FACT CHECKED
What is technical digital adoption and why is this discipline growing so rapidly?
As digital adoption becomes more and more common in today’s workplace, it is important to gain a clear picture of this discipline.
Anyone interested in pursuing a career in digital adoption, after all, will need to choose an appropriate career path, acquire the right skills, and invest in the right digital adoption training program.
Below, we’ll explore technical, managerial, and strategic approaches to digital adoption, then learn what the future holds for this business discipline.
What Is Technical Digital Adoption?
Digital adoption refers to a state where users gain the ability to use digital tools to their fullest extent and for their intended purpose.
This definition differs from software implementation, which focuses only on the deployment of new tools, not how well those tools are used.
Yet it is critical to maximize user productivity as much as possible, since their productivity directly impacts product value, software ROI, organizational performance, and more.
A digital adoption program will often use tools such as digital adoption platforms (DAPs) to streamline user onboarding, training, and technical support.
Digital adoption technicians, in turn, implement those digital adoption solutions and handle tasks such as:
- Building out digital adoption solutions
- Managing adoption projects
- Providing advice and consulting to clients
- Implementing and designing IT systems
- Developing training programs
Since technical digital adoption focuses on implementation of adoption programs, it is suitable for anyone who enjoys designing user experiences, such as those who work in IT, HR, or employee training.
Technical vs. Managerial vs. Strategic Digital Adoption
Digital adoption, like any other business discipline, must be coordinated at every level of the organization.
Technicians must therefore work closely with managers and business leaders.
Digital adoption managers focus on areas such as:
- Leading teams through the design and development of digital adoption solutions
- Managing and optimizing those projects over time
- Working with business leaders to ensure that projects align with the organization’s strategy
While managers execute and optimize projects, it is also necessary to have strategic oversight.
Those in leadership roles will:
- Align digital adoption programs with the organization’s digital strategy
- Design adoption initiatives that govern technology implementation at scale
- Lead digital adoption programs and teams
All three roles are essential for organizations that want to build a robust, effective digital adoption function. And as we move forward into the digital era, it is important to invest in digital adoption and training, since digital will drive the future of work.
Why Digital Adoption Is the Future
Today, we are in the midst of a technological revolution, and in the coming years, we can expect to see major changes to the economy, society, and the workplace.
Digital adoption, therefore, will only become more relevant and profitable as the world becomes increasingly digital. In fact, digital adoption may become an essential part of every organization – and those who lack adoption programs will be at a disadvantage.
Here are a few trends to pay attention to as we move forward:
Changing customer sentiment and expectations. Customer expectations shift naturally over the course of time. Yet in recent years, we have seen major changes resulting from digital innovation. The internet and mobile devices, for instance, quickly impacted customers’ expectations and, as a result, customer experience strategies. As those change, businesses will need to adapt, both by adopting new tools internally and by streamlining the customer experience.
A workplace that is more dynamic, more digital, and more fast-paced. To keep up in today’s fast-paced economy, businesses and work environments must be able to adapt quickly. Market conditions, customer needs, competitors’ strategies, technology, and other forces are all combining to propel change at a rapid clip. And one of the best ways to stay relevant and adaptable is by creating a digital adoption function, as mentioned above.
A diverse workforce that is more remote and digital-centric. The workforce of the future will look very different from today’s. Technology, generational change, job needs, and many other factors will give rise to a workforce that is more diverse, multi-generational, remote, and digital. Digital adoption solutions can help reduce the fragmentation that will inevitably result from this type of work environment, boosting employee engagement, productivity, and the workplace.
A widening digital skills gap. Today, the digital skills gap has become a focal point for many business leaders. According to one survey by PwC, for instance, 82% of CEOs are concerned about the availability of key skills. And this problem will only become more pronounced as the digital revolution continues. On the one hand, this trend means that companies will need a more skilled workforce, but it also means that employees will prefer employers who offer skills training, such as the training offered by digital adoption programs.
Disruptive innovation, in short, has only begun to reshape the world and the business landscape.
The more that it transforms the economy and the workplace, the greater the need for employee agility, digital savviness, and digital adoption programs.
