5 Rules for Introducing New Technology into a Company
If you’re interested in becoming the IT expert at a company, implementing new technology might be one of your most time-consuming tasks. To make the process easier on you and the rest of the employees, follow these five rules for introducing new technology into a company:
1. Identify the Need
Before you launch your company into unknown tech territory, be sure there is a clear need. You don’t want to add confusion and extra work if the old technology could have completed the job. Look for pain points in your company’s use of technology, and then find ways to fix that pain.
2. Research Solutions
In the IT world, it’s essential to complete thorough research of solutions. New products are continuously produced, and old products are often updated. Find out if the best solution for your company is an update, a new technology, or a product that is yet to be released.
3. Communicate the Need and the Solution
Once the research process is over, it’s time to present your discoveries to the company. You must clearly communicate the pain point and the fix. Explain to everyone affected what is wrong with the current technology and how they can benefit from the solution you’ve found. Encourage feedback and questions to involve the employees, and help them take ownership of the change. Remember, the technology is for their benefit, so help them understand and appreciate it as much as possible.
4. Become an Expert
Before expecting others to use the new product, you must become an expert on it. Research FAQs and be sure you can answer them on the spot. Know the ins and outs of the product, and practice troubleshooting. That way, you’re prepared for questions and problems that are sure to come up during implementation.
5. Train Everyone
When it comes to information technology, you shouldn’t expect employees to understand everything on their own. Provide group training for everyone, and offer personal lessons. It’s especially important that you know who might use the technology most and who needs to learn about specific capabilities. Non-tech employees probably don’t know the abilities of the product, so you should demonstrate what it can do for them. Continue to encourage questions and feedback as the difficulties of the new technology are solved.