Any tech guy or girl already knows there are basically two types of people when it comes to technology. While it is a spectrum that has almost countless stops along the way, individuals can be classified into one of two categories. Either you know tech and are comfortable with technology (this category also includes the people who don’t necessarily know all technology but are comfortable with learning and asking questions), or you are not. Even though some individuals don’t like technology in general, you have to remember that avoiding technology entirely is a bad business decision. Plain and simple, you need to embrace it to improve your efficiency and your overall operation. However, if you follow some best practices and tips then you could make your technology upgrades go much smoother than originally anticipated.
Simple Technologies for Some Are Lost on Others
When it comes to basic technology, the first thing you need to remember when dealing with non tech people (or even those who can appreciate technology but just not be familiar with it), is nothing can be taken for granted. For the workers who may be in the twilight of their careers or even those who have another twenty years left, you are most likely speaking about workers who are currently in their mid to late forties and beyond.
When the personal computer came out and became a revolutionary tool roughly twenty years ago, these individuals very well could have jumped on board, but they may also have just ignored it until they were forced to accept it. After all, they were in their careers already when the computer came out as a novelty, so why would they need to embrace it now? This doesn’t just apply to computers as a whole but rather everything else that is related. Ideas such as checking email, storing passwords, right clicking and even keyboard commands are all ideas that could be lost on them. You need to find a way to communicate information regarding technology to individuals who have understood technology, but just not this type technology for very long. You also need to remember that things you do in less than a second (and possibly out of habit and not out of thought) are things that they don’t even know exist. The communication barrier is one that must first be recognized in order to cross it.
Understandable and Visible
There are concepts that even if you know what they are, they can still be difficult to explain. Certain concepts like firewalls, RAM, the cloud, and other things that can’t be seen are not just essential to have a functional business that uses computers, but you also need to know these items in order to understand the big picture and to understand other aspects of computing as well. Try to discuss the importance of firewalls and data privacy without discussing either servers or cloud computers. The point is you are venturing into territory where all of the lingo and jargon is sector specific. In that regard, you have to boil it down and keep it simple.
Benefits of Easy Interface
One of the easiest things you can do when it comes to actually integrating or discussing any sort of technological advancements is to keep it as easy as possible. A simple user interface that allows both veterans and novices alike to jump onboard and start using the software or application will not only do wonders to improve efficiency, but if it is truly easy to use then you will be able to pull everyone onboard (especially those who don’t need to know a lot about technology to receive the benefits).
When it comes to some of the top software, applications, and systems that not only fit this model beautifully but are currently out there today, one perfect example is the software for business collaboration for IT by Bluejeans. When it comes to getting everyone onboard you not only have an easy to use system that everyone can understand, but when it comes to running the actual IT side of things you also have people at both ends of the spectrum who will support it thanks to how easy the interface actually is.
Regardless of what type of technology you are thinking about implementing in your organization, there are a few rules that you absolutely must follow if you actually want the project to be accepted. In addition to keeping the technical jargon down, you have to be able to demonstrate just how simple the total idea is when it comes to both implementation and payoff. If you find a software or application that will not only improve results for the organization but one that will also be easy to implement, then you can be sure you will have people at top buying in to your idea quicker than you thought possible.
