Why do professionals adopt newly released technologies? As part of Entefy’s Digital Interaction & Modern Communication research report, we wanted to understand what drives professionals to try out and adopt new technologies like apps, services, and digital devices. So we asked. Our survey included 1,500 U.S. professionals, evenly distributed in age range from 18 to 65, and geographically distributed across the country in small and large cities alike. Survey respondents worked primarily in some of the most dynamic professional environments including the Healthcare, Technology, Financial Services, and Legal industries.
What we found were surprising insights into the digital complexity that so many professionals struggle with every day. Professionals create and manage highly individualized digital ecosystems of devices, apps, and services to meet the demands of their work.
Which brings us to technology adoption. In 1962, a seminal work on the subject of how technological innovation spreads through societies, Diffusion of Innovations by Everett Rogers, concluded that only 16% of the U.S. population were first or early adopters. Since publishing those findings, however, behaviors have changed significantly.
In our survey in 2016, we found that 61% of professionals self-identified as either first or early adopters of new technology. Given today’s state of innovation, it’s relatively easy for just about anyone to test, adopt, or reject new technologies (especially digital products), practically in real-time. Early adoption can also help professionals find a competitive edge and create opportunities for improved efficiency and effectiveness at work. We no longer have the luxury of time to wait for technologies to mature; we need newer and better capabilities yesterday.
You can read more about Entefy’s findings on modern communication in the complete research report.