Is Your Business Losing Money Because Employees Can’t Use Tech?

person typing on silver Macbook

Share This Post

Shiny new tech can be exciting! It promises increased efficiency, happier employees, and a competitive edge. It’s also necessary to stay competitive in today’s technology-driven business world.

But that promise can turn into a financial nightmare if you neglect two important things. These are employee training and change management. You can end up losing money simply because employees can’t use their technology.

When employees have trouble using their business tools, productivity drops. Mistakes can be made, and customer service can fall. Read on for common staff technology issues as well as the solutions.

Lack of Technology Training

Imagine investing in a top-of-the-line CRM system, then you see your sales team floundering instead of excelling. You were expecting the CRM to make their jobs easier, but they can’t find key features, struggle with data entry, and miss deadlines.

Why? Because they haven’t been properly trained on the new software. This scenario plays out in countless businesses. It leads to the following costs:

Lost Productivity

Employees fumbling with unfamiliar tech lose valuable work time. Imagine the lost sales opportunities if your team can’t process orders or can’t generate reports due to inadequate training on the new CRM.

Costly Errors

Confusion and frustration lead to mistakes. Inaccurate data entered into the new system requires time and money to fix. This impacts budgets and potentially damages client relationships.

Demotivation and Resistance

Struggling with a new system is demoralizing. Untrained employees might resist using it altogether. They can cling to outdated (but familiar) methods. This hinders adoption and negates the benefits of the new tech.

Failing to Manage the Change

New technology disrupts workflows. Without proper change management, employees feel overwhelmed and insecure. Change management is looking at the “human” side of change. It’s about helping employees understand why things are changing as well as providing training, support, and other engagement. The goal is to help them transition successfully.

Organizations using change management are 67% more likely to achieve desired project outcomes.

When companies neglect change management, the following can happen.

Low Morale

Change can be stressful. Employees can feel lost and undervalued, especially due to a lack of clear communication and support during the transition. This can lead to low morale and a negative work environment.

Shadow IT

Employees may feel the new system isn’t meeting their needs. This can cause them to resort to using unauthorized tools (shadow IT). This creates security risks and undermines the investment in the new technology.

Resistance to Future Improvements

A negative experience with a tech rollout can make employees wary of future changes. This can hinder innovation as well as make it difficult for the company to adapt to evolving market trends. Without change management, employees tend to get “change fatigue.” This can make them less productive.

Building a Bridge to Success

The key to unlocking the true value of new technology? It lies in effective training and change management. Here’s how to avoid the negative costs and get the full benefits from your tech.

Invest in Comprehensive Training

Don’t treat training as an afterthought. Yes, some tools say they’re easy to use, but people have different tech literacy levels. Some may pick up things quickly, but many don’t. There’s no replacement for targeted training on a business application.

Develop a tailored training program that goes beyond basic features. Include video tutorials, hands-on workshops, and ongoing support resources. This helps everyone feel comfortable using the new tools.

Focus on User Adoption, Not Just Features

Training shouldn’t just explain how the software works. It should focus on how the new system will benefit employees in their daily tasks as well as improve
workflow efficiency. If employees don’t adopt the tech well, you don’t see its full benefits.

Embrace Change Management

Communicate the “why” behind the change. Explain how the new technology will make everyone’s jobs easier as well as ultimately benefit the company as a whole. Encourage open communication and address concerns throughout the transition.

The Takeaway

New technology is a powerful tool, but it’s only as valuable as its users. Prioritize employee training and change management. This will help you bridge the gap between a shiny new system and a real return on investment.

Happy, well-trained employees using the right tools are your secret weapon. They can help you maximize efficiency, boost morale, and stay ahead of the curve. Don’t let a lack of training turn your tech upgrade into a financial drain.

Need Help With Technology Training?

Efficiency and productivity improvements are the goals of most technology transformations. We can help you meet your tech goals with staff training. We can tailor training and support to your needs, as well as helping your team excel with new tech and existing tools.

Are you ready to discuss a tailored tech training plan for your staff?

Contact us today to learn more.

Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from .

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore

Free Minimalist home office desk with laptop, smartphone, and plant for a modern work environment. Stock Photo
New Technology

7 Ways Using AI for Work Can Get Complicated

AI is going to change how we work. It can make some tasks easier. But it can also cause problems. Let’s look at some ways AI can make work tricky. What is AI and how does it affect work? AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. The computer systems are actually able to do the things that normal and regular human intelligence can do. It can support so many jobs. It can write, analyze data, and can even create art.  But it is not perfect-it also can go wrong.  Where can AI go wrong? Incorrect Information AI sometimes provides wrong information. It may mix up facts or use data that is too old. This can cause huge problems in the workplace. Weird outputs AI can also make strange mistakes. It may write utter nonsense or create odd images. This can be a waste of time and cause confusion. Can AI be biased? Yes, AI can be biased. It learns from data given to it by humans. If that data has bias in it, then the AI will too. This can lead to unfair decisions in the workplace. How does AI affect jobs? Job loss Some people fear that AI will steal their jobs. It can perform certain tasks more quickly and for less money than humans. This could result in fewer jobs in some industries. New skills needed AI also needs workers to acquire new skills. Workers need to learn to work with AI, which can be challenging for some workers. Is AI always reliable? No, AI is not always reliable. It can malfunction or break down. This causes a big problem if the workers are dependent on it and it fails. How does AI affect teamwork? AI can alter how teams work. Certain tasks become solo work with AI. This may decrease teamwork and creativity. What about privacy and AI? AI requires a lot of data to function properly, which can raise several privacy concerns. Workers may be concerned that AI will view their personal information or work habits. Yes, AI can create legal issues. There are questions about who owns work created by AI. There are also concerns about AI making biased decisions. How can we use AI safely at work? To use AI safely at work: Get Started with AI at Work AI can be helpful at work, but it’s not perfect. We have to use it with care. If you have questions about using AI at your job, contact us today. We can help you use AI in a smart and safe way. — Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Free A stylish and contemporary home office setup with laptop and desk accessories. Stock Photo
Productivity

8 Ways to Organize Your Devices for Productivity

Our devices are a big part of our daily lives: work, fun, and staying in touch. Still, sometimes they make us less productive. In this article, you will learn how to organize your device. You’ll learn ways to boost your productivity and get more done. Why is device organization important? Messy devices slow us down and make it tough to find what we need. An organized device makes for a faster, much more productive experience. It also reduces stress and preserves time. How does clutter impact productivity? Clutter on devices adversely influences productivity. It forces you to waste precious time searching through files. It could make computers run slower, too, building frustration and making less work being done. What are the benefits of organized devices? There are several benefits when using organized devices. They help us find things quickly, work efficiently, feel less stressed, and have more free time. Now let’s look into 8 ways how to organize your device for better productivity. 1. How can you declutter your home screen? Remove unused apps Look at your home screen. Remove the applications you never use. This makes it easier to find the ones you need. Group similar apps Gather similar apps into folders. This keeps your home screen neat and clean. You can find applications much quicker this way. Use a minimalist wallpaper Use a simple wallpaper. This helps you focus on your apps and tasks. 2. How do you organize your files and folders? Set up Logical Folders Set up file types in folders. Label them appropriately. This would make access easier and faster. Naming your files descriptively Clearly label the name of the file. Attach dates or names of projects for easy location of files. House clean now and then Trash the old and irrelevant files. Get some space cleared out to reduce clutter. 3. How could you organize your email? Create Folders and Labels Create folders for emails of different kinds. Label them and categorize them accordingly. This helps to keep your inbox organized. Unsubscribe to Unwanted Emails Remove your name from email lists you never read. This cleans up your inbox. Use the Two-Minute Rule If an email can be handled within two minutes, then handle it immediately. This helps you avoid the piling up of small tasks. 4. How Can You Optimize Your Browser? Organize Bookmarks Sort your bookmarks into folders. Delete ones you don’t use. This makes finding websites easier. Use browser extensions wisely Only keep extensions you use often. Too many can slow down your browser. Clear your cache regularly This helps your browser run faster. It also frees up space on your device. 5. What are good ways to manage passwords? Use a password manager This tool securely vaults all your passwords. You only have to remember one master password. Generate strong, unique passwords Use a different password for every account. Make them long and complicated. This will keep your accounts secure. Enable two-factor authentication This adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. It makes them harder to break into. 6. How can you streamline your notifications? Turn off unnecessary notifications Only retain notifications from important apps. This decreases distractions. Set specific times to check notifications Don’t view notifications throughout the day. Decide on certain times of the day to view notifications. In this way, you will be able to concentrate on your work. Use ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode Switch this on when you really need to focus on something. This blocks all your notifications for a certain period. 7. What is the best type of data backup? Utilize cloud storage Store important files in the cloud. This keeps them safe and easy to access. Set up automatic backups Make your device backup files on a regular basis. This ensures you don’t lose important data. Keep multiple copies of important files Store critical files in more than one location. This protects against data loss. 8. How can you maintain your device’s health? Update software regularly Keep your applications and operating system updated. This will enhance the performance and security. Run virus scans regularly Run virus scans using antivirus software to check for threats. This will keep your device safe from any kind of threat. Clean your device physically Dust and dirt can slow down your device. Cleaning it regularly will help in keeping it in good shape. It takes some time and effort to organize your devices, but it is really worth the investment. You’ll be more productive and less stressed. Try at least one from this list and then, once you get comfortable, try some more. Remember, everybody has different needs, so do what will work best for you. If you need help organizing your devices, feel free to reach out to us. Contact us now for personalized advice on boosting productivity. — Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Do You Want To Boost Your Business?

drop us a line and keep in touch