Learning and development (L&D) is at the forefront of discussions about how businesses can keep up with technology, overcome skills gaps and prepare for the future.

While companies recognize the importance of L&D, many lack the in-house resources to implement it effectively and sustainably. That’s why they rely on managed learning services for support.

A managed learning service (MLS) is a solution that allows organizations to outsource some or all aspects of their learning and development programs to a third-party vendor.

A business might employ a managed learning service provider to help with:

There are a number of reasons why a business would choose to work with a managed learning service instead of doing everything internally. Let’s dive in. 

Building a learning and development program from scratch is both costly and time-consuming. The expenses include fixed costs such as developing your technology infrastructure and variable costs like per-user operations, implementation and ongoing technical maintenance. Additional costs might include licensing fees for external learning content or labor for content development.

Beyond the financial investment, the time commitment required from your team to implement and manage an in-house program is substantial.

Managed learning services offer a cost-effective alternative. Plus, many of these solutions are built to be flexible, allowing you to scale up or down as needed.

Managed learning services bring extensive client experience and expertise to the table. This might include specialized industry knowledge, as well as general best practices and innovations for creating and delivering effective learning programs that come from years of experience. 

It's like choosing between building your own engine from scratch or having a trusted and experienced friend build it for you. While building it yourself might be a valuable experience, you won't be cruising at top speeds as quickly as you would with expert help.

Managed learning services provide access to modern learning technology that might be too costly or resource-intensive to build, implement and maintain in-house. This can include a wide variety of solutions including:

Running an effective learning program requires understanding the most in-demand skills for your industry and finding the right learning content to target them. By using a managed learning service, you offload the demanding task of creating, curating and delivering these materials.

It’s crucial to remember that not all learning content is created equal. With countless accredited and non-accredited providers out there, the quality can vary greatly. By partnering with a managed learning service (MLS), you gain access to high-quality courses and programs from reputable academic institutions, ensuring your team benefits from the best available content.

An effective learning program requires a great deal of ongoing labor, such as:

Depending on your needs, a managed learning service can offset some or all of these tasks. This means your team can spend less time on administrative work and instead focus on L&D strategy and optimization.

A managed learning service can be an invaluable tool to minimize the labor and maximize the impact of L&D programs—but only when they’re a good fit. Not all service providers are created equal, so finding a high-quality partner is essential.

Here’s how to evaluate a vendor to meet your specific needs: 

Recognizing the role that L&D plays in driving your business is just a start. The real work lies in implementing an effective and sustainable L&D strategy that aligns with your talent and business goals. A managed learning system does the heavy lifting for you.

Get started today: Learn how partnering with InStride can help you streamline your L&D strategy and achieve your talent goals sooner.