Corporate digital culture, the key to successful digital adoption
Introduction
At a time when digital technology is stirring up a variety of imaginations, some optimistic, some threatening, the implementation of new digital tools in the organization of companies is a perilous exercise. Managers have to deal with the apprehensions and motivations of their staff, to ensure that software is deployed to its full potential. Arming oneself with CRM, ERP, PLM and other tools is pointless without a shared global vision. To take advantage of a new digital environment, choosing the right software is crucial, but it would be nothing without establishing a digital culture within the company, to accompany the change. Integrating new tools, however effective they may be, does not necessarily ensure their successful deployment to your employees. Gradually implementing change does. That's where embedding a corporate digital culture comes in.
Digital culture, what are we talking about?
Digital culture covers a number of different realities, and is characterized by a set of behaviors and practices. If it has to be defined, digital culture in business is the integration of digital logic into the way we work, think and organize. It's crucial to understand that digital transformation isn't just about buying new tools (CRM, Saas solutions, ERP, PLM...), but rather about understanding the issues involved. When it is driven by a digital culture, the transition will take place without resistance and with the support of all your employees. For this cultural change to be gradual and uniform, communication and training are key: in the early stages of digital transformation, but also throughout software implementation. A lack of support, or support that is ill-suited to the project and the company's culture, will inevitably have an impact on the value delivered by the project. But it's never too late to get it right, and to accelerate employee adoption of digital transformation.
A story about people, not tools
Betting everything on a cold tool disconnected from usage would mean missing out on a successful digital transformation: what's the point of a widely deployed system without users who know how and want to use it? Here, the destination is less important than the path chosen to get there. Uniting the entire organization around a bold, clear vision is essential to achieving your digital transformation objectives. This posture is proof of trust and consideration: the aim is not to impose a new way of doing things, but to co-construct it, all the more so as the digital turnaround cannot be achieved overnight. To achieve this, it is essential to involve all stakeholders in your approach, to communicate transparently and spontaneously about the challenges of digitalization, and to provide them with the means to achieve common goals.
Employee buy-in: a key resource
Aversion to change is human and natural. Whether it involves new CRM tools, ERP software or the adoption of PLM, digital transformation always implies a change in habits and a collaborative effort between several departments. Both hard and soft skills are required: your employees will have to leave their comfort zone, learn new ways of working, coordinate with other teams and, in some cases, rethink the way they think about digital technology. The effort may be considerable, but it is far from insurmountable if accompanied. After communicating with users on the reasons for the change and its usefulness in addressing business issues, the challenge will be to switch to a continuous training approach. This will make learning to use the tools all the more effective.
Strong demand for digital tools
Already in 2021, 84% of companies with more than 20 employees are calling for support to make it easier for employeesassimilation digital tools.
Source: "Growth & Digital Barometer" IPSOS
Analyzefor better anticipation
Several performance indicators can be used to measure user activity on digital platforms. To monitor the progress and sustainability of digital transformation within the company, this information needs to be read through the prism of actual tool use, rather than in relation to the richness of their functionalities. By studying how the tools deployed are actually used, it will be possible to identify any obstacles to their use, and to understand the needs and expectations of teams, so as to provide them with better support. Communicating, training, measuring: these are all necessary steps to win over employees and successfully implement a digital adoption strategy.
Improve your tools with Knowmore
Are you already using software on which you want to train your employees? Our K-NOW digital adoption platform, also known as Application GPS, integrates directly with your tools and delivers short, personalized training modules in real time.
You can communicate with users and train them on processes and data entry directly in the interface, using step-by-step guides and context-sensitive help. Tailored to each profile, you enable your users to progress autonomously 24/7. Improving the user experience means simplified onboarding, better familiarization with tools, standardization of business processes and increased user commitment.