It’s that time of year again.
Time to wrap up the year and look ahead to the new one. Importantly, you want to know what digital adoption trends it will bring.
It’s an exciting time for digital adoption. More organizations are prioritizing designing a strategic digital adoption process. Its position as a critical factor in successful business is secure for years to come.
Nobody can predict the future. But we can formulate conclusions based on data and experience. That’s the basis for the following 6 digital adoption trends for 2019.
Sure-fire digital adoption trends in 2019
- More chat bots and automation
- More API use and collaboration
- Focus on user experience
- Deeper training and adoption analytics
- More adaptive tech and machine learning
- Movement to digital-first approach
1. More chatbots and automation
Sure you’ve come across them — the friendly chat box that appears when you head to a brand’s website. If you’ve got a simple question, they can provide you with an answer.
And the great thing about it is it’s all automated, no human intervention needed; it’s not a person you’re talking to, it’s a chatbot.
The consumer-facing benefits are numerous. But there are also plenty for businesses who choose to use this technology to help employees.
Internal chatbots, or Smart Virtual Personal Assistants (SVPAs), can help out with meeting scheduling, research, note-taking, and task reminders.
AI is not meant to replace employees. It’s designed to boost their productivity.
2. API use and seamless integration
In a digital-first workplace, it really is irrelevant where you are physically. You should be able to do your job regardless. And with more staff working from home or other remote locations, seamless integration of digital technology is a must in 2019.
When some workplace applications are cloud-based and others are on-site, it can be a nightmare for remote employees to do what they need to. This is where the API comes in.
For example, an API can help you to integrate Asana, Dropbox, and Google Drive with Slack. Employees can find the documents they need easily, share them with colleagues, and seamlessly track progress. APIs are the future of remote working.
3. Focus on user experience
Your digital transformation efforts are in vain if your employees don’t adequately engage with and adopt new technologies.
Let’s look at this through a consumer-facing lens. A study by Forrester Research shows that a well-designed user interface could raise your website’s conversion rate by up to a 200%. A better UX design could yield conversion rates up to 400%.
The same principles apply to internal user experience.
What if you invested thousands in a state-of-the-art CRM only to find that your sales teams still rely on Excel? It would be a huge waste of time and money.
However, if you also allocate resources to the user experience of that technology and its adoption, you’ll get your ROI.
Seamless user experience of digital tools boosts morale, productivity, and performance. And what’s more, providing a great digital employee experience leads to a better customer experience.
When your sales teams can get the information they need in a heartbeat, without needing to call Support, they’re better able to do their job. They can focus on giving the customer what they need. Happier staff; happier customers.
4. Deeper training and adoption metrics
Big Data just keeps getting better and better. It has found its way into the realm of training and digital adoption.
Of course, today’s digital systems come equipped with analytics to help you understand who needs to do what and by when.
Not only that, but there are tools designed specifically to improve the adoption of new digital systems. And these come with in-built insights.
Armed with this data, it becomes possible to get a deep understanding of how people are using these new tools. You can learn what adoption issues they’re encountering and deliver bespoke solutions as a result.
Big businesses are already opting for this digital adoption technology. Here are a few examples of organizations loving Digital Adoption Platforms and how they’re working for them.
5. More adaptive tech and machine learning
This is probably one of the most exciting emerging digital adoption trends. When it comes to learning new systems and software, technology is now adapting to users rather than the other way around.
You can use AI and machine learning to understand user needs and provide a bespoke user experience based on their behavior.
A Digital Adoption Platform, for example, understands when and where guidance is needed, how to implement assistance, and who needs it. It can auto-complete regular tasks, provide smart suggestions, and offer a tailored experience for each user.
In addition to raw data contained within its analytics, the DAP’s machine learning can also identify patterns and suggest where changes can be made.
6. Movement to digital-first approach
Across all industries, there’s a mass movement towards a digital-first approach to business operations.
Digital adoption in healthcare is huge. Same goes for banking. And as we move closer to the third decade of this millennium, organizations that don’t follow suit are going to get left behind, like Blockbuster and Kodak.
Get ahead and get savvy. Make sure you’re on the front foot with these digital adoption trends. They’re going to be crucial as time hurtles ever faster through the digital revolution.
