Companies are turning to new strategies and solutions when it comes to using their data to drive decisions. User adoption is essential to unlocking the value of any new tool, especially in the field of business intelligence. However, like with most things, people are commonly resistant to change and often revert back to their original way of doing things. So how can organizations avoid this problem? Let’s explore five strategies that will help to effectively manage change and increase user adoption of business intelligence.
Closely Monitor Adoption
It’s no secret that people are hesitant when introducing new tools and processes. If you don’t keep a close eye on the transition to a new tool, users will likely continue to use outdated methods such as disparate and inaccurate spreadsheets. Make sure those involved are working with the solution frequently and in the predetermined capacity. If you notice a few individuals rarely using the tool, reach out to discuss their usage as well as any concerns they might have surrounding the business intelligence solution.
Top-Down Approach
Another strategy to increase user acceptance is the top-down approach. Buy-in from executives and senior stakeholders is crucial to fostering adoption, whether it be throughout your team or the entire organization. Consider bringing on an executive to champion the platform. This will empower other end-users to utilize the tool and recognize its overarching importance to the business moving forward. Leadership should also communicate heavily the why behind moving to a new solution. This will align stakeholders and help them to understand the transition as a whole.
Continuous Learning & Training
Training is key to the introduction of any new processes or solutions. But you can’t expect your employees to be fully onboarded after one intensive training session. Try approaching the onboarding process as a continuous learning opportunity. Implement weekly or bi-weekly meetings to allow everyone involved to reflect on what they’ve learned and collectively share their experience. Additionally, allotting time for regular meetings will give people the chance to ask questions and troubleshoot any possible problems they've encountered.
Finding Data that Matters
Demonstrate the power of using data to drive decision making by developing a business use case. This application will allow you to establish the validity of the BI solution and show others where it can contribute value across business units. Seeing critical business questions answered will assist in highlighting the significance of the tool and potentially spark other ideas across users.
Remove Alternatives
A more obvious way to increase adoption is to remove existing reports or tools that users could possibly fall back on. Eliminating alternatives forces users to work with the new solution and ultimately familiarize themselves with the new dashboards.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many effective strategies when it comes to increasing user adoption. The downfall of many companies when it comes to introducing new solutions is their focus on solely the technical side of things. The organizational change and end-user adoption are just as crucial, if not more important, to successful implementation. Consider these approaches next time you’re introducing a new business intelligence solution.
