6 Effective Tips to Help Employees Embrace New Technology

Here’s the thing about most people: They are not welcoming to change.

That is especially true inside the workplace, mainly regarding technology. While some instantly recognize the value of using and adapting to new technology, many turn heads.

Perhaps it’s because of the perceived difficulty surrounding technology or the belief that technology replaces humans. Whatever the cause of obliviousness, employees must keep up with the changing business landscape and make technology their assistant. Technology can do wonders for a business and its employees, including increasing productivity, expanding market share, boosting sales, and ensuring a competitive edge.

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that those who fail to embrace technology will likely be left behind. So, as a business leader, executive, entrepreneur, etc., what can you do to help your employees understand and use technology? Here are some tips that’ll help your employees build more bridges than barriers when embracing technology:

1. Introduce training avenues

Firstly, to help employees successfully adapt to new technology, it is important to offer knowledge in various forms since every employee learns differently. This plan uses many tactics, including in-person and online training, on-demand how-to films, and a support center open for inquiries after the training.

You can also segment the training based on different departments. For instance, if the product management group needs to be updated with new knowledge and hands-on training regarding technology, why not encourage them to enroll in an online bootcamp? A product management bootcamp online can offer these individuals the proper training and knowledge regarding their subject matter and technology. Similarly, arrange training formats for other departments to ensure everyone is on the same page.

2. Highlight the advantages of technology

While technology may significantly improve our quality of life, learning new technologies can be challenging. Thus, ensure all employees are on board by explaining the advantages of utilizing new technologies. 

Determine the shortcomings or issues with the current procedures. Help them understand how technology could address those problems and streamline their work. Although being afraid of change is natural, we shouldn’t let our anxiety prevent us from acting wisely. In the end, technology will simplify their jobs and make them more effective. Still, workers might require assistance overcoming any apparent short-term discomfort to the long-term goals.

3. Establish realistic and clear deadlines 

When workers know what to expect, they are more accepting of training requirements. Sending a company-wide email announcing the training at the end of the day or the start of a particularly hectic period will lead to issues down the line. Respecting employees’ time and already-full schedules is essential in encouraging them to use new technologies. 

Clear training deadlines should be communicated in advance, and the deployment methods should be described. For instance, if you’re gradually implementing a new accounting system, you may link to it and urge personnel to read it before the next team meeting. Encourage them to bring up any queries or issues during the meeting so you can address them in the subsequent training session.

4. Include a few tech champions

People that quickly adopt new technology are present in every organization. These are your winners. Where no one else can, they can assist in persuading resistant teammates. Engage the team’s power users and ask them for suggestions on introducing the new technology to the group. Ask them to be accessible for training and queries from individuals who acquire technology more slowly. 

Some workers might need to witness someone else using technology before they are persuaded of its advantages. They might only need to witness how others learn and use technology to be persuaded to give it a shot. Encourage everyone to collaborate to embrace change, ensuring no one is left behind.

5. Employ gamification 

Getting the workforce motivated enough to devote the time and energy necessary to learn is a major challenge in training in general. Using gamification effectively can raise employee engagement and involvement rates in learning since it makes practical day-to-day operations (like training) more engaging. Employees will start making jokes and comparisons with one another if there is a fun, measurable approach to encouraging competition. 

However, evaluating your current HR strategy, goals, and company requirements is essential if you want gamification to provide the desired results. Before investing in gamification, consider whether it can seamlessly integrate with the overall plan. One gamified learning portal, for instance, resulted in a startling 417% increase in staff use. The younger staff members, in particular, reacted more passionately to this new approach. 

6. Seek some feedback

Ask your staff for input at each step of the new technology journey. The first pitch will generate a lot of remarks from the staff. So, consider all comments, even the bad ones, and change your approach as necessary. You should start identifying which staff member performs better in this preliminary phase. Your staff will better understand what modern tech offers throughout the training session. They might offer perspectives you hadn’t initially thought of, allowing you an opportunity to gather and use input before the complete release. 

Keep the feedback coming even after your employees have understood technology usage and started implementing it. Some of your staff members might come up with inventive uses for the technology. Your company could see even higher productivity if your workforce is encouraged to explore the solutions. If they discover a more effective use for it, acknowledge it, share it with your employees, and incorporate it into your program.

Conclusion

Technology is evolving at a breakneck pace, and it is impossible to expect the success of a business without it. At the same time, it is understandable that not everyone will be at the same comfort level when it’s time to implement and use technology. To help employees understand the importance of technology and how it can help save money and time, and improve productivity, senior leaders and business owners must educate their employees. Using the tips mentioned in this article, you can spread the word about technology among your employees, help them understand its advantages, and turn them into avid techies.