There’s no doubt that technology has changed the way we work. Computers, smartphones, and other devices have become essential tools in many industries. But with all the new technology available, getting employees on board with technology adoption can take time and effort.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help your employees understand and adopt new technology. By showing them how new technology can make their lives easier, you can help them see the value in using it.
Here are a few tips for helping your employees understand and use new technology.
1. Explain why they should care about using new technology
One of the best ways to get employees on board with new technology is to explain why they should care about using it. Show them how the technology you’ve introduced can help them in their job. For example, if introducing a new software program, show them how it can save time or make their work easier.
If you can explain why the technology is essential, it will take less time and effort to get employees to use it. So take the time to show them how new technology can benefit them.
You’ve likely researched available options and settled on the one you think is the best fit for your company and its teams. However, employees often resist change because they don’t want to learn something new. But if you can show them how the new tool can simplify their work or save them time, they’ll be more likely to adopt it.
DHL, a global company that delivers packages and documents worldwide, realized that to stay competitive and adapt to changing needs during the onset of the pandemic, they needed to adopt new technology. Logistics technology advancements meant they had to find ways to track packages and deliveries more efficiently. By offering step-by-step instructions and guides for employees to use Mateen Thiruselvaam, Senior Vice President of HR, DHL Express Asia Pacific, said,
“Now we see employees who were skeptical about many digital solutions suddenly realize that they can work from home without having to upend the way they were used to working and can maintain their productivity and efficiency.“
When introducing new technology to their workforce, they also made sure to have two-way communication to encourage employees to share their feedback. Thiruselvaam says,
“Only by practicing honest and open feedback can we determine whether the adoption of a technology is truly successful or not.”
How to get started:
1. Set up short introductory sessions to introduce the technology to employees and explain why it’s essential for their work.
2. Provide guides and other resources for employees to learn more about how to use the technology.
3. Encourage employees to provide feedback on their experience using the new technology. Distribute surveys and hold focus group meetings to collect employee feedback.
4. Based on the feedback you receive, make changes to improve the technology adoption process.
2. Show them how it can make their lives easier
In addition to explaining why they should care about using new technology, you should also show employees how it can make their lives easier. If you can show them how the latest app or tool can simplify their work or save them time, they’ll be more likely to use it.
One way to show employees how new technology can make their lives easier is to allow them to use it firsthand. Set up training sessions that explore features specific to each team’s needs. The more comfortable employees are with using the technology, the more likely they will use it.
Apple is known for their user-friendly products, and they carry that same philosophy to its employee training. They provide their employees with extensive training on how to use their products so that employees can feel confident using them. As a result, employees are more likely to use Apple products, and customers are more likely to have a positive experience.
For example, Angela Ahrendts, the former Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple, revealed that employees start their day by accessing the Hello app. The app help with technology adoption because it provides employees with daily briefings – important product and company updates.
Apple also uses an internal social network called Loop to encourage peer-to-peer learning. This way, employees can share insights that help other employees.
How to get started:
1. Create a tutorial or demo that shows employees how to use the technology.
2. Use visual aids, like a live product demo, screenshots or videos, to make it easier for them to follow along.
3. Have employees try the technology in a safe environment, like a test account or sandbox.
4. Encourage employees to share tips and tricks with each other on how to use the technology.
3. Help them find resources to learn more about the technology
If you want employees to understand and use new technology, you need to help them find resources to learn more about it. There are a lot of great resources out there that can help employees learn about new technology.
One way to find resources is to search for online tutorials or articles. You can also find helpful resources on the websites of the companies that make the technology. And remember books! Plenty of great books can help employees learn about new technology.
Google is constantly releasing new products, making learning about them easy for their employees. They have a Google Academy website where employees can learn about new products. They also offer in-person training sessions and webinars. As a result, their employees can keep up with the latest technology and use it effectively.
Also, 80% of Google’s training comes from an employee-to-employee network called “g2g” (Googler-to-Googler). Employees can design learning materials for their peers to help with technology adoption. Google has found the program successful because it’s voluntary for employees to become “g2g’ers” as they’re known internally, and employees appreciate that the company supports ongoing learning.
How to get started:
1. Search for online tutorials or articles.
2. Find helpful resources on the websites of the companies that make the technology.
3. Look for books that can help employees learn about new technology.
4. Encourage them to ask questions and give feedback
Encouraging employees to ask questions and give feedback is a great way to help them understand and use new technology. Employees who feel they can ask questions and give feedback will be more likely to use the technology. It’s crucial for employees to feel heard when it comes to adopting new technology because they may have suggestions on how to improve the adoption process and make it more successful. They see the latest tech from a different perspective as firsthand users, so their feedback should be encouraged and valued.
Employees may also hesitate to use new technology because they don’t want to make mistakes. Encouraging them to ask questions and give feedback can help put their mind at ease and make them more comfortable with using the technology.
Amazon provides employees with a forum to ask questions and give feedback about new technology. As a result, employees can get the information and support they need to use new technology effectively.
How to get started:
1. Encourage employees to ask questions about the new app or platform.
2. Welcome feedback from employees about the technology. Use digital options like forums, or internal chatbots.
3. Use questions and feedback to help employees learn about and use the technology. Modify training sessions to address common questions and concerns.
Spearhead technology adoption at your company
By explaining why employees should use new technology, showing them how it can make their lives easier, and helping them find resources to learn more about it, you’ll be well on your way to getting them to use it. And remember to encourage them to ask questions and give feedback to help them understand and use the technology. By doing these things, you’ll see better technology adoption rates.
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