Every organization, regardless of its industry or size, is under constant pressure to use modern technology to its fullest potential to stay a step ahead of the competition. Sticking with dated technology translates into employee downtime, reduced productivity and, most importantly, compromised cybersecurity.
The problem with new technologies is that they typically come with a learning curve. Even after a successful implementation, new systems might not live up to all the hype, but that’s often because employees aren’t adequately prepared to use them to their fullest potential. Instead, the successful adoption of new technology requires a carefully planned approach overseen by the leadership and expertise necessary to onboard employees and prepare them for change.
Getting Access to the Right Expertise
Knowing how to use technology to solve a complex array of business challenges requires the expertise of the chief information officer (CIO) who can align IT with the unique goals of your organization.
As the person responsible for choosing the right technological solutions for your business, implementing them and onboarding your employees with them, a CIO has an important job to do in a role that now applies to almost any modern business.
However, most smaller companies cannot afford to hire an in-house CIO on a full-time basis. A popular alternative, however, allows you to access the skill sets you need by outsourcing your requirements to a so-called virtual CIO (vCIO).
Involving Your Whole Team
Team building is an important part of any onboarding process, and that’s why you should get everyone on your team involved when choosing and implementing new technology. After all, it will be your employees who will be using the new systems, so it only makes sense that they feel confident and comfortable with them.
By making the onboarding process a team-driven exercise, complete with pre-implementation trial runs and demonstrations and other engaging activities, you can transform the way your company adopts new technology.
Choosing the Right Technologies
What are your priorities when choosing technology products? Like most people, you’re thinking primarily about costs and features.
However, ease of use is every bit as important, not least because more complex tools require more training and research, which translates into a longer implementation process.
Enterprise technology is inherently complicated, but it doesn’t have to be like that for your end users. Employee buy-in requires choosing the right technologies with the set of features you need to align them to your company goals.
Simple user interfaces and minimal maintenance requirements are just two important characteristics you need to think about. However, by partnering with a vCIO, you’ll also have the support you need to resolve issues quickly and ensure your systems are always up to date.
Getting employees to work well with new technologies requires strong leadership skills and the expertise you need to deliver a robust training program and solve any unforeseen problems quickly. That’s why Dyrand Systems offers a virtual, off-site IT department that provides the strategic planning and management you need to take your business to the next level. Call us today to find out more.