So, you have decided to adopt a new software (CRM system, timesheet tracker, marketing hub) to make your organization more effective and productive – Congrats! Often organizations only have an implementation plan and skip the adoption process. And as a result, they end up running into trouble because of the low user adoption rate and a lot of challenges during the new software being implemented.

The real challenge is in the adoption of the software by employees and its integration into business processes and corporate culture. Here, we have provided seven tips to help you have a smooth transition into your new software.

Let’s get started!

Choose the Right Software

The goal here is not to choose the best technology, the most efficient, or the one that invokes. You need to consider your business needs, don’t just weigh the name of the vendor and price. Your choice of software should be the one that will help your business achieve its strategic goals.

To help with the adoption process, your software should not require major changes in your business processes, but adapt to them.  Additionally, the right software should be simple, insightful, and useful. People are more likely to adopt new software if they see how it assists them in accomplishing their goals and objectives.

Ensure Your Support Teams Are Part of the Process

We cannot stress this enough, involve your support team in your software adoption process. They can provide their expert advice to those that will be using/implementing this software. There will be consequences if you are implementing new software in your organization without suitable support teams.

Get Your Team Excited!

How do you get your team excited? Simply communicate. You cannot just spring up change on people, even if they are your employees. The employees need to understand the benefit of the software, not only for your organization, but for themselves. You need to communicate your goals and explain how the software is a way of achieving them.  

How do you do this? Here’s a tip:

Reveal the changes that will be taking place at the weekly team meetings and host lunch meetings. Informing your employees about your decision and explaining how it will make their jobs easier will help them comprehend why the changes are occurring. You should help them recognize the new software as a tool to make their job easier, not a game-changer.

And because communication goes both ways, you should answer their questions, as well as clear up all misunderstandings. You should help your employees feel like they are a part of the decision-making process. Give room for feedback!

Find and Involve Internal Champions

The champion we are referring to is an employee open to feedback, always prepared to adjust, to correct or resolve a problem. An exceptional communicator that can convey the positive aspects of a change. The champion will also become a resource others can turn to when needed.

These champions will be happy to adopt the new software into their daily routine and their enthusiasm for the new software can be used to inspire reluctant employees. Make your champions understand the reasons for your option so they can disseminate that information as part of their discussion with other employees in your organization.

Hold Training Events

One of the major risks of user adoption is the lack of sufficient and customized training. Training is a good way to increase adoption. Training is also a good way to decrease resistance and answer your employees’ most important questions. You can also clear confusion and walk them through a practical application that will reinforce the software’s benefits.

Since we all don’t learn and adapt at the same pace, it is important to have your internal champions at the training events so that your employees know who they can approach with their questions or concerns about the software.

Market Internally

Just like you market a new product to your customer, you should create a marketing plan and a promotional strategy for your internal end-users to help with the adoption process. This can help create enthusiasm around the software adoption process without too many protests.

You can utilize contests, giveaways, and posters to help you build the drive you need to launch the project.

Highlight Progress and Celebrate Victories

You have to constantly encourage and positively reinforce the use of the software to facilitate the adoption process. To do this, you can set measurable and achievable goals in the adoption process. Recognizing your employee’s effort is a way to motivate and encourage them. Celebrating victories and progress ensures that you create a positive state of mind around the software to stimulate its adoption.

What’s Next? Make it People First!

Keep in mind that new software adoption is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Put together a plan to find and address implementation problems early and gain the commitment of employees to drive engagement and enhance efficiency. Taking the right steps and having the right outlook is important to improving user adoption – enabling you to maximize your return on investment.

You don’t want your software to be another expensive tool that no one uses effectively.

Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can help you with your new software adoption needs.