Offer Advanced Tools and Support Services?
The kinds of tools and services you look for in a partner may vary depending on the kind of project you need done. However, some training delivery partners will provide access to advanced L&D tech such as content creation tools to a user friendly LMS. Some providers will offer 24/7 support to their client’s others may have a different availability regarding support services.
Whether you feel you need 24/7 support or the most advanced L&D tools it is a good idea to take a look at the differences your potential partners are offering.
Are They a Managed Learning Services Provider?
Another option you may want to consider is whether it would make sense for your organization to partner with a company that offers managed learning services. Training delivery is only a small portion of the L&D services that are available.
If you are juggling multiple learning and development projects consolidating all your outsourced tasks will help you cut costs and reduce the time you spend managing vendor relationships. Partnering with a single company for your outsourcing needs also makes it easier to align all your learning objectives to maximize their effectiveness.
Do They Have Positive Reviews and Testimonials?
You can often find valuable insights to the previous work an organization has be reviewing their website, reviews and testimonials. Many training delivery companies provide case studies with detailed information on their past projects and work with clients.
By carefully reviewing this information you can get a better understanding of the different training delivery methods and projects they have experience with. This will help you determine which organizations may be the best fit and have what your organization is looking for.
Conclusion
Outsourcing is a great way to ensure quality content delivery while saving your HR team time to focus on other core initiatives. However now all learning and development companies have the same offerings and tools. Choosing the right training delivery partner to assist you with your learning and development needs will help your organization maximize the effectiveness of your corporate training program.
