The idea of new technology for your contact center can be exciting. Actually launching that technology? Not so much.

Why do so many call center managers balk at the idea of introducing new software and programs in their facilities? A big part of the reasons is because the user adoption process can be slow and arduous. Far too many centers suffer major declines in productivity and profitability due to problems implementing new technology.

If you want to bring your center up to date and up to speed with new software but don’t want to suffer through a problematic user adoption phase, check out these tips for smoothing things out:

Common Complications in User Adoption

Before you can address the often-complicated process of user adoption of new technology, you need to know what causes it. This can vary from center to center, but some of the most common issues are almost universal.

People dislike change. This is a problem in every field, in every position. While changes are necessary and updates or upgrades are generally a good thing, many people do not like having something that they already frequently use and understand well changed without their permission.

When the world of business came into the digital age, many older office workers retired. This shift in the American workforce was due largely to the resistance to change and the disdain that many more experienced employees had for new software and systems that were being introduced during this time. Those in the contact center industry are probably familiar with stories like these because this was one of the industries hit hardest by this shift as the way people had done their jobs at these facilities for decades suddenly began to change.

While we are a largely experienced society when it comes to the use of technology these days, we still see plenty of resistance to change in that technology from employees. This will always be true of workers who have been in a position longer; they get used to things working a certain way and feel comfortable and secure in their job knowledge and that is threatened when things abruptly change.

To compound this problem, management teams often make these significant changes as a result of wanting to push productivity and profitability further - all at the expense of the workers’ comfort. They also often make these changes without consulting the agents or those who will actually be at the forefront of implementing them. This is a major mistake. Not only does it create a lack of knowledge and foresight for the agents who are then expected to roll out these changes effectively, but it also leaves those agents feeling as if their thoughts and opinions do not matter to management.

How to Make User Adoption Easier in Your Contact Center

Now that you know what complicates user adoption for many contact centers, you surely want to keep that from happening to your staff - but how? Here are a few ways to make the process easier and faster for your team:

• Start all over. If you have had a previous software launch that did not go as expected, wipe it from your professional memory. Sure, your staff is probably still wary from the experience, but ensure every person - from upper-level management to newly-hired agents - that the new launch will be different. If you approach it differently from the beginning, it will be.
• Get your agents on board. Who is the most important part of your workforce? The people who will be carrying out the launch of your newly upgraded software. These are the people who will determine the success or failure of your software user adoption. Be sure to speak with them directly and at length to determine their readiness and to educate them properly on what is expected with the introduction of your new technology.
• Solidify your case for sponsorship. If your company’s software upgrade depends on an executive sponsor, you will likely be required to make a case for why they should provide the funds for the update. Use the knowledge afforded to you by communicating with your agents to find out what isn’t working on the front lines of your operations and present those reasons as cause for an upgrade. Remember to reassure your sponsor that you are taking a proactive approach to user adoption and that you expect greater success this time around, especially if they were present for a previously failed launch.
• Retire older systems. One problem that many users face when presented with new technology is that management asks them to “phase it in” while phasing out older versions. This can cause numerous problems. Chief among these issues is that agents are often left juggling several sets of data for the same accounts or procedures. When these sets of data are even slightly different, it can cause major problems for clients or consumers - and for your business. These errors can be prevented by making your shift to new technology absolute; retire the old system and bring in the new at once, while preserving the data in a backup form for an emergency.
• Give your update personality. While this may sound silly, it’s a proven method that works for many companies. Before your update happens, talk about it like a major event. Give it a nickname. Get people excited. Even if the first few days are tough, the sense of camaraderie that can be created by making the adoption of new technology into an event your agents participate in as a team is irreplaceable on the path to successful user adoption.

Of course, one of the best ways to prevent problems with user adoption is to start with great technology. At ChaseData, we provide the latest advances in contact center technology, all with easy-to-use and intuitive design in mind. Your staff won’t be stuck in an endless loop of user adoption complications with our software solutions. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you simplify the process of upgrading your technology - and make this the year that your center moves forward for good!