Disruptive technologies affect operations in all industries, and aviation maintenance is no exception. Moreover, aviation maintenance technologies are transforming the industry quickly and at a large scale. Though aviation maintenance is highly human-dependent and often requires personalized touch, a need for higher efficiency, safety, and reduced costs opened a window of opportunity for innovations. No doubt it brings plenty of benefits. However, the implementation process is more complicated. Human natural resistance to change will always take place. Maintenance employees might be reluctant to use new applications, tools, or software. The most common reasons often include a failure to see benefits, lack of skills, difficulties in learning to use new tools, hardwired habits, a threat to professionalism, and much more.
How can you make the user adoption process easy and efficient? Here are some thoughts:
- Make sure employees give their input. Preferably already before purchasing a new solution. Will this new technology make the job easier? For example, while purchasing and implementing MROTools.io is a management decision, QOCO considers mechanics, technicians, and engineers as end-users and dedicates all efforts to make the software work well for them and help them in their daily tasks. Ultimately, it is always up to the end-users whether the software will be used efficiently or abandoned. This should be supported through Leadership measures and visibility.
- Communicate the features and benefits of new tech to your employees. When changing from old to new, transparency is the key. Promote an open dialogue in the beginning, during, and after the transition process. Encourage questions and feedback. Make sure you can address concerns. Partner with a company that invests in training and support for your teams.
- Recruit tech-savvy employees. As you need to promote and encourage the adoption of new technologies, no one else but a colleague can do it. Make sure to have a few "early adopters" in the team who can back you up. These people can also help if someone needs additional support with learning software functionality. To attract talent into the industry, we must have systems and applications that talk to your candidate base, mobile, digital, and web-based on modern hardware platforms.
- Provide relevant training. Don't expect your team to be fluent and efficient in a day. Leave room for mistakes and encourage dialogue/interaction feedback. Acquiring new skills and adjusting to a new way of work takes time, even if it is designed to make your life easier.
While having purchasing power, it is crucial to put yourself into your staff's shoes and understand how these technologies will solve their existing problems. In case of technology is adopted well and serves its purpose, encourage employees to provide feedback for development. At QOCO, we always appreciate those and try to improve the software according to the customer's needs.
Andy Graham
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