A lot of drivers don’t like new technology – especially older drivers. New technology means change, and change means drivers are going to have to take the time to learn something new. It’s a pain in the butt. So don’t expect all your drivers to jump for joy when you adopt new routing technology. There’s probably going to be some resistance.
Younger drivers, though, tend not to resist change all that much. They’re used to learning about new technology in their personal lives – whether it’s the latest video game system or a hot new mobile app – so it doesn’t really bother them when they have to learn something new for work, too.
But you can’t run your business with just younger drivers. After all, older drivers are more experienced, which usually makes them more efficient than your less experienced, younger drivers. Also, not all younger drivers are going to like using technology.
What can you do to get your whole team on board with new routing technology?
Show Them the Benefits of Technology
First, you need to show your drivers what’s in it for them.
If you can convince your drivers that the technology you’re trying to implement will benefit them, then they’ll actually want to learn how to use it.
For example, routing optimization software gives you the ability to plan 100% accurate and well-optimized routes. It’ll stop your drivers from getting lost – and drivers would much rather know where they’re going instead of wandering around trying to find the right destination. Make the case that routing technology will improve your drivers’ work days, and they’ll be quick to pick it up.
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Our software also comes with a GPS tracking feature. This allows you to track every driver’s activities in real time.
If a driver gets stuck in the middle of the road due to a sudden breakdown, you will know about it immediately. You’ll be able to send roadside assistance right away. That’s another benefit you can use to sell your drivers on routing technology.
That’s not all – read the following article to learn more about the benefits of route optimization software:
How Vehicle Route Planning Software Can Help You Get Employees on Board with GPS Tracking
Choose User-Friendly Software
Learning how to use new software is always a little frustrating, but some programs are more difficult than others.
When choosing which particular routing program you’ll use for your business, ease of use should be at the top of your lists of factors to consider.
Route4Me happens to be quite easy to use. You can distribute route details directly to your drivers’ smartphones – all they have to do is follow instructions. If your drivers knows how to use a GPS, then they’ll know how to use Route4Me. It’s that simple.
In fact, it’s even easier than that, as Route4Me lets you add notes to routes to provide extra context. So when a driver is making a delivery to a facility that has more than one entrance/loading dock, like a hospital, you can add a note telling the driver exactly where they need to go. This’ll help you save time and make more money.
Don’t Go Overboard With Training
Would you want to go through hours of training for something that doesn’t really interest you?
Of course not. But that’s exactly what you’re doing when you put your drivers through hours of training for some new piece of routing technology.
Some training is necessary, of course. But you should take the time to go over your training strategy, cut out the fat, and make it as short as possible. The shorter your training process is, the more your drivers will pay attention. They’ll retain more information when you don’t drone on and on and on… and it helps when you start with intuitive software like Route4Me that doesn’t take much training to understand how to use in the first place.
Even though most people can figure how how to operate Route4Me just by using it, we still have a dedicated team of onboarding specialists. They’ll walk you through every part of the software and help anyone who’s struggling to understand how to use it. Read the following article to learn more about our onboarding process:
Painlessly Switch to Route4Me With These Onboarding Best Practices
Do Not Use Jargon
You may understand technical jargon like “algorithm” and “geocoding”, but that doesn’t mean your drivers do as well.
It’s already difficult to grasp some of these concepts. The very least you can do is break them down with words your drivers are already familiar with.
New Technology Improves Your Business, Which Makes Jobs More Secure
At the end of the day, every business decision is about customer service. You’re adopting route optimization software because it’ll help your team stay organized and make deliveries on time, which keeps your customers happy.
Why should your drivers care about this? Well, if you don’t keep your customers happy, soon enough they’ll leave for one of your competitors and you’ll be out of business. In that worst-care scenario, your drivers will lose their jobs. That’s reason enough for them to care right there.
Are there any techniques you use to get your drivers to warm up to new technology that we forgot to include here? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
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