2024 has seen the rise of Managed Learning Services (MLS) among organizations and L&D Managers looking to leverage impact. While there is a lot of chatter around the strategy, are the benefits practical and sustainable? In this blog post, we will explore the concept of managed learning services, its benefits, the challenges they can help resolve, and the areas of maximum impact for L&D leaders.
What is Managed Learning Services (MLS)?
MLS is a comprehensive outsourcing solution that helps companies stay on top of their training needs. They are designed to address the challenges of developing, deploying, and managing training programs, which can be resource-intensive and time-consuming for businesses. MLS providers offer a range of services, including content development, expert delivery, robust support systems, and training flexibility. Whether you're a small business looking to upskill your workforce or a large enterprise seeking to scale your training programs, MLS can help you achieve your learning and development goals and align training initiatives with strategic goals.
What are the Benefits of MLS?
Some of the benefits of MLS include better control over budgets, freeing up resources, access to expanded expertise, access to quality learning material, full learner support, and better tracking of training performance. Businesses can ensure that their training initiatives are effective, efficient, and aligned with their strategic goals—provided they partner with a reliable and comprehensive managed learning services provider.
Here are 8 undeniable benefits of MLS:
- Cost Savings - MLS providers can help businesses save on training costs by offering cost-effective solutions that are tailored to individual needs, avoiding costs associated with hiring and training in-house staff, and optimizing training budgets through content development, delivery, and support services.
- Institutional Knowledge - MLS providers can help businesses retain institutional knowledge and ensure continuity of training programs by partnering with experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of the company's culture, values, and goals and providing tools and resources for tracking and managing learner progress.
- Specialized Expertise - MLS providers can offer specialized expertise in training and development, helping businesses stay up-to-date with the latest training trends and technologies, and providing access to a network of instructors and subject matter experts for delivering training programs.
- Scalability and Flexibility - MLS providers allow businesses to scale their training programs up or down as needed and offer training programs tailored to individual learners' needs and job roles, ensuring that training initiatives are relevant and effective.
- Vendor Consolidation - MLS providers can help businesses consolidate their training vendors, reducing the complexity and cost of managing multiple vendors and streamlining training programs through a single point of contact.
- Improved Service Levels - MLS providers can ensure that training programs are delivered on time and within budget and provide tools and resources for tracking and managing learner progress, ensuring that training initiatives are effective and aligned with business goals. MLS providers can tie all your L&D initiatives together.
- Technical Advancements - MLS providers can offer access to the latest training technologies, including learning management systems, content authoring tools, and virtual classrooms, and provide technical support to ensure seamless delivery of training programs. They have the expertise to suggest technological advancements as needed for the organization to help meet goals.
- Focus on Innovation - MLS providers can help businesses focus on innovation by outsourcing the management of their training programs to experienced professionals. This frees up internal resources to focus on innovation and growth and ensures that training programs are managed by experts who have a deep understanding of the latest training trends and technologies.
What are some of the new and comprehensive managed learning services for L&D leaders?
MLS providers offer L&D managers a holistic approach to building a sustainable learning ecosystem in the organization. The focus should be tailored solutions that help align learning needs with business goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach! MLS providers are an extension of your in-house team; choose wisely.
While some services on this list will be provided by most MLS providers, consider their experience across industries and their adaptability to deliver innovation and flexibility.
- Learning Strategy Design - to help you design, develop, deliver, administer, and optimize learning programs tailored to your strategic business goals.
- Curriculum Design & Content Development - to help you create content and build a curriculum that engages and motivates learners while meeting objectives.
- Learning Delivery - to help you decide on virtual or in-person training options that transform learners from diverse industries and cohorts.
- Learning Technology Consulting - to recommend learning technologies that help you achieve goals effectively.
- Implementation/Integration Services - to help you overcome challenges associated with implementing new technologies or integrating different platforms and build a seamless learning ecosystem.
- AI Services - to help you leverage the power of artificial intelligence in your learning and development initiatives. Ability to educate and empower audiences.
- Analytics and Insights - to help you gather insights with every initiative and use them to create and deliver better learning experiences.
