Client Story: Change Management for Tech Adoption

The Situation

A large, technology-driven organization had recently invested in a sophisticated new data platform—an internal system designed to consolidate information from across the business into one reliable, searchable hub.

It was powerful technology: capable of ingesting data from virtually any source, standardizing it into consistent formats, and making it instantly accessible through an easy-to-use interface. On paper, it promised efficiency, insight, and better decisions at every level.

But there was one problem: almost no one was using it.

The Challenge

The roadblock wasn’t technical—it was human.

Employees were used to managing data their own way. Each department had long-standing tools and workflows that worked well enough, and few saw the value in changing them. Others were hesitant to trust that their information would remain accurate once combined with everyone else’s.

Even those who were curious about the system hesitated to engage. They assumed it would be complicated to use and didn’t feel they had the time to learn it. Without confidence or clear value, adoption stalled.

The organization had invested in world-class technology—but without people using it, the return on that investment was close to zero.

The Solution

Elemental Consulting was engaged to turn things around—not by changing the system, but by changing the conversation around it.

We began with an adoption analysis to understand the barriers: Was the hesitation about skill, trust, or time? (It was all three.) From there, we built a practical change management plan focused on awareness, confidence, and community.

• Awareness: We partnered with leaders to communicate the “why” behind the change—what the system made possible, and how it simplified work rather than adding to it.

• Confidence: We designed hands-on, scenario-based training that let users test real-world queries in minutes.

• Community: We established office hours and informal support channels where early adopters could share tips and success stories, making the learning curve feel lighter and the culture more collaborative.

Adoption wasn’t mandated; it was encouraged through clarity, visibility, and shared wins.

The Results

Within three months of Elemental’s involvement:

• Platform usage increased by 50%

• The number of unique users contributing data nearly doubled

• Cross-department reporting requests decreased as more teams self-served insights directly

Beyond the metrics, the biggest change was cultural. Employees no longer saw the platform as “someone else’s tool”—they saw it as their own.

The Takeaway

Technology alone doesn’t drive transformation—people do.

By focusing on awareness, confidence, and connection, Elemental helped this organization turn an underused investment into a trusted, everyday asset. The platform didn’t just gain users—it gained champions.