What is a digital adoption platform (DAP)?

Introduction

In today’s digital world, businesses rely on various applications to run their operations. However, getting employees to fully adopt and proficiently use these tools can be a challenge. This is where digital adoption platforms (DAPs) come in. DAPs provide guided learning and in-app assistance, making it easier for employees to learn and engage with new technologies. One such platform is OnScreen Guidance, known for its simplicity and ease of use. In this blog, we will explore what a DAP is, its benefits, common features, and why OnScreen Guidance is a top choice for your digital adoption needs.

What is a digital adoption platform (DAP)?

According to Gartner Research, a digital adoption platform (DAP) is a tool that overlays your business applications, such as CRM, HR, and ERP systems, with guided learning and support features. These features include in-app tutorials, step-by-step tutorials, and real-time assistance. The goal is to help users learn how to use these applications and complete tasks more effectively and smoothly. By providing consistent and interactive guidance, DAPs streamline the adoption process and reduce the learning curve. This leads to higher productivity, improved performance, and an increased return on investment (ROI) for your software applications.

Benefits of a DAP

A digital adoption platform (DAP) offers key benefits that lead to significant cost savings and increased efficiency. By reducing the number of help desk tickets, organizations can save on support costs. DAPs also lower the need for extensive training resources when deploying new technologies. They streamline training for changes in existing technologies, making transitions smoother and less resource-intensive.

Moreover, DAPs enhance end-user proficiency and productivity by providing in-app guidance and support. Users can self-assist in learning new technologies through guided in-app tours, knowledge management, and links to additional resources. This boosts their digital proficiency with company-supplied tools. The engagement and satisfaction of end users improve as they find technology easier to use and more intuitive.

DAPs also help in understanding and streamlining business processes, leading to more efficient operations. They reduce digital friction, providing a smoother and more enjoyable digital experience for all users. Overall, a DAP significantly enhances the adoption and effective use of technology within an organization (Gartner Research, 2023).

Common features of a DAP

Digital adoption platforms (DAPs) come equipped with a variety of features designed to enhance user experience and improve technology adoption. Essential features include in-application contextual guidance, which provides real-time help as users navigate software. Analytics for guidance usage offer valuable insights into how users interact with applications, allowing for continuous improvement. Most DAPs also collect anonymized and aggregated user data to better understand user behavior.

Standard features often found in DAPs include guided tours, announcements, and bulletins that offer overviews and updates within the application. Cross-application contextual guidance ensures users receive help no matter which software they are using. Surveys and feedback tools help gather user opinions, while if/then branched guidance provides customized support based on user actions.

Optional features can further enhance a DAP’s functionality. Light automation of task entries can save users time on repetitive tasks. Knowledge management and learning links provide easy access to additional resources. Some DAPs support identifiable data collection for more personalized experiences and offer multi language content to support global user bases. Workflow and guidance issue tracking help identify and resolve any problems users may encounter (Gartner Research, 2023).

DAP use cases

Digital adoption platforms (DAPs) offer a wide range of use cases, making them essential tools for various organizational needs. According to research conducted by Gartner, there are four common use cases:

Employee onboarding & offboarding

One primary use case is employee onboarding and offboarding. For new hires, secondments, and temporary workers, DAPs provide guided tours and in-app assistance to quickly integrate them into their roles. This ensures they become productive faster. Similarly, during employee terminations, DAPs help manage the process smoothly, ensuring all necessary steps are followed.

Complex tasks

DAPs are also highly effective for complex tasks. For example, they simplify talent recruitment by guiding HR teams through intricate processes. In CRM opportunity management, DAPs provide step-by-step instructions to sales teams, ensuring they follow best practices. When registering suppliers, DAPs ensure procurement teams complete all required steps accurately, reducing errors and increasing efficiency.

Infrequent tasks

Infrequent tasks can also benefit greatly from DAPs. Performance appraisals, which may occur annually or biannually, become easier with guided assistance, ensuring all evaluation criteria are met. Compliance checks, often conducted sporadically, are streamlined with in-app guidance, reducing the risk of missing critical steps. Expense claims, typically filed irregularly, are simplified, helping employees complete them correctly and promptly.

Change management

Change management is another crucial area where DAPs excel. Whether it’s application UI changes, business process adjustments, the rollout of new features, or the implementation of a new project, DAPs provide the necessary support to ensure users adapt quickly. This minimizes disruption and enhances user acceptance, making transitions smoother and more efficient. Specifically, during a new project rollout or implementation, DAPs ensure that all stakeholders follow the correct procedures, helping to avoid delays and errors while ensuring a successful launch.

What to look for in a DAP

When choosing a digital adoption platform (DAP), consider several key factors to ensure you select the best fit for your organization. First, prioritize a user-friendly interface that allows both technical and non-technical users to easily create and manage content. Integration capabilities are crucial, as the DAP should seamlessly work with your existing systems and applications. Robust analytics and reporting features are essential to track user engagement, identify pain points, and measure the effectiveness of the guidance provided.

Total cost of ownership is another critical consideration. When evaluating the pricing of DAPs, factors such as your company size, the number of applications, features, and users will influence the monthly subscription fee. Additionally, set-up and implementation fees, server maintenance, and support fees can significantly add to the overall cost. It is important to assess these costs in relation to the value and benefits the DAP will bring to your organization.

Scalability and flexibility are also important; the DAP should be able to grow with your organization and adapt to changing needs. Support for multiple languages and platforms ensures that the DAP can be used by a diverse, global workforce. Lastly, consider the level of customer support and training provided by the vendor to help you get the most out of the platform. By focusing on these factors, you can choose a DAP that effectively supports your digital adoption efforts and enhances overall productivity.

Why OnScreen Guidance should be your DAP

OnScreen Guidance is an excellent choice for a DAP due to its simplicity. Our lightweight, no-code tool allows anyone, from trainers to subject matter experts, to quickly create and distribute guided in-app assistance. With OnScreen Guidance, process documentation can be produced within minutes and shared with relevant users, providing real-time guidance within their workflow.

One of the key advantages of OnScreen Guidance is its low total cost of ownership. Our licensing subscription model is straightforward, flexible, and transparent, designed for scalability. Additionally, OnScreen Guidance offers a dedicated customer success manager (CSM). This personalized support significantly enhances customer maturity and capabilities, aiding in platform adoption and ensuring unparalleled assistance for our customers.

OnScreen Guidance is also platform-agnostic, allowing integration with various applications without limitations or extra costs. Companies often use multiple systems like SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, SharePoint, SuccessFactors, and custom applications. OnScreen Guidance’s versatility makes it ideal for supporting users across multiple applications, providing end-to-end assistance. If your organization is process-centric and needs to guide users through various platforms, OnScreen Guidance is likely a better fit.

Final thoughts

Digital adoption platforms (DAPs) are crucial for organizations seeking to enhance technology adoption and proficiency. They offer real-time in-app guidance and targeted support, which reduce learning curves and boost productivity. When choosing a DAP, important factors to consider include user-friendliness, integration capabilities, scalability, and total cost of ownership.

OnScreen Guidance distinguishes itself as an exceptional choice due to its simplicity, transparent and flexible pricing model, dedicated customer success manager, and platform-agnostic integration capabilities. These features ensure that organizations can achieve seamless training and onboarding, higher user engagement, and an overall enhanced digital experience. By choosing OnScreen Guidance, companies can significantly reduce digital friction, save on costs, and empower their users to navigate new technologies with ease.

Experience the transformative power of OnScreen Guidance and take your digital adoption to the next level. Visit our website to learn more and schedule a demo today.

FAQs:

What is the main purpose of a digital adoption platform (DAP)?
A digital adoption platform (DAP) helps users learn and engage with new technologies by providing in-app guidance and real-time support. This ensures smoother technology adoption, increased proficiency, and enhanced overall user experience.

What are the key benefits of implementing a DAP like OnScreen Guidance?
Key benefits include cost savings from reduced help desk tickets and training resources, increased end-user proficiency and productivity, improved digital proficiency, higher user engagement and satisfaction, and streamlined business processes.

What should organizations consider when choosing a DAP?
Organizations should look for a user-friendly interface, seamless integration capabilities, robust analytics, scalability, support for multiple languages and platforms, and a low total cost of ownership. OnScreen Guidance excels in these areas, making it a top choice.

How does OnScreen Guidance support various use cases within an organization?
OnScreen Guidance is versatile and can be used for employee onboarding/offboarding, managing complex tasks like talent recruitment and CRM opportunity management, handling infrequent tasks such as performance appraisals and compliance checks, and aiding in change management processes.

Why is OnScreen Guidance a good option for organizations looking to implement a DAP?
OnScreen Guidance is a lightweight, no-code tool that is easy to use and integrates with various applications. It offers a transparent and flexible pricing model, a dedicated customer success manager, and platform-agnostic capabilities, making it ideal for organizations seeking to enhance digital adoption and streamline their operations.