The term “managed learning services” describes outsourcing the training process or different learning activities to a third-party learning service provider. Managed learning services (MLS) is a strategy paradigm for outsourcing Learning & Development (L&D) operations to different service providers, who manage all the training needs and end-to-end learning management.
Managed learning services provide a variety of advantages, including the centralization of L&D operations, workflow automation, a defined demand plan, the choice of an efficient delivery mode, and performance statistics. Due to the benefits of outsourcing managed learning services, many multinational corporations have switched to working with globally integrated training vendors to automate the L&D life cycle.
About 80% of training activities in the L&D sector are outsourced, including instructional design, learning technology, and content creation and delivery. Different industries have reported engaging with numerous local and regional e-learning development companies.
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Benefits of Managed Learning Services
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted several businesses, including the market for training and development. There is a demand for remote training services because many commercial and public enterprises have permitted their staff to work from home during the lockdowns. Businesses are increasingly outsourcing L&D operations to outside providers to save training costs. As remote working and learning become the new norm in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the managed learning services industry is predicted to expand by two times by 2022.
Enhancing the learning environment fosters collaboration and relationships within a company, as well as resilience, innovation, and increased competitiveness. As a result, managed learning transforms L&D into an enabler and improves the working environment.
1. Improved operational effectiveness
An organization can concentrate on its core capabilities by hiring a managed service provider. Organizations can use managed service providers to align training programs with business goals, ensuring that all training initiatives contribute to corporate objectives. A managed service provider should also help firms conduct post-training activities that maximize training ROI and identify the effects of training on business operations, culture, etc.
2. Cost-controlled training
When a company manages training programs internally, it is in charge of all aspects of training administration (creation of training content, delivery, logistics, post-training activities, etc.) and other unadvertised expenditures associated with training. These programs receive a large amount of company attention and funding.
These hidden expenses can be found and reduced with managed learning services, which may even take on some process risks. You may maximize the use of your training budget by doing this, which frees up money for other training programs. To increase efficiency, managed service providers frequently invest in technologies and procedures.
3. Enhance instructional delivery
Every organization requires assistance implementing formal learning for the right individuals on a limited budget. It is possible to employ a consistent curriculum that integrates digital information with in-person and online courses. It might be challenging to promote self-directed learning. It is crucial to ensure that learners make the most of the time they spend receiving face-to-face training.
4. Wide range of expertise
Managed learning services can assist in creating new training strategies for your company and further integrating training expenditures with corporate goals. A higher level of learning uniformity throughout the company is also ensured by hiring a managed service provider to run a training project.
4. Allows flexibility
A company’s training program needs to be adaptable so that it can be made available as soon as a new product is released or a new partner joins. Using the flexibility that online training programs provide, a company may provide targeted upskilling training to partners and workers during slow business periods.
A company can modify the training level to adapt to changing circumstances thanks to managed learning services. Since a company does not need a full-time training team, it can keep its expenses low during times of prosperity and scale up rapidly if necessary.
7. Encourage ongoing improvement
The best-managed learning providers continually work to improve and consolidate their offerings. Therefore, their clients gain from ongoing development in all facets of the learning provision.
According to research, managed learning is shifting to keep up with expanding worldwide trends driven by global markets. The assistance that managed to learn offers in supporting their training strategy is becoming valued by employers worldwide.
8. eLearning materials
The success of eLearning is mainly dependent on the training materials. However, it might be challenging for many firms to gather specialists within the organization to provide internal learning content. Additionally, developing an effective learning curriculum takes knowledge, sometimes needing more in the company.
Many managed service providers offer content transformation services that can assist enterprises in turning current information into helpful corporate training materials. Existing content can be transformed for various purposes, including student guides, training manuals, assessments, and more. The service providers can develop specialized content for prompt and effective learning delivery in response to new and emerging needs within the organization.
Closing Thoughts
Managed learning services can complete whatever shortfalls a company may have had with its L&D initiatives. Managed learning services offer the support organizations need to meet their training objectives, whether there is no dedicated training team or the L&D department is overworked. When running their training programs, companies that use managed learning services also benefit in many ways.
Also read: 7 Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Language Learning
