As the technology of business rapidly evolves, you know it’s essential to keep your business up to date with the latest software, hardware, and peripherals. Staying on top of your tech means staying ahead of your competitors. It also means that you can maintain productivity, ensure the best security measures, and improve your whole team’s efficiency. You want to upgrade your technology because that leads to the smoothest integrations. No one wants to be stuck with old tech that doesn’t play nice with new upgrades.
That being said, new tech costs money, and that’s a crucial resource. When you budget for new technology, it feels like it should be delivered, installed, integrated, and working like a well-oiled machine from the moment the funds leave your bank account. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really work that way. But if the money is already spent, why is the implementation taking so long?
Internal Logistics
Sorry to have to say it, but your internal logistics are part of the reason that implementing new technology feels like it takes a long time. You have to follow your strategic IT roadmap. And even if you begin notifying people of changes well before you purchase your new tech, it can take some time for everyone to “get the memo” and grasp what’s going to be happening.
Planning your tech turnovers means carefully planning for downtime. If you have multiple departments with new tech incoming, you have to be especially careful. You don’t want the intricately choreographed ballet of your tech turnover to morph into the chaos of the running of the bulls. Each department needs to be informed of the details and the timeline for implementation. That gives time for all your employees to prepare, save their work, and gear up for the shift.
Remember, not all of your employees might be so keen on learning something new. Be sure to allow plenty of training time for new systems and equipment or devices, and be supportive of different learning styles. Another consideration for announcements, timelines, and brief tutorials is your customers. If you are making changes to your client interfaces, be sure to alert them well in advance and provide learning aids like short videos or written steps. This is especially important if the changes affect how they access their accounts.
Preparing a team for the implementation of new technology requires careful planning and communication.
- Establish clear objectives and goals to ensure that everyone understands the purpose of the new technology and how it will benefit the team and organization.
- Identify areas where the new technology will have the most impact and communicate those to the team.
- Provide ample training and resources to ensure that team members are comfortable using the new technology. Include different methods, like visuals and hands on training opportunities.
- Encourage open communication and feedback among team members during the implementation phase to address any concerns or issues that may arise.
- Establish timelines and milestones to track progress and ensure that the implementation remains on track.
- Foster a culture of adaptability and flexibility to embrace change and make adjustments as needed.
- Celebrate successes along the way to boost team morale and maintain momentum.
- Provide ongoing support and resources to ensure that the team continues to utilize the new technology effectively over time. Assign a Champion to be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for your team.
External Factors
Other things that can lengthen or delay your new tech implementation are external factors beyond your control. Hardware lead times and shipping times may get held up by global supply chain issues, which have become an issue in the past few years. If you’re waiting on new software, the developer could potentially delay the launch or patches of their product based on their own internal concerns. And, of course, installation could be delayed by external contractors.
While these factors are frustrating, to be sure, the best you can do is adapt to the delays and adjust your roadmap as needed. If you come to a point where it isn’t feasible to wait any longer, you might have to look at alternatives or make longer-term plans to hold off on your upgrades and software updates. That’s why it’s important to ensure that your IT roadmap allows room for extra time and planning.
Everything Needs to Sync
Although it may seem like implementing new technology is a long process with the potential for many obstacles, it doesn’t have to be. Remember that it does take time to get all your internal and external ducks in a row. For an implementation to run smoothly, everything needs to line up. And, yes, you should have Plan B and Plan C waiting in the wings if something goes awry.
It’s critical to work closely with your IT team to ensure that turnovers and rollouts go as well as they can and stick tightly to your plan. If you don’t have an in-house IT team or your team needs more support, an MSP, or manager service provider, can be of great assistance as a partner who can help you plan for and implement new technology. MSPs can also connect you to the services of a vCIO and/or a TAM. These IT professionals have the complete expertise to get your business’s tech up to speed and create your IT roadmap for the future.
Your New Tech Doesn’t Have to Be a Hassle
Being confident in your plan is the first step to “surviving” any tech turnover, even those that feel like they’re taking forever. Be sure to cover all your bases, including purchasing, scheduling, and training, and have a backup plan or two at the ready if things go sideways. Having a solid roadmap in place is the key to smooth transitions. If you have questions or need help creating and implementing your next new tech journey, get in touch! IT professionals are available to answer all your questions.
