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5 Tips for Introducing New Software in the Workplace

Introducing New Software in the Workplace

The world has become a global village owing to technology. We depend on technology in almost every aspect of our lives, and organizations are no different. Technology is being utilized in most, if not all, industries and departments. Tasks that should have taken days to implement are now executed in a matter of minutes through the click of a button.

The success of any software deployed in an organization will depend on the training the employees are given. The end users who’ll be interacting with the software on a day-to-day basis will contribute to the success or failure of the software implementation. So what tips can supervisors employ when introducing new software in the workplace?

Involve Employees Every Step of the Way

Involve Employees Every Step

Most organizations believe they know what software is best for the organization. The end users will be using the software on a daily basis, and it’s best to consult them when looking for new software. This will help them understand how the software works and the benefits, which will come in handy when they’re training their colleagues.

Nominate an Internal Champion

Choose from among the end users one individual who will be responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of the software. They will be responsible for training the other end users. They should understand the software in detail and be good communicators to ensure they can train their colleagues effectively. You can also opt to outsource this task to a professional.

Get Everybody on Board

Lack of support from the top management and employees is one of the major causes of failure of software implementation in the workplace. This can be avoided by selling the benefits of the software to all the stakeholders. Involve the stakeholders in every step of the software implementation process, from acquisition to deployment. When they understand what the software is capable of and how to use it, they will be more likely to support its use.

Create an Implementation Plan

It’s not enough to train employees and other stakeholders in the organization. Come up with a step-by-step plan on how the software will be implemented and integrated into the workplace. Breaking the software implementation into phases helps ensure a smooth transition and allows time to improve the features of the software, if necessary. You should create effective communication mediums between the software providers and the organization to ensure successful collaboration from the very beginning.

You can also encourage software providers to prepare quick start guides. One example is the Agora Quick Start Guide, which helps employees solve some of the software challenges they encounter. Quick start guides also save the organization on support and training costs.

Collect Feedback

Collecting feedback helps gauge the user acceptance of the software at the workplace. Encourage users to provide feedback on what they think should be improved. Encourage them to ask questions and give suggestions on improvements even after the initial training.

It’s impossible to picture modern organizations without technology, which makes the successful deployment of new software more important than ever. Follow the tips above to get your entire team involved in the process and make sure employees receive the training and support they need.

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