Digitalization and technology adoption are complex processes, which can bring companies, that are not prepared for digital change, to their knees. Figuring out which technologies and tools best suit your business’ needs, how to build and develop them, and going further, implement them, are difficult tasks, and those who have ventured out into this digital journey, have seen how the latter can turn into a real obstacle course.
However, the problems surrounding technology adoption can be more easily overcome if companies follow a few tips and suggestions. So, let’s see what are some of the most common challenges that businesses have to deal with when pursuing and integrating technology, and what can be done in order to address such issues.
Insufficient or no expertise in developing or implementing tools and technology
The benefits that introducing new technology to companies brings are undeniable, and more and more businesses are being drawn to digitalization, wishing to enjoy advantages such as superior customer experience, greater productivity or process optimization. But, in order to reap such rewards, companies must first identify the areas that are in need of an upgrade and, after doing so, determine which technologies would be most appropriate. And this is not an easy mission, especially when choosing poorly could cause financial loss. What’s more, developing and integrating new tools and technologies in-house can oftentimes prove to be difficult or even impossible, provided that internal employees do not possess the necessary skills.
How to address issues surrounding skills shortage
Keeping up with the latest tools and technologies, and knowing which ones would match your company’s requirements is a true challenge, so how does one tackle it? Well, by turning to an experienced outsourcing partner. In this sense, an outside provider can assist businesses in picking out the best digital solutions, that will bring them closer to their goals. Furthermore, the right outsourcing partner will offer its client the exact skillsets that they are looking for, and, in addition to this, customized solutions, that are tailored to their needs.
In-house employees resist change
Another obstacle that many companies have had to overcome when adopting technology, is that regarding employees’ resistance to change. The fear and worry that surrounds digital transformation is only natural, as people are usually reluctant to change, so approaching this matter with utmost care is essential for the success of your technology adoption process. And even more so, since failing to inspire trust among your team can lead to yet more headaches. In this context, employees who are not embracing changes, may cause quite a stir within the company, convincing others that new technologies are bringing more trouble than benefits.
Help your employees embrace digital change
There is more than one way to support your employees before and during the digital transformation process, but let’s start with communication; a well-thought out communication plan is crucial if you wish to assist your staff in embracing digital change with ease. Offer as much information as you can, be open when answering employees’ inquiries on the matter, and be more empathetic towards them. Besides this, you should also be making use of digital tools such as digital adoption platforms, that can help your employees prepare for the upcoming changes, and reassure them they are not alone, and can always ask for assistance if they need it.
Challenges surrounding training staff on new technologies
We have already seen how some employees might be reluctant to change, but what we have not yet touched upon is that part of assisting them throughout the digital transformation process also implies addressing issues that training might give rise to. In this sense, instructing employees and conducting training sessions can be time-consuming and costly, and could even take away employees’ attention from important tasks, so as to help others understand the ins and outs of newly integrated technology. Moreover, introducing staff to new systems and programs, can entail the need for special training sessions, considering that some specialists might be tapping into distinct features of the recently adopted tools and technologies.
How to overcome training difficulties
The troubles occasioned by training employees on newly implemented technologies can be approached in a couple different ways. For starters, attend to training materials, and make sure that they are up-to-date and offer the necessary instructions and insights that your team will be needing. Next, focus on offering employees access to all the information that they require and encourage them to ask for further explanations in case they feel unsure about a particular matter. Consider using tools to offer appropriate and personalized training too, as such specialized platforms can help employees learn at their own pace, and thus, more efficiently.
Conclusion
Adopting technology provides numerous advantages for those who are embracing digital changes, but the latter also come bundled with challenges. Little or no experience in developing and integrating technology, employees’ resistance to change, or training difficulties, are just some of the obstacles that companies can potentially encounter throughout their digital journey, but there are quite a few solutions to such problems. Some of these fixes include resorting to an experienced outsourcing partner, promoting open communication, or making efficient use of digital tools to help staff prepare for and deal with the integration of new technologies.
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