6 Ways to Adapt to New Software Seamlessly

Adapting to new software can be tricky. There’s a new interface to learn, new skills to develop and new routines to develop. 

Thankfully, adapting to new software doesn’t have to give you a headache. Any business can adapt to new software with a little time and patience. If you’re getting started with new software, here are six tips to adapt seamlessly. 

1. Conduct extensive testing 

Whether you’re implementing fresh software into your business or redeeming a free trial of RealBookies Pay Per Head software, conducting extensive testing is the best way to seamlessly adapt to any new software.

Software testing isn’t just for developers either. There are plenty of great ways for anyone to test new software, including:

• Trialling the software on employees.
• Trialling the software on customers.
• Testing the software’s compatibility with existing business software. 
• Testing software compatibility across a range of devices.  

How you choose to test software will depend on your business, but generally, the best tests involve watching users interact with the software. We’ll call this ‘user testing’. 

During user-testing, you’ll want to collect user stories. User stories are first-hand accounts of how a user experiences software. After your users have tried every function on your new software, ask them to complete the following template as many times as possible: 

“As a _____________, I want to ____________ but I can’t because ___________________.”

From this, you’ll learn two things about your new software: the goal of its users and their pain points. Typical pain points include problems like “I don’t know how to use this software” and “I don’t understand what this feature is for”. 

Of course, pain points are a normal part of adapting to change – and they are easily fixable. Users who are struggling to navigate new software will benefit from tutorials, while users who don’t understand the software will benefit from one-on-one training. 

Once you understand your user’s pain points, you can seamlessly adapt to any software. 

2. Gradual software implementation

Jumping in the deep end is fun for a summer vacation, but it isn’t the best approach to bring new software into your business. Instead, gradual implementation is the best way to adapt to new software while keeping player retention high. 

Before you make the new software a part of your entire business, ask several of your more software-savvy team members to act as ‘change champions’. If in doubt, choose members of management or veteran employees who can help you plan a successful software implementation. 

As you implement the software across your business, your ‘change champions’ will be able to help coworkers with simple problems as well as provide motivation. Never underestimate the power of leading by example.

Of course, you don’t want to switch to new software cold turkey. Use ‘parallel running’ to help your employees adapt to new software. This simply means you use your old software and new software simultaneously until everyone is comfortable enough to switch. 

There is no timeline for parallel running. Take your time and trust that your team will adapt. 

3. Conduct formal training sessions

The best way to teach your team members the in’s and out’s of your new software is to conduct training sessions that teach everyone how to use it. 

During training sessions, you’ll need to give everyone the following information about your new software: 

• Why you’re bringing it into the business and how it will intercept with their daily work. 
• What the software does and who will use it. 
• How to use it.

The best way to convey this basic information is through a presentation or video tutorial, 

but make sure you use plenty of examples to help everyone understand how the software works in action. 

Many Software as a Service (SaaS) companies even offer professional trainers, making scheduling employee training simple, effective and easy. 

4. Conduct informal training sessions 

Formal training can be a great introduction, but the best training sessions include an informal element with plenty of time for employees to interact with the software in a pressure-free environment.

Great informal training sessions can be a game-changer, as they are opportunities for employees to:

• Ask questions in a low-stress environment. 
• Practise new skills in a supportive team.
• Get one-on-one support in a collaborative environment. 

After you’ve conducted formal training, schedule time for your employees to informally interact with your software. Ideally, every employee will use the software during an informal training session. 

Set up testing stations around the room and go through interactive demos as a team to facilitate great software interactions.  

5. Elect a Change Leader

If your business is struggling to adapt to new software seamlessly, you may benefit from a change leader. A change leader is a member of your team who oversees the software-implementation process from start to finish. That includes:

• Scheduling training sessions. 
• Organising the implementation. 
• Troubleshooting problems. 
• Answering coworkers questions. 

While a change leader won’t be your software-superhero, they are a vital part of the long-term software adoption process. To give your change leader a head start, include the leader in the entire software acquisition process. 

6. Create a knowledge base

Although your change leader is a great resource for their coworkers, developing a knowledge base is a great tool for long term software success.

The best knowledge bases aren’t developed by a single employee either. Instead, encourage all employees to contribute. Great knowledge bases include articles on: 

• Standard documentation practises.
• Tutorials on how to use the software for normal business processes.
• Question and answer guides troubleshooting common questions. 
• Step-by-step guides through fixing common errors. 

To build great knowledge base articles, encourage everyone to make use of dot points, images and screen recordings. 

Once you’ve created a great knowledge base, you’ll save your change leader hours of work –  as well as creating a great resource for new employees to adapt to the software seamlessly. 

Ultimately, adapting to new software relies on choosing the right solution for your business.

Whether you’re installing a new betting board or implementing a Pay Per Head service, the best software adoptions are gradual, include extensive training and take advantage of a free trial offer. 

To see if Realbookies is right for your business, complete the form below to start your free trial.