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Jumpstart Your Software Adoption with Dedicated Learning Platform

December 21, 2021
Secure Software Adoption There is a myriad of factors that can impact, and often threaten, the success of a new software system adoption. However, many businesses have found that integrating a learning management system (LMS) or dedicated learning platform can help them surpass common challenges and meet their adoption goals easier and more effectively. Software […]

Secure Software Adoption

There is a myriad of factors that can impact, and often threaten, the success of a new software system adoption. However, many businesses have found that integrating a learning management system (LMS) or dedicated learning platform can help them surpass common challenges and meet their adoption goals easier and more effectively.

Software Adoption: More Than Just Installation

As more companies move towards the digital workplace, new virtual systems are being integrated and implemented in hopes of improving workplace flow and productivity. However, there are ample challenges that can—and often do—arise when it’s time for users to utilize and fully adopt the new software, system, or program.

What many business leaders and system integrators overlook is that:

      1) Disruption from new systems can lead to employee discomfort and

      2) An efficient system is nothing without an effective change management strategy.

These could be just some of the reasons that only 29% of IT project implementations are found to be successful, with 19% considered absolute failures by adoption standards.

There is much more that goes into preparing an effective system launch, and much of it has to do with how you prepare your workforce for this change.

Top Threats to Successful Software Adoption

Much research and time have been dedicated to understanding where software adoptions go wrong, and what challenges often pop-up while trying to implement a new system into the workflow.

Among other difficulties, some of the most common threats to a stable software adoption are:

  • Lack of leadership or support for innovation
  • Low technological comfort or familiarity
  • Budgetary priorities
  • Disconnected or untethered toolsets
  • Absence of training or ineffective system preparation
  • Employee overload and lack of communication
  • Little to no focus on cultural change management

“As the success of digital transformation projects become ever more central to competing in many industries, IT leaders need to bridge the gap between successful project deployments and the technology-enabled future”

– Nick Ismail, Information Age

The upside to knowing what can threaten a successful software adoption is that you then have a roadmap for what must be included and encouraged in future rollout projects.

If there is one system that can support you in combatting these challenges, it’s a focused learning management platform that can educate, engage, and encourage users along the adoption journey. Let’s look at how this is done.

Using a Learning Platform for Software Adoption

Despite its name, a learning management system or platform can go beyond the delivery of basic learning content. With more innovative learning software being developed in the digital age, learning platforms enable companies to automate administrative tasks, incorporate learning in the flow of work, conduct regular information security trainings, and even track and report on critical compliance instruction.

In addition to all those benefits, learning management platforms are also excellent facilitators for new system adoption as they transcend simple training to create a robust learning and change management environment that supports new adopters while educating them on new software.

Here are a few ways that a learning platform can support successful software adoption:

Create a standardized training system to ensure consistency

One of the killers of successful adoption is uneven support, knowledge, or confidence in the new tool. A learning platform enables automation of training content, meaning every employee gets the same necessary information to use the new tool, as well as equal access to administrators if they have questions or complications along the way.

By setting up a standardized training course on a new system, you’re giving employees more support and autonomy in using the system in a way they understand, while ensuring everyone gets the same important information.

Customize training to fit your tools and workforce

Most learning platforms will have flexible course creation tools, allowing you to personalize your system trainings for your unique needs and workflow. Are your employees more engaged by quizzes than webinars? Do you want to provide virtual software assistance for those who get stuck with the new software? Or maybe you want to create a digital forum where people can send in questions and other colleagues can chime in to support.

Whatever it may be, having a learning platform that can tailor adoption content for your individual audience will help combat low-tech discomfort and boost overall engagement.

Track learner progress and identify holes in training

A successful system adoption doesn’t stop once the software is installed; it is a continuous process that must be managed and tweaked to consistently support your team. Most learning platforms will have the ability to track learner progress, for example by conducting a survey to see how many employees are confident in using a new system, or by looking at the new software’s training completion rate to measure the overall awareness among employees.

Most importantly, the insights found from these tracking capabilities allow adoption managers to continuously improve upon their training of new systems and identify if there are any holes in the training that can be filled by updating the content. This ensures the adoption’s continual success, even as new employees join, or new system features are added.

Engage users with blended learning and training styles

Let’s be honest; not all systems are super fun to work with and learn from scratch. This is where an agile learning platform can help you out. Bring more engagement to the software adoption process by mixing up how this training content is delivered.

Many learning platforms will allow you to blend learning styles into training courses, such as adding quizzes, surveys, infographics, and videos with mock scenarios to basic text content. This makes learning a brand-new software more engaging, interactive, and just plain fun. If people are having fun learning a new system, they’re more likely to use that more system going forward.

Identify SMEs to spread helpful tips and democratize adoption responsibilities

Yes, having solid buy-in from leadership is critical to conducting a successful software adoption, but this doesn’t mean leaders must do all the heavy lifting. Learning platforms—especially those that integrate with communication systems—allow managers to effectively identify, support, and encourage subject-matter experts (SMEs) within their organization.

Do you have some early software adopters that are super comfortable with using the system? Why not let them help their colleagues by enabling them to create their own helpful course content. Learning platforms can give SMEs the tools and medium to share their expertise with their team, democratizing the adoption process and giving leaders added time and energy to dedicate to more high-level adoption tasks.

Drive Adoption Through Engaged Learning

The adoption of any IT system or software is not a one-size-fits-all type of project. However, many factors should be considered when looking to support your company in effectively and successfully adopting a new tool.

For those looking to automate and regulate the adoption process, while engaging and educating new users, implementing a learning management platform could be the tool to lead them towards success.

December 21, 2021

Jumpstart Your Software Adoption with Dedicated Learning Platform

article

Est. Reading: 5 minutes

Secure Software Adoption

There is a myriad of factors that can impact, and often threaten, the success of a new software system adoption. However, many businesses have found that integrating a learning management system (LMS) or dedicated learning platform can help them surpass common challenges and meet their adoption goals easier and more effectively.

Software Adoption: More Than Just Installation

As more companies move towards the digital workplace, new virtual systems are being integrated and implemented in hopes of improving workplace flow and productivity. However, there are ample challenges that can—and often do—arise when it’s time for users to utilize and fully adopt the new software, system, or program.

What many business leaders and system integrators overlook is that:

      1) Disruption from new systems can lead to employee discomfort and

      2) An efficient system is nothing without an effective change management strategy.

These could be just some of the reasons that only 29% of IT project implementations are found to be successful, with 19% considered absolute failures by adoption standards.

There is much more that goes into preparing an effective system launch, and much of it has to do with how you prepare your workforce for this change.

Top Threats to Successful Software Adoption

Much research and time have been dedicated to understanding where software adoptions go wrong, and what challenges often pop-up while trying to implement a new system into the workflow.

Among other difficulties, some of the most common threats to a stable software adoption are:

  • Lack of leadership or support for innovation
  • Low technological comfort or familiarity
  • Budgetary priorities
  • Disconnected or untethered toolsets
  • Absence of training or ineffective system preparation
  • Employee overload and lack of communication
  • Little to no focus on cultural change management

“As the success of digital transformation projects become ever more central to competing in many industries, IT leaders need to bridge the gap between successful project deployments and the technology-enabled future”

– Nick Ismail, Information Age

The upside to knowing what can threaten a successful software adoption is that you then have a roadmap for what must be included and encouraged in future rollout projects.

If there is one system that can support you in combatting these challenges, it’s a focused learning management platform that can educate, engage, and encourage users along the adoption journey. Let’s look at how this is done.

Using a Learning Platform for Software Adoption

Despite its name, a learning management system or platform can go beyond the delivery of basic learning content. With more innovative learning software being developed in the digital age, learning platforms enable companies to automate administrative tasks, incorporate learning in the flow of work, conduct regular information security trainings, and even track and report on critical compliance instruction.

In addition to all those benefits, learning management platforms are also excellent facilitators for new system adoption as they transcend simple training to create a robust learning and change management environment that supports new adopters while educating them on new software.

Here are a few ways that a learning platform can support successful software adoption:

Create a standardized training system to ensure consistency

One of the killers of successful adoption is uneven support, knowledge, or confidence in the new tool. A learning platform enables automation of training content, meaning every employee gets the same necessary information to use the new tool, as well as equal access to administrators if they have questions or complications along the way.

By setting up a standardized training course on a new system, you’re giving employees more support and autonomy in using the system in a way they understand, while ensuring everyone gets the same important information.

Customize training to fit your tools and workforce

Most learning platforms will have flexible course creation tools, allowing you to personalize your system trainings for your unique needs and workflow. Are your employees more engaged by quizzes than webinars? Do you want to provide virtual software assistance for those who get stuck with the new software? Or maybe you want to create a digital forum where people can send in questions and other colleagues can chime in to support.

Whatever it may be, having a learning platform that can tailor adoption content for your individual audience will help combat low-tech discomfort and boost overall engagement.

Track learner progress and identify holes in training

A successful system adoption doesn’t stop once the software is installed; it is a continuous process that must be managed and tweaked to consistently support your team. Most learning platforms will have the ability to track learner progress, for example by conducting a survey to see how many employees are confident in using a new system, or by looking at the new software’s training completion rate to measure the overall awareness among employees.

Most importantly, the insights found from these tracking capabilities allow adoption managers to continuously improve upon their training of new systems and identify if there are any holes in the training that can be filled by updating the content. This ensures the adoption’s continual success, even as new employees join, or new system features are added.

Engage users with blended learning and training styles

Let’s be honest; not all systems are super fun to work with and learn from scratch. This is where an agile learning platform can help you out. Bring more engagement to the software adoption process by mixing up how this training content is delivered.

Many learning platforms will allow you to blend learning styles into training courses, such as adding quizzes, surveys, infographics, and videos with mock scenarios to basic text content. This makes learning a brand-new software more engaging, interactive, and just plain fun. If people are having fun learning a new system, they’re more likely to use that more system going forward.

Identify SMEs to spread helpful tips and democratize adoption responsibilities

Yes, having solid buy-in from leadership is critical to conducting a successful software adoption, but this doesn’t mean leaders must do all the heavy lifting. Learning platforms—especially those that integrate with communication systems—allow managers to effectively identify, support, and encourage subject-matter experts (SMEs) within their organization.

Do you have some early software adopters that are super comfortable with using the system? Why not let them help their colleagues by enabling them to create their own helpful course content. Learning platforms can give SMEs the tools and medium to share their expertise with their team, democratizing the adoption process and giving leaders added time and energy to dedicate to more high-level adoption tasks.

Drive Adoption Through Engaged Learning

The adoption of any IT system or software is not a one-size-fits-all type of project. However, many factors should be considered when looking to support your company in effectively and successfully adopting a new tool.

For those looking to automate and regulate the adoption process, while engaging and educating new users, implementing a learning management platform could be the tool to lead them towards success.

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