How To Create A Digital Adoption Strategy
As with any successful strategy, preparation is vital. Knowing whom to target and which platform to use is crucial to success. A digital adoption solution comprises business processes, people, and technology working harmoniously. If one element isn’t working, the whole strategy is out of tune. So, how do you begin? First, identify stakeholders involved in the adoption.
Identify stakeholdersÂ
Firstly, define your stakeholders. Stakeholders are anyone who has a say in software investments, addressing problems, and what the right solution is. By defining who will be affected by digital adoption, you understand different groups and the most effective ways to minimize resistance to change.
Minimize the resistance to change
Change creates vast emotional overwhelm for staff. The key to minimizing resistance to change is through support and communication. A good understanding of the culture of the organization and individual teams is also essential in understanding how staff might react to change.
Change models can also help. Some of the most popular change models are:
- The ADKAR model.
- Lewins 3 Stage Model Of Change.
- The Kübler-Ross Change Curve.
Research these models to find the best fit for your culture and company type, and consider the length of time the digital adoption takes place.
Give in-app training
In-app training, as provided by a DAP, makes the best use of resources to give staff time and space to learn how to use new technology. This form of training also allows training through practice and saves the resources of 1:1 input from a mentor.
Ensure training is personalized for each user
We all have different learning styles, so we train most effectively when learning is catered to our needs. If staff have sensory, physical, or neurodivergent needs, their training must reflect this. Leaders should be aware of these needs and implement the necessary provision within the training. Ideally, staff should not have to ask for their needs to be met, but leaders will make decisions to ensure the activity reflects their preferred way of learning.
Optimize engagement and utilization of existing content
Many L&D teams and functional SMEs have created excellent training programs but need more user engagement. The primary cause is that the content isn’t available to users when they need it most. Maximize engagement and usage figures for existing content to optimize digital adoption spending.
Offer frequent updates
Software applications regularly update and introduce new features to stay ahead of the curve. For example, Salesforce updates its software three times annually, adding many new features each time. Consequently, this demonstrates that training can’t be a one-time occasion, mainly when comprehending constantly developing software solutions.
Your team needs to be kept in the loop about new software and updates, which is where a DAP comes into play.
By providing employees with ongoing support and alerts, you can ensure that they are always up-to-date on the latest changes. Plus, since all training takes place within the software, it’s easy to add new walkthroughs whenever there’s a new feature – simply show users how to use it, and they’ll quickly gain confidence.
Utilize metrics to measure progress, motivation, and usage
A crucial element of digital adoption is finding a way for L&D teams to monitor user progress. This process becomes even more essential for enterprises with hundreds of app users.
The only approach to comprehending user progress is by monitoring it constantly. Usage analytics will give ideas on which features are being used frequently and well understood by your employees and also reveal which features are neglected or avoided altogether.
Measure your proof of concept (POC)
Your POC is your trial run. It’s a short-term digital adoption project before implementing a more in-depth strategy. A proof of concept helps identify risks early on, saves time and money, and offers a chance to see what works and doesn’t.
It might seem like you’re making the process longer, but it’s better to make mistakes on a smaller scale to avoid more costly mistakes later.
Key decision-makers also need to see complex data that shows how a digital adoption solution scales up. Before they buy in on a larger project, they’ll want proof that it will lead to a return on investment.