Outsourcing Flash To HTML5 Conversion: What To Know
Flash is dying a slow death. Most corporate organizations that keep their Learning and Development (L&D) department updated with new and upcoming trends have already converted all their legacy eLearning courses from Flash to HTML5. While Flash is not quite dead, its time is almost over. Adobe discontinued Flash and reintroduced itself as Adobe Animate, but people have already made up their minds.
HTML5 also offers a number of benefits, including the fact that it supports all browsers natively, while additional plugins need to be installed for Flash. Secondly, Flash requires a higher processing power compared to HTML5. Thirdly, HTML5 is freely available, while Flash requires a dedicated development environment and has to be bought. HTML5 is also SEO-friendly, while Flash is not. It is clear, after reading the above-mentioned points, that a corporate organization with an L&D program needs to convert from Flash to HTML5 as soon as possible. But then comes the big question: Should you convert it yourself in-house or should you outsource to a vendor? Let’s have a look at the details of both of them.
If you are thinking of converting from Flash to HTML5 in-house, you need to have a dedicated professional team. You might also have to hire additional resources for the right skillsets. However, doing things in-house has its own advantages, such as better communication and a streamlined process. If you are thinking of outsourcing Flash to HTML5 conversion, you should have a qualified team that can handle a high volume of conversions. However, the challenge lies in managing effective communication.
Most organizations outsource Flash to HTML5 to another vendor because it saves them the headache of hiring an in-house team. Most vendors also charge way less than the amount you’ll have to spend building an in-house team and converting all your courses. If you do decide to outsource Flash to HTML5 conversion to an eLearning vendor, there are certain things you should keep in mind while doing so. Let’s have a look at these.
1. Make Sure The Vendor You Outsource Consists Of Experienced Professionals
Converting courses from Flash to HTML5 isn’t easy. It is a strenuous process that requires a lot of time and a certain level of expertise. It is recommended that you assess the expertise of your eLearning vendor, so as not to damage the integrity of the courses before handing them over for the conversion process. Some ways to assess the expertise of vendors are to have a look at their past record of projects successfully delivered, have a look at reviews as well as testimonials, look at case-studies on their website, and ask them for the process they’ll use for the conversion as well as the templates they’ll use to expedite the process and save time.
2. Make Sure They Use Rapid eLearning Tools
Ask your eLearning vendor for a timeline. They should be able to provide you with the completed project within a reasonable timeline. Make sure they use rapid eLearning authoring tools, which will make the conversion process faster. As the eLearning content is already present in Flash format, converting it to HTML5 format shouldn’t take much time for a vendor that is using rapid eLearning authoring tools, even if some of the source files or media components are missing.
3. Make Sure The Blueprint Or Plan Of The Conversion Process Is Proper
As mentioned before, ask the vendor for a proper blueprint or plan of the conversion process. Make sure that the development phase is clearly laid out, and that they keep you involved in all the different phases of the whole conversion process. Ask them what authoring tools they’ll use for extracting content and media from the learning material available, and that only the best templates will be used to develop prototypes and embedded interactivities. Also, make sure that they consult you before making any important decisions.
Always look for an eLearning vendor that can offer you extra or bonus services. Hiring professional eLearning vendors who have years of experience can sometimes even iron out any flaws your courses may have, after consulting with you of course. Make your requirements clear before selecting them, and always discuss the scope of your project beforehand. The more information you provide them with, the more likely it is for you to get a flawless conversion.