Technology is advancing at an increasing rate, but does continuous implementation of new systems help or hinder your business? Head of Digital Productivity and Automation, Adam Lisik, explores.
Technical innovation can be characterised by rapid and continuous change; what was considered cutting-edge a year ago could be obsolete today. While completing expenses on sheets of paper, or faxing invoices to clients are things of the past, adopting every new technology quickly could leave some of your team behind.
Involving staff in decision-making and testing, communicating clear benefits, and hosting regular refresher sessions are all key, but so is a long-term technology strategy that aligns with your mission – and something that a team can get on board with.
During the pandemic, quick adoption of online collaboration technologies without consideration for how this would be best communicated meant delivery of often ‘in-person’ tasks didn’t translate online, becoming frustrating and often ineffective. For example, Teams had to launch breakout rooms in December 2020 to facilitate small group discussions as part of a larger event such as exhibitions, but not all organisers used the same communication channels meaning a decline in event attendance, confusion with systems and missed opportunities.
While younger staff members are ‘digital natives’, and others have grown through the technical revolution; everyone across an organisation has a different experience and need, so moving integral processes into new systems and technologies at break-neck speed doesn’t mean they will be immediately understood and adopted – and that leads to corner cutting, or complete avoidance.
But with risk comes opportunity; technology can improve workplace experience, accessibility and data security.
The most important part of any technological implementation is communication. Having your team onboard from the start is imperative to understanding that changes and disruption are worthwhile in the long run – without that, it’s likely you will never see the benefit.
Ultimately, workplaces, teams and organisations are changing – with digital processes and technology playing a huge part in that. While some areas are adapting more quickly than others and creating a more efficient way of working, others are lagging behind.
So does implementing new technology help or hinder your business? Digital innovations have huge potential to improve staff experience and positively impact business operation, reputation and even profits – but only if properly implemented.
Want to find out more about how you can seamlessly integrate new technologies in your business? Get in touch with Adam at adam.lisik@waterstons.com