There are a number of challenges that plague businesses mind’s today. One of those challenges is getting employees to use the technology you have put at their fingertips.

The problem with rolling out new technology is that it offers little value unless it is adopted and used by an end-user (aka the people). However, the adoption and use of technology can be quite challenging, especially for employees who are expected to learn new programs and meet work obligations at the same time. This is where end-user training courses come in.

Firstly, what is an end-user?

End-users are the ultimate user of any piece of technology or software i.e. not the developers or the programmers, but the users. You reading this article are most likely an end-user of all the software programs available on your computer. Relate this to a business scenario where the end-users are your employees. Without sufficient training and support your employees are unlikely to adopt and efficiently use new technology. So, you are starting to see the need for end-user training but what else should you consider?  Here are our top 3 tips for achieving efficient end user training.

1. Understand who your users are

First things first. You’ll need to perform a needs analysis to understand who you’re working with. This includes everything from their existing technical competences to their concerns about changing processes.

2. Understand what the goal of your training is

Secondly, what are you looking at trying to get out of the training? Adoption of the software at the users own pace or for the user to switch quickly to new software replacing old technologies? It’s important to be clear on expectations and to communicate this to employees. Work towards the same goal.

3. Set a budget and know your schedule 

Firstly, you need to make sure that training is adequately budgeted for and also prioritised as a part of the larger rollout of the software. Once you’re clear on your costs it will make it easier to choose the best training provider.

Get your timelines set. Different industries will require different forms of training, either over a day, online or over a period of time. You’ll also need to factor in after training support to assist in possible migration pains.

Rolling out new software can be an extremely expensive exercise so you want to make sure that you do it right. Adoption rates can be incredibly low if a new software roll-out does not take into consideration the end user. So start with the end in mind.

We partner with companies to provide post-implementation training including Power BI and Office 365. Get in touch if you would like to find out more.