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Posted 04/05/2018 in Business by Alphonse Rutayisire

End User But Above All Executives Adoption


End User But Above All Executives Adoption

Although many companies are in the rush to adopt digital technologies into their businesses, a recent survey by IBM shows that there is a fraction of customers who are not enthusiastic with these transformations. Advancements in digital technologies are increasingly changing the expectations of customers making them look more interactive, rich and more engaging digital experiences. In embracing digital technologies, business owners are increasingly becoming more concerned about user experiences and customer perceptions.

More than half of business executives are of the view that there are several challenges to overcome so as to be at harmony with today’s digital world. Some of these challenges include legal hurdles, lack of data and discerning new customer habits. To compound matters, many companies seem to be more concerned about digital deployment more than its adoption. It is ridiculous how executives are short-sighted about the true Return on Investment of their digital investment.

The following are some of the ways through which executives can speed up the adoption of their digital technologies:

 

#1. Involve all stakeholders in the process of digital transformation

Before a company makes a decision to invest in a new technology, it is important to first inquire from its employees concerning their needs as well as the challenges they are facing with the current technology. This may help the company uncover some of the intriguing issues that were never revealed before.

 

#2. Test new technology

The company should let its employees test the new technology in advance and draw comparisons with what is already available.

Many software companies that offer software solutions give free trials before buying. By allowing users to test the new technology and give their opinion before the final decision is made will not only make them feel respected and recognized as being part of the process but will also ensure that the company is picking products that are easily adoptable by its employees. The end result of this is that your employees will enthusiastically take up the learning process than if the company went around to shop for new technologies and imposed them on employees.

 

#3. Let your team know what’s in it for them

What is the the benefits of the technology from their standpoint?

Before rolling out a new technology, it is important to let employees know how implementing the new technology will simplify their work and make them work better. Does the technology increase the company’s productivity so that employees don’t have to work up late evenings? Does it simplify sales work so that salespeople can get their bonuses with ease?

When employees are made to understand how the new technology will improve their individual lives, they will not only accept the change but they will also embrace it.

 

#4. Make Technology Adoption Enjoyable

The culture of rewarding hardworking and cooperative employees is more effective than penalizing uncooperative and lazy individuals. This, blended with intensive training can significantly ease the whole process of digital adoption. A company’s executive should be well aware of what motivates each employee and use it to come up with valuable incentives. What rewards do your employees prefer most? Is its personal recognition, perks, financial bonuses or promotion? The executive should then respond by designing a reward scheme that takes care of the interest of majority of the employees.

 

#5. Share Success Stories

While integrating a new technology into your system, look for testimonies and stories about the usefulness of the products to employees of a similar company. Facts and figures can be boring to employees, but interesting motivating stories make the product personal. Once the technology is in place, capitalize and communicate the gains derived from its use during its first days of use. Let employees see the difference from the very start. Broadcasting these success stories builds a strong case for change. Many people are always accustomed to routine as opposed to new ways of doing things. This is because it requires very little energy to do the things you do occasionally as opposed doing new ones. However, to allow the business move forward, change is inevitable. Let the employees see the full importance of change. This way the rate of adopting will be high and you will help created a culture of people who are enthusiastic about change that will ultimately steer the company to another level.

 

#6. Arrange and budget for adoption from the very start

Plan for all aspects of the product that will make its adoption easy. Take into consideration the process, the people involved and the structural changes that the company will go through. Plan and budget for training, communication and organizational development that is needed to make the process a success. For deployment, it is important to ensure that proper metrics and governance to monitor its success and progress.

 

#7. Lead by example

Company’s executives are in a better position to influence the quick transition to a digital way of working. One way of doing this is leading by example. Be the change you want to see. This will motivate junior staff to follow suit. This can be done by actively and passionately participating in digital discussions and experimenting new ways of collaborating, communicating and connecting with members of staff. This is the first significant step in getting the right to engage with your company. At first, Coca-Cola encountered major challenges when it rolled out its internal social collaboration platform. However, the platform became more active after the company’s senior executives actively became engaged on the platform.

 

In summary,creating a digital company does not entirely depend on deploying and implementing new digital technologies. It involves the company taking solids steps to ensure it gets the right returns from the investment. To realize the true and lasting benefit from technological investment, a company should lead its people in mindset and behavior change so that the technology can be seamlessly integrated into the company’s systems. The executive should make available all the resources needed to make the adoption of the technology simple and quick. The full benefit of a certain technology to the company lies not in its investment, but in its full implementation and adoption. A technology that lies idle may end up becoming an additional cost to the company. But if well implemented and adopted, technological change means good for the company and can lead the company to another level of profitability.

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This is Part Five of The Seven-part Digital Transformation Series For Small Business Owners(See Part Four). In Part Six, we will discuss the "5 Ways to avoid resistance and ensure successful Digital Transformation". Until next time, Follow us on twitter or share this page, get in touch, leave us a comment and like our Facebook page.