What do you do if your retail marketing team is resistant to adopting new technology?

Ah! With this article contribution I just get a smile on my face. Do you know why? Avoiding technology has no alternative than just do it else it's your harm. Digital Marketing is the only solution to grow massively. Slow and steady don't wins the game. Let's accept the fact and move on. In this topic I don't have to give any learnings or contribution but 1. just understand your fears 2.take a leap of faith, 3. join hands with good organization who can help give you quick results and make you learn and ready for generation of business from digitization. To know more, feel free to reach me directly.

When your retail marketing team is hesitant about adopting new technology, take a human-centered approach. Talk about the benefits—how it can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance results. Offer training sessions to familiarize everyone with the tools. Listen to their concerns and address them openly. Share real success stories from other teams to inspire confidence. And remember, feedback is essential—use it to fine-tune the technology and make it work seamlessly for your team. 🌟

As a flag bearer of using FashionTech's capabilities to enhance customer personalization and experience, I have had my share of resistance. It is a known fact that people resist change, but if you address the logic part of it and show the value with numbers/data/user stories, that's when you will win your team. It's never about your idea; it's always the collaborative effect of your team that will make any endeavour successful! So, educate them so that they can contribute and build together. Every now and then, it's good to rattle some feathers!

One effective training strategy to increase adoption is to assess individuals for their ability to use and adopt new technology. Create two training groups, one for those who are facile with technology and one for those who find technology intimidating or have a hard time with change. For the tech savvy group, make sure the pace is quick to keep them interested. When they fly through the basics, show them some of the more interesting capabilities. For the less savvy group, take the time they need to grasp the basics and gain confidence. This works well because the tech savvy folks will not become frustrated by the folks who are not getting it as fast. And more importantly, the less savvy group will not be embarrassed and give up!

Leading by example does not always have to come from management. We have found it is very helpful to include two types of people from marketing on the technology selection and implementation teams. First, include the person who is known to be the least technically savvy on the team. If they help choose the tool and work with the implementation team on adoption, the reaction of the rest of the team tends to be, 'wow, if they like it and can use it, I bet its pretty easy'. Second, include the person who is the most adverse to change or who tends to be a naysayer. Winning over this person by including them in the selection, implementation, and adoption phases really shows that the new technology is worth learning and using.

The "what's in for me" is crucial. It needs to be considered to make sure the team is willing to embrace the change. And that's what it is basically: change management. So the skills that a leader needs to lead through that are mainly those concerning understanding and leading the change process.

What if you could ensure that they marketing team was not resistant to adopting new technology? Here's how we have had many successful CRM, clienteling, and email tool adoptions. Include marketing team members in the following key aspects of the project. 1) Listing all current pain points and business requirements they want the new technology to address. 2) Include at least two marketers on the selection committee. Have them review the RFP that is sent to technology companies and join in the demonstration meetings. 3) Make sure they have a strong say in the selection of the technology so they feel ownership. 4) Include them in training development and adoptions strategies.

If retail marketing is resisting new technology, it's important to understand their concerns and educate them about the benefits. Highlight how the technology can streamline operations, improve customer experience, and boost sales. Providing case studies or success stories can also help alleviate their doubts. Additionally, offering training and support can make the transition smoother. Ultimately, showing the value and long-term advantages of adopting new technology is key to overcoming resistance.