Outsourcing

Outsourcing training and development — what does it mean for L&D teams?

Outsourcing training and development allows L&D teams to access external expertise and scale face-to-face hybrid and virtual programs without building everything internally. For L&D leaders, outsourcing often focuses on facilitation, hybrid program delivery, instructional design, and production support. Unlike ad hoc contracting, outsourcing is a structured relationship that helps organizations scale quickly, maintain quality, and meet complex hybrid and global learning demands.
Compare staff augmentation, outsourcing, and managed learning services for a breakdown of how each model works.

Why This Matters
Outsourcing training and development allows L&D leaders to focus on strategy instead of execution. By tapping into external expertise, organizations gain access to certified facilitators, coaches, designers, and producers who bring proven frameworks and global scalability. This ensures program quality in virtual and hybrid environments while freeing internal teams to concentrate on innovation and business impact.

Strategic Next Steps

  • Define your gaps — is the challenge facilitation, design, or administration?
  • Align to business goals — ensure outsourced support ties to ROI, not just cost savings.
  • Vet for virtual expertise — many vendors added “virtual” as an afterthought; confirm specialization.
  • Start small if needed — pilot a project before expanding into managed learning services.

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