Are Digital Adoption Platforms Replacing Lean Methodogloy in Tech?

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all,” renowned management leader Peter Drucker famously said.

With the endorsement of Drucker and other management authorities, business leaders across all sectors rushed in to embrace Lean methodology, which strives to get rid of all that “should not be done at all.”

Lean can be summarized as a continuous effort to improve processes and eliminate waste. Any process, tool, or mindset that sludges up efficiency should be removed. Only those that add value should be kept.

Leaders revere Lean for its ability to streamline processes, drive faster progress, reduce wasteful spending, and make teams more efficient.

But there’s an important “but.” Not all efficiency and productivity problems can be solved with a Lean approach.

As you add more digital tools to your employees’ workflow, it’s become clear that usability challenges can seriously impair efficiency. The Lean methodology would suggest cutting out the systems that waste time and resources, but this approach will fail you in the digital transformation era.

Identifying the root cause of your software inefficiencies

If your enterprise systems and apps are becoming a bottleneck to optimal employee efficiency, I’d advise you to do a “root cause” assessment before jumping to pull the plug.

According to our research, poor usability and complex business processes are usually to blame.

Poor usability and complex processes are a recipe for inefficiency

There are three main barriers that reduce usability on workplace software, according to our survey.

• Inadequate training — Indicated by 74.1% of employees
• Complex and confusing interface — 43.6%
• Lack of guided learning tools — 34.2%

Download the full survey report for free! 

On top of these barriers, digital business processes are often too complex and time-consuming for employees to perform efficiently.

Another WalkMe study found that 50% of users will “drop off” before completing a digital process that takes longer than two minutes. If the process requires more than five steps, the likelihood that employees will quit in the middle rises.

Is your software really to blame?

The combined effect of all of these challenges is a slower pace of work, capped productivity, employee frustration.

But remember! There’s a reason you invested in your digital tools.

Contemporary enterprise technology comes equipped with advanced capabilities and the potential to revolutionize work, unleash new ways of thinking, and support innovation.

When you analyze the findings above, it’s clear that it’s not the software itself that drags down efficiency — it’s organizations’ approach to achieving digital adoption.

Poor digital adoption is the biggest source of waste in your software investments

If your employees are unable to seamlessly integrate digital tools into their workflows and complete digital processes with ease, then of course efficiency and productivity will suffer.

You might feel inclined to eliminate these platforms in favor of something else, but applying a traditional Lean approach to software inefficiencies won’t solve the underlying problem of poor digital adoption. Only a solid digital adoption strategy will enable you to do that.

Unless you provide employees the right kinds of support and training, using enterprise tech efficiently will always be a struggle.

Bring your digital vision to life with a DAP. Discover why transformational CIOs turn to WalkMe.

Digital adoption platforms: Redefining “Lean” for the digital era

Digital adoption platforms are the focal point of any digital adoption strategy. This breed of software enables you to make your digital processes leaner and more user-friendly while maximizing their features instead of cutting them out.

All of the barriers outlined above — ineffective training, complex interfaces, and lack of guided learning tools — can be remedied with digital adoption platforms.

With on-screen guidance, real-time navigational support, and insights into user behavior, digital adoption platforms guarantee optimal user efficiency by walking employees through processes step-by-step and intervening when they encounter friction.

And no matter how long or complex a process might be, a digital adoption platform ensures any user can complete it with ease, regardless of their prior experience.

Get Lean by adding

Lean doesn’t have to mean throwing things away. In the digital era, it’s unlikely that your organization will revert to the analog way of working. The most effective solution is one that enables you to seamlessly add new digital tools while improving efficiency.