Implementing the right technology can make a huge difference in a company’s success. Technologies that have strong synergies with the organization and its people can leverage and amplify competitive advantages and set a business apart from its competitors.
Unfortunately, many companies fail to make fully informed decisions when it comes to technology acquisitions. In particular, they don’t consult employees before acquiring new technology that will directly impact those employees.
Employees Feel Out of the Loop
Consider these statistics in Eagle Hill Consulting’s report on data from a recent survey on technology acquisitions in the healthcare industry:
- “While almost half report that their employer introduced a new technology in the last two years, only 29 percent say the company invests in the right technology to support them. And just 42 percent think technology change has had a positive impact on their organization.”
- “Less than two in ten healthcare workers are asked for their input on technology decisions. And, 13 percent are completely unaware of technology changes in their company. For the outlier companies that do solicit employee feedback, they typically do so after a solution has been purchased.”
This lack of employee input is problematic for several reasons. For one, failing to consult employees before making a technology acquisition can result in the company’s fixing the wrong problems.
The employees who will be using the new solution should have some input on whether that solution addresses their needs, as well as the priority of those needs. This doesn’t mean employees should have a veto or even a vote on a technology purchase, but they should at least have an opportunity to provide input.
Managing Expectations Through Input
In addition to ensuring appropriate tools are acquired, soliciting employee feedback in advance can help reduce grumbling and increase buy-in down the road. Employees who showed support for acquiring a new tool are less likely to complain and more likely to take the time to get acquainted with it.
The right technology can give a company an important advantage over its competition. The challenge is finding the “right” solution. Too many companies fail to take employee input into consideration before making an expensive purchase that will directly impact their day-to-day work.