For accounting and consulting firms, choosing and rolling out a new technology solution is often a resource-heavy process.
Stakeholders face pressure to see a quick return on both time and money invested — meaning users need to get up to speed fast and incorporate the new solution into their daily routines.
Taking the time to understand user needs before deployment can make all the difference between a smooth launch and a prolonged struggle.
Here are three strategies for boosting user adoption, based on success stories from Intapp clients.
Tip 1: Invest in proper training
One of the most important factors in user adoption is ensuring that your team is equipped with the right knowledge and skills to use your new tech effectively. When professional services firm Gerald Edelman implemented Intapp DealCloud, they recognized that providing solid training would be key to their success.
The firm worked with Intapp to design a custom implementation plan that included Intapp University, a comprehensive learning platform filled with resources tailored to their solution. By encouraging their users to participate in the training, Gerald Edelman’s team quickly ramped up their skills. Within just three months, they were managing 16 client projects in DealCloud, and now, 100% of their team are daily users.
This focus on training allowed Gerald Edelman to smoothly integrate DealCloud into their daily operations, setting the stage for a successful adoption across the firm. It’s a perfect example of how proper training leads to quicker, more seamless integration.
Tip 2: Choose technology that’s easy to use
If the technology you introduce isn’t easy for your team to use, even the best training and support can only go so far. Ease of use is critical to driving adoption, and that’s exactly what Armstrong Watson found when they rolled out Intapp’s Microsoft 365-based Collaboration suite.
With a remote team spread across different locations, Armstrong Watson needed software that was intuitive and could integrate seamlessly into their existing workflows. The Intapp tools — including Intapp Documents and Intapp Workspaces — worked flawlessly with Microsoft tools like Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint, enabling the firm’s team to access essential files, documents, and client records from anywhere.
“We didn’t have to convince users of the switch,” says Toby Woodhead, Head of Technology at Armstrong Watson. “Never before have I witnessed such a desire in a firm to adopt new technology.” This effortless integration made the transition to Intapp tools a smooth one, and their remote teams embraced the change right away.
Tip 3: Provide hands-on training for key users
BDO Australia recognized the importance of empowering key users to be champions of the new system. Prior to launching, they ran extensive User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with various teams across the business, collecting feedback to customize the platform. This thorough preparation helped them feel confident about the system’s rollout.
“We had so much confidence in the implementation that we launched across all offices on the same day,” says Willem Olivier, National Director, Risks and Ethics for BDO Australia. The simultaneous launch across all offices went off without a hitch, proving that thorough training and customization led to a smooth, firmwide adoption. By focusing on training a core group of power users and integrating their feedback, BDO was able to achieve successful adoption across the entire organization.
Maximize user adoption with an experienced partner
User adoption is one of the most important considerations when planning a technology implementation — and also one of the most challenging. Partnering with a software company like Intapp, which has already helped more than 1,700 firms successfully roll out new solutions that are purpose-built for professional services, makes it easier.
To get more insights on how Intapp has helped financial services firms achieve their goals, read our case studies.