How to Boost User Adoption to Ensure Success When You Deploy New Technology Solutions

Committing to a transformation of major business processes is a big step. The initial needs assessments and preliminary system designs alone will require time and resources. The up-front costs of new hardware and software are primary concerns, as are the overhead resources needed to deploy and integrate new tools. And you’ll likely be adopting some new workflows to capture the benefits of your technology investments, so that’s another aspect to plan for. Add it up, and you’re probably making a significant investment in time, money and resources.

So, your new systems and tools better work as well as (or better) than expected if you’re going to achieve the ROI you’re aiming for. That puts a premium on training and user adoption: You can’t expect maximum benefits from new tools if users are slow to adopt them or if the training needed to put them into use is ineffective.

Fear that it will be difficult to convince users to adopt new tools is a common concern for IT departments, but there are some strategies that will help you simplify training, accelerate user adoption, and quickly achieve positive ROI when you put new tools in place.

Choose Hardware That’s Actually Designed for Rapid Adoption

The most obvious step to take to encourage use of new technology is to start with tools that are engineered for ease of deployment, ease of use, and ease of management. One of the key reasons we recommend Zebra barcode scanners, printers, mobile computers, and rugged tablets is that they utilize intelligent designs that are proven to ease user adoption.

For example, the more familiar the operating system, the faster users will get to know the capabilities of the new devices. If users aren’t comfortable with the way a device works, they won’t get the full benefit of what it can do. Zebra’s innovative enterprise mobile computers rely on the Android operating system. Since Android is the world’s most popular OS, it’s already familiar to most of your workforce, which means Zebra’s mobile computers require less training on the basics, and users are easily be able to access the functions they need.

Choose the Right Training Partner

If even one person fails to adopt the new technology because they don’t understand how to use it, it’s going to disrupt your workflows and make it hard to receive full ROI from your investment. That means you need a training plan that will guarantee every impacted worker knows how to use the new solution.

Even businesses that have a dedicated training staff struggle to develop and execute effective training programs when new technology is introduced. That’s simply because in-house trainers didn’t build the solution and they usually don’t have a deep level of expertise with the tools. This is when it makes sense to rely on external training resources, including your technology partner and the OEM. Bringing solution experts like SK&T or Zebra into the training equation will instantly skew the odds of a successful rollout in your favor.

The beauty of this approach is that nobody has deeper product knowledge than an OEM like Zebra, and they have a learning services team that specializes in a “train the trainer” approach that gives you a proven framework of training tools and support.

Involve Employees at the Start

Selling workers on the value of a new technology solution usually begins long before the hardware is selected. Nothing improves your chances for widespread and rapid adoption than giving employees a sense of ownership in the solution. It’s critical to involve employees in the process right from the start. Let them help define the solution by asking them to detail the problems they’re having with existing tools. Then make sure they’re involved in pilot programs so they can provide valuable feedback on early training efforts.

It’s also critical to communicate expectations throughout the entire process, from initial assessments right through rollout of the new tools. The key is to help employees understand why you’re making changes and how those changes align with their goals and interests. Demonstrate how new technology will make workers’ jobs easier or show them how they’ll acquire valuable skills, and it will be much easier to get them to buy-in.

SK&T and Zebra can show you how to increase adoption of innovative technology solutions that can make a big impact on your bottom line. Contact SK&T to learn more.