A Guide to Integrating New Tech in Business

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Integrating new tech is a necessity for almost any modern business. No matter the size and scope of your company, there is always some reliance on technology, from the web to large-scale manufacturing. It can be a process, so here are some handy tips from the experts.

Assess Your Unique Needs

Every business is completely different, even competitors in the same niche. You will have various unique needs based on how you operate compared to your closest rival doing the exact same job. Introducing new tech always has an immediate competitive advantage based on meeting the needs of your enterprise. Take plumbing software that updates on the fly as an example. You can get immediate data on a job’s progress or completion to meet daily goals.

Inform Workers when Integrating New Tech

Some workers struggle with learning new technologies, and the age range varies. This can create a skills gap that is hard to fill. Around 70% of businesses today have a skills gap where a quarter of people don’t have basic digital skills. It always helps to give workers a quick heads-up when introducing new tech that will change how they work. This gives staff time to ask questions, get familiar with changes, and prepare for the fact that their job may soon change.

Communicate the Why of Changes

Adopting new technology in a company can cause a major shift in how things are done. As such, it is only fair to communicate why the changes are being made and how staff members can source support through them. It helps to make comparisons between the new technology being used and how it supports the goals of the company moving forward. Workers may also be interested in learning how it works and how it can help grow their core skills for the job.

Provide a Soft Introduction to Staff

Once staff know the changes are coming, they will be eager to understand how their role will change. Introducing staff members to the technology early will provide a solid and reliable support structure to reduce error and tension once it arrives. Humorous seminars and meetings about the new tech can break the ice, as it were. Some offices also make a big deal out of welcoming new tech partners, and it isn’t uncommon to host a launch party for a new rollout.

Perform a Trial Run for Assessment

It is rare that an entire company is changed overnight by a massive rollout of a new technology. Some prefer to take it in incremental steps to see if it even works with or better than existing systems. A slow introduction helps remove most errors and eases workers into using it.

Add systems into the current routine

Once a new system is introduced into an isolated area of the process, you can observe the routine to see if it works as well as promised and ask workers if it is going well.

Use tech based on the order of work

Technology can be as large as an entirely new system or introduced for support, such as AI. Consider where the integration fits into the work order and observe where it is working.

Ask staff how they found the tech

The best way to understand if something is working as well as you hoped is to simply ask the people who use the tech. Workers will provide vital feedback about the new system.

Assess how new tech works with other procedures

Randomly testing new technologies can be harmful to a work process. Carefully consider the processes with which the new system needs to work to maximize compatibility in those areas.

There are many variables when it comes to installing new systems within existing ones. Even updating to a new office operating system can be a nightmare. A careful and methodical approach is often the best, as you slowly test new tech for compatibility and catch any errors.

Consider the Cybersecurity Issues

Anything that is introduced into a business process carries a certain risk, and new technology, by its nature, often comes with cyber risks. As such, a zero-trust approach is recommended when introducing new technology. In a nutshell, this means that anything inside or outside of a company network poses a threat. It helps to work with the new technology partner, existing IT staff, and an external cyber threat assessment agency to minimize possible cyber threats.

Incorporate Tech into Risk Assessments

Further to cyber risk, any new technologies must be incorporated into existing risk assessment profiles wherever possible. Any potential losses, operational disruptions, and even public scrutiny from using certain technologies all pose a risk. A new risk analysis is required, taking into consideration what the new technology brings with it. This will help assess compatibility, reduce the chance of technical and user error, and address issues around the scalability.

Consider the Budget and ROI

Introducing any new technology into an existing business is always going to cost a large amount of money. The average medium-sized business budgets up to $27 million for a complete digital transformation. This should be worked into your budget. However, the cost is going to be different based on your specific needs and the size of the operation. But consider the ROI of new technology. For example, one self-service machine costs less than one worker’s salary.

Embrace the Digital Transformation

You must embrace digital transformation if you want to stay competitive and relevant within your niche. You can almost guarantee that any competitor is planning to embrace new technologies as they assess themselves against your company. Embrace how a tech overhaul can help your company see its vision through and what it can do for workers and overall systems. The benefits of doing things better also pass on to your customers and their improved service.

Summary

Begin with the unique needs that must be met when integrating new tech into your business. Trial runs in isolated processes help reduce error, and workers can provide valuable feedback. Embracing a digital transformation also means staying relevant with a better CX.