Organizations must keep up with shifting business needs in a constantly evolving market by ensuring they have the appropriate technologies in place.

Just think about it. With fast-paced improvements, changes, and resulting obsolescence of certain technologies, maintaining a static IT environment is challenging. Not as far as impossible, but it is close to that.

Despite allocating significant IT budgets to manage these changes, effectively implementing and utilizing these systems after a project is completed can pose challenges. That is why businesses must stay abreast of emerging technologies and adapt their strategies accordingly to remain competitive in today's fast-moving market.

How can organizations manage that? Well, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group provides the answer with its latest advisory deck, “Drive Technology Adoption.”

Info-Tech Research Group offers unbiased research to help IT leaders and chief information officers make strategic and informed decisions. To do that, Info-Tech works with IT teams to provide them with the necessary resources (including actionable tools and analyst guidance) to achieve measurable results for their organizations.

In the latest advisory deck, Info-Tech reveals that early engagement with tech-savvy individuals who can lead the way is crucial to building momentum and ensuring a successful transition. That makes sense. Tech-savvy individuals often provide valuable input on the technology selection process, help identify potential issues or roadblocks. and provide insight into how the technology will be used in practice.

The report also emphasizes the importance of transparent communication throughout the adoption process, involving staff in proof-of-concept activities, and leveraging in-house advocates to kickstart momentum. A word of caution, though. IT leaders should be aware that laggards may need special attention.

Info-Tech further suggests that the key to promoting technology adoption lies in identifying and defining barriers, which requires understanding the attitudes of different user types and reviewing adoption techniques that are appropriate for each. The firm recommends a "follow the leader" approach, in which technology enthusiasts and champions lead the way.

The research deck did outline five steps organizations must consider to drive technology adoption and includes the following steps:

• Categorize Users: Gain a clear understanding of the different user types.
• Identify Adoption Techniques: Understand the range of different tools and techniques available.
• Match Techniques to Categories: Determine the most appropriate techniques for the user base.
• Follow the Leader: Be aware of the different skills present and use them to advantage.
• Refresh, Retrain, Restrain: Prevent reversion to old methods or systems.

The purpose of these steps is to provide organizations with a roadmap for successful technology adoption, emphasizing the importance of early engagement, transparent communication and identifying barriers to adoption. If not, several problems can arise when new technologies are not effectively adopted, including unused or partially used technology, duplicated systems, unrealized benefits and incomplete technology projects.

"The rapidly changing technology landscape has always favored those who are willing to embrace change," said Troy Cheeseman, advisory practice lead at Info-Tech Research Group. "Although the future is uncertain, it's clear that people can change with the right motivation."

If anything is taken away from this research deck, it’s that the result of an IT project needs to be readily accepted by those who will use it as a critical factor in determining adoption. Simply completing user acceptance testing is not enough to ensure user acceptance.