Technology keeps on evolving and it is essential for companies to keep track of these changes and adopt them. In many cases, companies have incurred a lot of losses and lost income as a result of using outdated technology. But adopting new technology needs adequate planning. Here are five ways to introduce new technology to your office.
1. Pick New Tech Tools with Care
A successful introduction of new technology in the workplace depends on the technology itself. Before introducing any technology to your office, confirm its benefits to the organization. Quantify these advantages early in the process as you develop a detailed business case for the tech tool. This will assist you in creating the sales pitch you require to get your staff on board. You also need to determine how the technology will make the lives of your workers better. Be sure to talk to your staff to see how the tool can help them, and they will be more open to it. What’s more, you will need to confirm the resources needed for the introduction of the tool.
2. Determine the Stakeholders
Many organizations take a high-level look at critical stakeholders and miss the complete effect on the other users. For instance, if you are looking to adopt a new accounting tool, the accountants and bookkeepers are the main stakeholders. But if you only consider them, you will have issues with HR representatives who take care of payroll, supply chain management specialists who track orders on the accounting system, and customer care agents who access the tool to answer customer queries. They are also stakeholders who will be affected by the adoption of the system. Consider consulting all the departments of your organization regarding the impact they will experience when the new technology is introduced. This will ensure that their needs are met by the tool.
3. Create a Roll-Out Plan
After deciding to adopt new technology, build a roll-out plan using that data you have collected regarding company benefits, problems it will solve, and the involved stakeholders. Be sure that the plan has the key dates when the tool will be implemented, when employees will change over completely to the new technology, and when the current tool will be shut down. Moreover, you need to ensure that your plan includes any training opportunities that will be availed to the employees. Consider the training to be offered to the various departments and the styles to be used. Lastly, since your workforce is diverse and includes slow learners and fast learners, ensure your plan includes realistic expectations for adoption.
4. Have a Fun Training
Most people are excited when they buy a new smartphone or laptop that exploring the new functionalities is always fun. Reading manuals and watching tutorials always seem like a fun challenge instead of a hardship. Even though your staff may not be happy about a new intranet, CRM, or other tools, you need to inspire that kind of excitement in them. You can do that by using fun training formats like games and scavenger hunts that can get your staff invested. You can even host a lunch instead of a boring PowerPoint presentation. Additionally, you can offer incentives like small gift cards to show your workers that their efforts are valued. Also, ensure your trainers are wisely picked.
5. Do Appropriate Follow-Ups
Introducing new technology to your office will need you to evaluate its performance after setup. This evaluation will assist you in identifying both perceived and actual problems regarding the way the tool performs. Schedule an evaluation of the success of the roll-out at various intervals as you move on. These follow-ups will help you in identifying workers that didn’t get enough training as well as use cases that are infrequent such that training did not sufficiently cover them. What’s more, it is essential to be open to employee feedback and show that you have the willingness to act on their suggestions. When employees feel that they are being listened to, they will be more open to adopting the tool.
Choosing a technology that meets the needs of the organization while solving employee problems can be a winner for you. These five ways will ensure successful technology adoption.
