How to train employees on new technology | Unboxed Training & Technology

Knowing how to train employees on new technology has become one of the most critical skills for managers today. In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, the ability to quickly learn and use new technologies is a must for organizations that want to stay ahead of the competition.

However, adopting new technology is often a slow to non-existent process. Realities such as increasing complexity, the time required for training employees to use new technology, and a need for employee buy-in can all be roadblocks to learning new systems at work.

So, what's the solution? How can managers ensure that their teams can keep up with the necessity of learning new software while still ensuring they can be productive in their roles? The answer is custom systems training.

Read on to learn about the benefits of training employees on new technology, and tips to take your software training best practices further.

A few benefits of adopting technology early

Providing employees with the right training and skill set can help companies gain a competitive advantage within the market. Evidence has shown that early adopters of digital technologies have seen a 36% decrease in the amount of time it takes to launch one’s products or services when compared to their counterparts.

Other benefits of adopting technology early include:

• Better efficiency
• Increased productivity
• Decreased operating costs
• Improved workflow
• Lower turnover rates
• Improved security

Overlooking the importance of training employees on new technology can be detrimental. In fact, research shows that 40% of employees who do not receive adequate training leave within their first year of employment.

So, how can you effectively train employees on new technologies to reap these benefits? Keep reading.

How to train employees on new technology

There are a few ways to train employees on new technology. Some strategies for learning new systems at work include giving plenty of lead time, designating new technology training champions, offering custom learning modules, and incorporating real-time coaching and feedback.

Let's break down these software training best practices to show how each can help your team be successful when learning new systems:

1. Give employees plenty of lead time

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when rolling out a new software system is to spring it on your team with little to no notice. Not only will this cause frustration and confusion, but it’ll also lead to lost productivity as employees try to figure out the new system while trying to complete their daily tasks.

Instead, it's vital to give employees plenty of lead time before putting a new system in place. Allow employees to familiarize themselves with the new software and make any necessary adjustments to their workflow. The more time you give them to prepare for the transition, the more likely they are to adopt and adapt to the new technology.

2. Designate new technology training champions

When training employees to use new technology, don't underestimate the power of having a few designated "champions" on your team. These people should be quick learners and tech-savvy. By designating training champions, you can ensure that there are always people on-hand to help others, creating a culture of collaboration.

What should you look for in a training champion? Look for someone who’s:

• Passionate about learning new things
• Quick to adopt new technologies
• Good at coaching others
• Well-versed in how to train employees on new software

3. Offer custom systems training through an LMS

Today's learning has shifted from classroom-based training to online instruction, which is why a learning platform is essential for employee training. An LMS can house custom learning modules that train employees on internal tools and systems, so they can feel more confident at work.

Choose an LMS that offers impactful features, such as:

• Various modalities: Look for a system that supports different types of training content, such as mico-learning videos, e-learning, and games.
• Mobile accessible: With more employees accessing training content from their mobile devices, it's essential to choose a mobile-friendly LMS that can be accessed from anywhere.
• Reporting and analytics: An LMS should offer reporting and analytics features to help you track employee progress and identify areas for improvement.
• Custom learner journeys: With Spoke®, you can create personalized learning paths that combine proven micro-learning methods with an engaging milestone map to track progress.
• Continuous coaching: Connect managers with learners by investing in a learning technology platform that has coaching capabilities, enabling a continuous loop of feedback with practice that can be measured.

4. Incorporate real-time coaching and feedback

Feedback plays an important role in training employees to use new technology. If employees aren’t given feedback, they’re not going to refine their skills. Instead, they’ll continue to make the same mistakes.

One of the best ways to enhance learning new systems at work is to coach your team throughout the process. Real-time feedback allows leaders to correct any potential issues in the moment before implementing the new technology in their day-to-day role.

Unbox the best technology training for employees

The importance of training employees on new technology can't be overstated. By giving employees plenty of lead time, designating champions, using an LMS, and offering real-time feedback, you can ensure that everyone is up to speed on the latest technology in no time.

And if you're looking for the best way to implement new technology training, look no further than Unboxed Training & Technology's custom training solutions. At Unboxed, we’ve taken the guesswork out of employee learning by offering custom software and systems training. Our systems training follows blended learning best practices to engage all the ways in which we learn.

See our systems training in action by requesting a demo to learn more about how to train employees on new technology today.