Tips for Enhancing eSourcing Adoption
Tips for Enhancing eSourcing Adoption
As the move towards e-procurement rolls across a company employees will be faced with the choice to adopt and embrace the shift to a virtual sourcing arena or to resist. Here are 4 easy tips for enhancing the adoption process with eSourcing for all users.
1. Focus on Simplicity
Change breeds opportunity but it often comes with resistance. Regardless of how good the eSourcing application is that’s being introduced there will always be a tendency for users to resist the change and want to stick with the systems and programs they are already accustomed with. The simpler the new solution is the more likely it is for users to adopt the changes to their jobs.
As tempting as it is to add all the bells and whistles these systems offer in the very beginning, these will most likely scare away new users due to intimidation. In the early stages of the roll out it is better to focus only on the fundamental functions of the eSourcing system. Once these have been adopted and employees have become familiar, more options can be introduced.
2. Customize Training
Though it might seem like a great idea to get an early start on training it could prove to be a detriment to the users. Users very often forget much of what they’ve learned if training is held too far in advance of their first e-procurement exercises. What has been shown to be the best method is to train users unilaterally on the basic functionality and then have them use this knowledge in real world scenarios within the same week as training
The most successful methods of training use examples of actual past procurement exercises. This gives users a sense of familiarity with the exercise and they are able to see in a practical way how the eSourcing solution can add value to their current procurement operations and simplify their day to day activities.
3. Incentivize and Recognize Early Adopters
In order to promote eSourcing adoption within an organization, users who are successfully using eSourcing in their day to day activities should be treated as role models for the rest of the organization; identified and publically recognized. This behavior will encourage employees who are resistant about adopting the new system to try and make an effort to learn to incorporate eSourcing. This will also make it clear that incorporating eSourcing is contributing to the success of the company in addition to increasing their value as an employee and making them more competitive in the job market.
4. Use Success as a Motivator
Success is contagious. When users see the first round of online procurement activities running effectively and without issues they are more likely to buy into the new processes. Be sure to choose the first commodities to be procured carefully. Packaging or office supplies for example are excellent products to start with. These lend themselves naturally to electronic auctions and are familiar products to suppliers.
It is also important to pick the participants carefully. The ideal suppliers will be the ones who tend to adopt new business practices and technologies easily and are people who are prepared to take calculated risks with their business. These people are much more likely to be successful in the eSourcing process.
To ensure that enthusiasm for the new process don’t fade quickly remember to keep proving that eSourcing is providing a benefit! Tracking key metrics and sharing the results within the organization will provide tangible proof to employees that there are gains taking place which will lead to ongoing adoption.
