How to get people to use your systems

Jul 21

If you want to get people to use systems then there are a few things you can do:

Make it the only way they can get things to happen. Eg. claiming expenses
Make sure it fits in with other systems they already use. Eg. email, SMS
Make sure it provides plenty of hand-holding when they first use it. Eg. SocialCast
Make sure they understand how it can help them. If it's not obvious, then market it.
Make it simple to get to and to get started.
Make sure that the message about the system can spread virally
Make sure you keep your potential champions on board at all stages of choosing and designing the system.
Talk to your users about how they're using it

And here's how to stifle adoption:

Any more?

§ Martin Farley said on : 21/07/10 @ 10:37
Another key to success is that if you find a champion/early adopter, let them run and then follow them. They will use the system in ways you didn't predict and take their colleagues and friends with them.

To stifle adoption simply tell people that they are not allowed to do anything new/different. Even if they use it to begin with, interest will tail off as they get distracted with products and systems that do all the other things they really need.