There’s much to consider before introducing new technology at work. Sometimes, the introduction is inevitable; the existing tech has become obsolete or must go for another non-negotiable reason, such as having issues with safety or reliability. But other times, the rubric is not as clear. Employees can be surprisingly resistant to new tools even when they make their work easier in the long run while managers and business owners don’t always make the best decisions when it comes to replacing what’s already there. It’s a good idea to consider the general pros and cons as well as those specific to what you’re considering purchasing.
Pro: Streamlining Operations
It can be difficult to manage a business, a department, or even a team that has many moving parts. This is one of the reasons that project management software quickly became so popular once it was introduced; it permitted a degree of organizing and streamlining operations that simply was not possible before with more analog solutions. It gave both team members and their leader the ability to see at a glance where everyone was in a project, cutting down on the need for meeting time.
Another example of tech that can make operations far easier is dispatch software within a fleet. Dispatchers and fleet managers need to know that drivers are operating efficiently, and this tool allows them to determine that. Needs vary a great deal according to the size of your company fleet and other factors, so there are several things that you need to keep in mind when you are choosing service dispatch software. Streamlining operations is only in the pro column if you are responding to existing needs, so be sure to do your research.
Also read: 5 Ways to Prepare Your Business for the Future of Technology
Con: The Learning Curve
The learning curve might be one of the biggest cons to introducing new tech. The learning curve affects the company in a few ways. Production may drop, accuracy may suffer, and employee morale might dip. None of these are inevitable, and all of them can be temporary if handled correctly, but it’s important to lay the groundwork for that. This starts by improving employee morale and making employees a part of the decision process.
As the manager or business owner, you should solicit input from them to find out where their friction points are, what they find frustrating, and where they would like to see improvement. Your choices may not map exactly to that of your employees, but you may get valuable insight and avoid making costly mistakes by speaking to them.
In addition, the very act of getting feedback from them demonstrates that you see this as a collaboration and that you respect their point of view. This alone can go a long way toward getting buy-in even if there are some early hiccups. Next, you need to provide adequate training. In tandem with this, you need to anticipate that productivity is likely to slow as your workers get up to speed
. If this is going to be an issue, you need a plan to deal with it, whether it’s notifying customers that things may be moving more slowly, bringing in temporary help or something else. You can’t accurately train people on new equipment while also pushing them to maintain their previous levels of productivity from the start.
Con: Cost
Even though this is one of the great growth hacks for startups as well as existing businesses buying new tech can mean a significant investment, and if you have a narrow profit margin, it can also feel risky. It’s important to assess whether the tech is worth the price tag. The feedback from your employees will help with this, but you may also want to talk to other business owners. In addition, if the tech is newly on the market, keep in mind that the price may drop after the initial flurry of sales.
Pro: Great Efficiency and Savings
If you make the right choice and introduce it in the right way, what offsets the initial costs in productivity and money is that over the medium and long term, the tech should drive greater efficiency and save you money, in some ways it can also maintain quality customer relationships depending on which areas of your business you implement it in. If it doesn’t do these things and it’s not important for safety or compliance, you need to stop and consider why you are buying it and if your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.
Leave a comment