We’re living through a tech revolution. On the personal side, this means fun new toys and features and the improvement of everyday life. In business, it means feeling the pressure to keep up.
Despite knowing your business processes need a digital upgrade, you might be trapped in analysis paralysis. How can you ensure new technology has staying power, and will your investment be worth it?
A new technology adoption process can be filled with buzzwords and complexity, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re offering a roadmap to help you stay focused on your goals and set your business up for its most efficient and profitable year yet.
At the core of a tech stack transformation is strategic decision-making — a process often fraught with hesitancy. Many of us don’t like change, so kickstarting it ourselves can feel counterintuitive. Let’s break down why you might feel risk-averse when it comes to tech-related decisions.
First, the rapid pace of technological change can be downright intimidating. Every day, there’s a new cutting-edge tool or disruptive trend arising. This constant flux can make you concerned about whether you’ll get a solid return on investment before it’s time to switch platforms again.
Then, there’s the confusion that comes from the sheer volume of options available. The tech market is saturated with solutions, each claiming to be the key to your business’s future success. Deciphering which technologies will truly meet your specific business needs versus those that are mere industry hype is a significant challenge.
Perhaps most importantly, there’s the worry of disrupting your existing workflows. How long will this new tech reduce your productivity, and will it cause dissatisfaction among employees? Not all software companies offer hands-on assistance with implementation and change management.
It’s no wonder that many SMB leaders unintentionally become laggards or late adopters. Spearheading a digital transformation initiative is stepping into the unknown.
Read our advice for overcoming your fears related to adopting new technology.
The process will be easiest if you have the right mindset from the start — understanding that your tech adoption journey won’t end once you’ve successfully implemented the new software. The true mark of success is weaving technology into the fabric of your operations over time. They should become a way of life, nearly unnoticeable. Once you see evidence of this, you’ll know all of the effort and resources you directed to this change are moving you towards your broader vision.
To understand why you need to stay focused on a larger aim from day one, consider two ways you could go about adopting a new project management tool.
Make purchasing decisions that are not just aligned with current trends or a single team’s needs but also promise a substantial return on investment. Opt for innovative products that offer lasting value rather than just a temporary edge.
In your quest to future-proof your business, consolidation is your ally. Streamlining requires simplifying your tech portfolio to focus on multifunctional platforms. By consolidating, you reduce the complexity of your tech environment and can scale efficiently.
Consolidation is more than just reducing the number of tools you use. It’s also building an adaptable foundation. Every tech element should add value and drive your business forward.
READ NEXT: How To Consolidate Client Work Tools
The Diffusion of Innovations theory, introduced by Everett Rogers, offers a compelling framework for understanding how new technologies permeate organizations. This theory categorizes adopters into several groups, from early adopters to the late majority, each representing a segment of people or businesses that responds to innovation in a distinct way. Applying this model means recognizing where your business fits within these groups — or where you stand on the technology adoption curve.
You don’t have to be part of the early adoption — or even early majority — adopter groups for every new product, just as you don’t have to be first in line for the latest iPhone to benefit from its upgrades. The sweet spot for your business could be considered late for others, but it’s possible to still gain a competitive edge at any stage, depending on your market.
The key is to align your digital adoption strategy with your overall business model and goals. That way, you can navigate the stages of implementation and training smoothly and arrive at new, more effective business processes for the long term.
More than when and how you choose to bring on a particular software, building a tech-forward culture is important. It’s not that every person on your team has to be super tech-savvy or that you try out new software platforms frequently or first. Instead, it’s the idea that cultivating innovation in all ways is part of what you do daily.
The group of people you’ve hired is unique. If they feel they can always contribute their ideas and perspectives and you get them involved in all types of advancements, they’re more likely to embrace and eagerly anticipate new tools.
Forcing change will never be as effective as introducing it to an environment that’s already adaptable. Learn more about the importance of a great team as the foundation of your business decisions.
No matter how well you manage the process of vetting and implementing software, it will only be as successful as its adoption rate. If a good portion of your team doesn’t know how to use (or chooses not to use) a new platform, you won’t reap the full potential benefits.
Part of what encourages employees to use tech every day is an intuitive end-user experience. The other crucial piece is support in learning how to accomplish work and simplify routine tasks using the new technology.
Plan for your product adoption journey by exploring the value of partnering with a software provider.
