While most companies know it’s important to train employees on new enterprise software, they often dedicate minimal attention to this step.
A common excuse is that employees already have baseline IT knowledge.
The truth is that even if that foundational skill set is already there, most employees will flounder when adopting new software, especially if you’re migrating from an on-premise system to a cloud-based one.
Upskilling employees in cloud computing takes time, but there are certain practices that can make your approach more effective.
7 Tips for Upskilling Employees in Cloud Computing
1. Identify Skills Gaps
The first step in your upskilling regimen should be identifying the level of cloud awareness and knowledge currently at your workplace.
A skills and competency assessment can help you understand where your workforce currently stands and what you need to focus on when upskilling. We recommend focusing on the skills that are lacking and customizing your training strategy to bridge that gap.
2. Make the Learning Path Accessible
As you map out the learning path you want your employees to take, make sure the tools and resources you’re offering are as accessible as possible.
Take advantage of free, self-paced digital skills courses that employees can access on their own time. Allow them to start small and learn the basics, then advance to more challenging courses.
Explain how they can access continuous programs to expand their skills not only in the short term but also in the long term.
ERP Training Plan Success Story
We helped this manufacturer implement an ERP training strategy to increase user adoption of its new ERP system.
3. Hire a Third Party
Implementing a reskilling or upskilling program at your company can be a full-time job. It also requires organizational change management expertise, which many companies lack.
Consider hiring a change management consultant to help you develop a strategy for reskilling employees from one tech stack to another. These experts can also help you upskill employees to advance further in a technology they already understand.
4. Recognize Achievements
When an upskilled employee gains a new certification or puts their new skills to good use, shout it from the rooftops!
You might be surprised at how far a positive word of affirmation can go. The more you honor these achievements, the more motivated your teams will be to sustain that progress.
5. Use Self-Learning Options
One of the best ways to empower employees to adopt new technology is to give them access to an online knowledge base that they can access on their own time.
From videos and articles to webinars and podcasts, there are many types of self-led learning options available.
Some of the most effective self-led learning is hands-on learning. When it comes to cloud computing, you can provide employees with access to sandboxes or labs where they can practice using these technologies.
6. Anticipate Resistance
You might be well-versed in the benefits of cloud computing, but your employees may still need time to get on board. In fact, they may want to stay in the ocean rather than board your high-tech ship.
As you dive into the upskilling process, be sure to account for change resistance. We recommend developing a resistance management plan so you can monitor and address pockets of resistance as they arise.
7. Consistently Reinforce the Change
Once your new cloud ERP, CRM, or SCM system is live, remember to monitor user adoption and ask for feedback.
If you set key performance indicators at the beginning of your project, analyze how close you are to meeting those goals. Then, address areas of concern, so you can mitigate issues and start reaping the benefits of digital transformation.
Hiring as a Form of Upskilling
When looking for new hires, it’s common to look for degrees that fit your criteria.
Instead of making a degree one of your critical must-haves, expand your qualifications to include cloud-based vendor certifications. You’ll reach a wider pool of candidates, and the ones who do apply are likely to be focused on skill development.
If you want to encourage and incentivize your current employees to pursue such credentials, consider paying for their cloud training yourself.
Next Steps
Upskilling employees in cloud computing should be a key part of any end-user training plan. While your employees may have technical aptitude, they’ll need a whole new skill set for cloud computing.
Our organizational change management consultants can help you develop a training plan that incorporates cloud upskilling. Contact us below for a free consultation.
