Have you ever wished there were more hours in the day to achieve a tight training deadline? Outsourcing your training requirements internationally could be the answer as it can allow you to access multiple time zones and decrease your costs.
In business these days, time really is money. Usually, once the need for training is identified, it must be rolled out as soon as possible and a standard training development cycle or a missed deadline could cost your organization greatly. The solution could lie in outsourcing your training requirements internationally. Although there are several advantages on offer, outsourcing internationally may not suit every project.
In this article, PulseLearning explores 5 situations where international outsourcing could be your best solution for achieving training projects on time and on budget.
1. When standard development processes won’t deliver on time.
In situations where a standard ADDIE, or even rapid development process, won’t deliver your training on time, international outsourcing could be your golden ticket.
One of the most attractive benefits of international outsourcing is literally buying time through “follow the sun” development. By outsourcing your training requirements to a vendor in an opposite time zone, you can double the working hours available to you. Your vendor will be working as your team sleeps, meaning you can review work on waking and have changes ready for them to pick up in their morning.
2. When your development budget doesn’t stretch far enough.
Usually, international outsourcing will lead to savings in the development phase of the project. Of course, it depends on which country you operate in and which country you outsource to. The added bonus is that there might be other savings up for grabs by delivering your training earlier than you would have been able to if you didn’t outsource it internationally.
3. When your quality expectations are reasonable.![\"\"](\"https://www.pulselearning.com/fs/2018/06/noun_66177_cc.png\")
It may not be that your vendor has quality issues, but you need to keep in mind that a quality product can look different in another country, especially in developing countries. When outsourcing a project internationally, you do need to relinquish some control and trust your vendor. This might not be the best option if you have your heart set on winning an industry award but may work for many projects.
If you have concerns about quality or are working with a vendor for the first time, consider asking for a short demo version to be created so you can review the standard of work and rectify any issues early in the process.
4. When projects are clear and easy to follow.
Some projects just have complex subject matter by nature. If a project isn’t completely resolved during the storyboarding phase, or if any content is open to interpretation, outsourcing internationally may not be your best option. However, if content is clear and you can provide a tight storyboard it could be a great solution.
Even if your chosen international vendor has high proficiency in English, you could still face language challenges. The words and phrases used within your organization may be understood differently by people in other countries so always provide clear instructions using plain, unambiguous language.
5. When you need a development skill you don’t have.
Perhaps you have a project that needs to be developed in an authoring tool your organization doesn’t have experience with or you need a course to be mobile responsive and this is an area you are still exploring. International outsourcing can allow you to gain instant expertise in a specific development skill you may not have access to. Just make sure your international vendor is clear on your testing requirements.
There are some key considerations when outsourcing training requirements internationally; however, it can provide significant advantages for appropriate projects. The time and cost savings make international outsourcing a viable and attractive option for getting projects with tight time frames across the line.
