Discover how to adopt new technology more seamlessly, from aligning new solutions with your business plan to engaging with experts to help deliver the benefits faster.
Many businesses rely on digital services and tools to help boost efficiency and productivity, and improve customer experience. However, integrating new technology can be daunting, especially if it means moving away from tried-and-tested practices.
In this article we explore tips for managing technology changes to help you and your team get benefits from new tech more quickly.
Your business will have specific needs when introducing new solutions. Some employees might already be tech-savvy, while others may need more support. The nature of the services or products you’re adopting will also influence how you manage the change.
Here are six general principles to consider when adopting new solutions.
Start by identifying problems you want to solve, or processes you want to improve.
For example, an electrician is spending too much time on the phone taking customer enquiries. This results in them missing potential customers and not providing the best on-site experience. The electrician sees an opportunity to take bookings and capture other enquiries online.
It’s worth considering your business plan when thinking about what you want to improve. In the example above, the electrician wants a strong base of recurring, loyal customers to help generate predictable revenues. By introducing online bookings, the electrician has reduced time spent on the phone and given customers a faster way to make bookings.
Aligning your technology goal to your business objectives can help show its potential value. It can also help convey the benefits to your staff.
Read more about ways to use technology to solve challenges
Once you have an idea of what process or task you want to improve, it’s time to research possible technology solutions.
As you research solutions, check how they solve your problem, and their costs and benefits. Chances are there is a wide range of options available. The solutions might share core functions but differ in how they work, offer extra features or pricing models.
Consider too if they integrate with your other digital services and tools. This can be valuable, as it can help make adoption easier and more efficient.
Engage your employees early and often to help smooth the transition to new ways of working. Ask them about the challenges they face and get their ideas for improvement. This will help you be proactive with change management and support your employees in a way that engages them on the journey.
It’s important to communicate upcoming changes if they affect staff or customers. Explain the reasons behind the changes and seek feedback.
Additionally, consider providing employees with training on the new technology.
Once you’ve adopted your chosen service or tool, encourage staff to share their views on the new system. You can use this feedback to ensure the new technology meets the needs of employees and your business as a whole.
Splitting up big technology initiatives into smaller projects helps to simplify complex processes. It also means you can identify and fix any concerns as they come up.
To begin, make a list of all the specific projects you need to complete to adopt your new solution. If any projects are large, break them down again into smaller, more manageable tasks. Then, focus on the items that'll have the biggest impact on your business.
Turning large projects into bite-sized tasks can help you improve your processes as you go and maintain momentum on your project. It can also help you see the benefits faster.
Early experiences of using the new systems can have a long-lasting impact on employees and customers. A good experience can encourage people to use the new system. This helps you achieve the goal you set for the project at the start. It can also help you increase the value you get from your investment.
That's why it's a good idea to find someone to help you with the implementation process. In fact, a trusted partner may be able to offer managed services or solutions where they take a more active role in looking after the technology for you.
Your technology service provider can help you develop a business strategy for implementing new technologies. They may also provide insights and recommendations that can help save you time and money.
It's good practice for every business to back up their data and keep separate copies. But backups are vital when moving to new systems. Having a backup helps ensure you don't lose critical data, even if something does go wrong.
There are several ways to back up data. One option is to use a cloud backup service. These services store your data on a remote server, so it is protected in case of a hardware failure. Another option is to use a local backup. This involves copying your data to an external hard drive or other storage device.
Learn about the 3-2-1 back up strategy
Adopting new technologies can change how you operate. But change doesn’t have to be challenging. Aligning your technology choices to your business plan helps to ensure you’re not making change for change’s sake.
Engaging with your team and customers if relevant can help you identify potential bumps in the road before they occur and proactively plan to manage them.
Technology upgrades or new tools have the potential to help your business in many ways. You might be hoping to boost productivity, help your team be more efficient, help secure your business, or improve the experience of your customers.
Engaging with trusted partners who can help you identify the best solution and implement it well can help you deliver the most impact for your business.
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