LISTEN: How organisations can handle resistance to change when implementing new technologies

Accountancy firms looking to implement new technology solutions need to get buy-in from both internal and external stakeholders, according to Accountancy Age’s new podcast.

Produced in partnership with Bright, the final Lightbulb Moments podcast shone a light on resistance to change – a common challenge practices face when implementing new technologies.

Despite the potential benefits that new technologies can bring, employees may resist due to fear of the unknown, job insecurity, or lack of understanding, speakers Jack Moore and Kevin McCallum noted.

Moore, a partner at accountancy firm, Page Kirk, notes that while there is always a natural resistance to any change, complete staff and stakeholder buy-in is crucial for the successful implementation of any new technology.

“Being totally open and transparent and involving the team in anything that involves significant change is always a good footing to start from,” he explains.

“I think we should be communicating the roadmap for any new implementation by firstly communicating the reasoning behind implementing any new technology and the benefits that it will bring, such as how it might make a person’s job easier, save them time, or open up avenues to allow us to provide a better service to our clients,” adds Moore.

Within the accountancy industry, many have seen the benefits of technology by moving from legacy tools to a more efficient, streamlined way of work.

McCallum, CEO of Bright, says that leaning on the software developers who develop the technology can help muster support both internally and externally.

“There will be assets, there will be resources, there will be people in some instances, who can actually help our people understand the basis by which this software is going to succeed and how it will improve and create more efficiency for the practice,” he says.

Both Moore and McCallum noted the importance of evidencing return-on-investment when implementing new technology; not only to cement existing investments, but secure future technology deployment.

“You want to measure the increase in productivity that’s achieved as a result of implementing any new technology,” Moore says.

He adds that practices should get into the habit of measuring speed or output by recording the amount of time spent on any client at each level of the delivery, both before and after any change has been implemented. This way, practices have a tangible way of assessing improvement.

Lightbulb Moments is produced in partnership with Bright. Bright creates software for tax, compliance, practice management and payroll. They are on a mission to make a happy and efficient working life a reality for accountants and businesses through reliable software and amazing support.

INDEX:

00:46    How practices can get staff and stakeholder buy-in when implementing new technology.

03:11    Ensuring clients are comfortable with new technology implementations.

05:30    What metrics should be used to gauge ROI.

09:50    How technology allows accountants to take on a more advisory role.

14:00    Ensuring new technology meets security and compliance requirements.

16:30    Recruiting the right technical expertise

If you have enjoyed listening to the Lightbulb Moments series, and you’re looking for more inspiration to help your practice overcome some of these industry challenges, you could turn to Bright’s upcoming digital event series – Bright ideas.

The events will unite accountants, industry experts, and software providers to tackle some of the biggest challenges being faced by the accountancy sector with tangible solutions.

To find out more, head to brightsg.com/webinars/bright-ideas.