New technology can be intimidating. Most of us today have reached a level of comfort with our phones and our personal computers, but when it comes to introducing new technology in the workplace, the learning curve can feel overwhelming.
Technophobia is the technical term for the fear or dislike of advanced technology. In a survey conducted by Chapman University, technology related fears rank in the top 50 fears across the United States.
The following is a list of common fears and reassurances common with new workplace technology adoption:
Fear: Technology might potentially take over my job.
Reassurance: Some manual tasks definitely have the potential to be replaced by new advanced systems, but for most work requiring hands-on expertise, critical thinking skills aren’t often able to be replaced by machines.
Fear: New technology is hard to understand and if I struggle with it, I could appear incompetent.
Reassurance: Technology development has become more and more intuitive, helping users experience success by closely replicating the familiar environment and tasks.
Fear: If I make a mistake and push a wrong button, I could end up losing significant data and cause complete chaos in my workplace.
Reassurance: Most systems are programmed with safety measures for this purpose. It is uncommon to have technology in the workplace that does not have an option to access backups – your workplace is prepared for this.
According to statistics, over 4 billion people worldwide are now active internet users and 3.3 billion people use social media. Modern technology designs often have similar functions to internet and social media platforms to promote familiarity and reduce the learning curve, but the intimidation factor of adopting something new still exists.
In the construction industry, a shift to advanced technology is taking place as companies are realizing the time-saving and cost-saving benefits of electronic data collection processes. Employees are expected to accept and adopt these new technologies with confidence, but extensive training is often available, smoothing out the transition.
Knowledge is power when it comes to battling the intimidation factor surrounding the new digital tools placed in our hands in the office and in the field. Take comfort in the fact that the time and effort spent learning the technology you are using today will prepare you for the inevitable changes that are sure to come tomorrow.
With eesyQ technology, the learning curve is low. Our digital application is customizable using the environment and tools already established in construction companies to create a user-friendly experience that standardizes walk-around inspections, equipment tracking, and more. Click here to schedule a free demo and see how the eesyQ app is helping companies save time and money in just two clicks.