How to get employees to accept new technology

Integrating new technology – telematics systems that monitor vehicle and driver performance, for example – into a business can sometimes be problematic, as company employees can sometimes be resistant to change.

According to a study by MIT Sloan Management Review and Capgemini Consulting, 63% of managers said the pace of technological change in their workplaces isn’t fast enough, largely because of a “lack of urgency” among employees and poor communication about the strategic benefits of new tools.

However, getting staff on board doesn’t have to be a trial. A few simple processes can reap rewards and help your company introduce tech that can increase productivity and help you make better-informed decisions.

Involve staff in decisions

It’s far easier to get staff to buy into technological changes if they feel that they’re part of the decision-making process. Building a culture of collaboration and trust can be a real boon to companies, plus the employees get to feel that the experience and expertise they bring to the table is being valued.

Choose the technology carefully

Having consulted with staff to find out what they want from the new technology, it’s important that what is being introduced actually meets those needs – the technology must address what the employees want from it. So, while the functionality is critical to the business and its aims, user-friendliness is too, so take that into consideration when choosing the right product.

Sell the tech to them

Employees will be considerably more receptive to innovations if it’s explained how it can help them with their work and make their life easier, rather than just imposing the changes and telling them they must use it. If companies communicate the benefits to them, the change process should prove to be much smoother.

Use influencers

Find influential staff members and get them on board first. If they can be enthused by what the new technology can offer, they will act as ambassadors and be able to persuade their colleagues of its value.

Tailor your training

Different staff will have different attitudes to – and different levels of familiarity with – technology, but they will all need to be trained how to use it. In order to engage everyone, training will have to customised to enable all staff to learn how to use it, at a pace that they’re comfortable with, and which will allow them to fully understand how the technology works by the time it is phased into the company’s operations.

Ensure some quick wins

Very often, the true benefits of new technology take time to have an effect on the company’s wider objectives. If this is the case, employees can sometimes become demoralised, seeing changes that they make to their processes having no impact. However, if you introduce the new technology in such a way that some of its advantages are felt and seen early on, the case for change is more obvious and it also helps wider and more enthusiastic adoption.

Listen to feedback

Once the technology is introduced, encourage feedback from staff and listen to what they have to say about the technology – and how it is having an impact on their jobs. This feedback can help fine-tune the technology and give early indications as to its effectiveness in achieving corporate goals.