Construction Informer

I often hear about how hard it is to get construction people to use new technology. So when rolling out new tech here are five things that can make all the difference.

• Most people don’t like change because they are afraid of what things will be like once change has happened. If you are rolling out something like GPS technology that will allow the business to know where people are, and for how long, then some people may be apprehensive about how you will use this new found information. It never hurts to be very clear about the kinds of personnel actions you will be taking when tech supplies info that you feel you have to act on. It also is a good idea to spell out what those situations might be.
• Many people are not immediately comfortable with technology. Again, fear raises its ugly head. They may be worried they will break something, or that they will make a mistake that can’t be corrected. Some people may just feel “stupid” about technology, and not want others to know they feel that way. The answer is not to scrimp on training. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to do some informal skills assessments so you have a better idea of just how much training will be needed.
• People seldom want to invest their time and energy into things that don’t work well. There is also nothing worse for management than a failed roll-out. Make doubly sure the homework has been done and the tech is going to deliver if the people start using it.
• People want assurances that the company is taking a step that company leadership is behind. Make sure that management at all levels is on board. Not only do you need their buy-in, but you also need their enthusiastic support.
• People like to know how things are going. The roll out is just the hard part. Next you should plan on keeping people informed about how the new tech is helping the business. In meetings, in company publications, or even in email newsletters, highlight things that are working and give some results that are meaningful like – We saved $5000 this month because…” You should also make sure you give out the news about problems. The people are going to know about those anyway, so make sure you get the chance to put your own spin on it and point out how the problems are solved and what was learned.