May 8, 2024
Two Roadblocks That Curb New Tech Adoption
If vendors make it so easy to try new technologies, why is adoption still slow in senior living? In this Senior Living Minute, Evan Friedkin breaks down the two biggest barriers to new tech adoption: limited bandwidth and perceived risk. With sales and marketing teams already stretched thin, implementing something new can feel overwhelming—even if it’s free. Additionally, fear of reinforcing negative industry perceptions makes senior living providers hesitant to embrace external-facing technologies. Understanding these challenges is key to overcoming them and driving innovation forward.
Transcript: Two Roadblocks That Curb New Tech Adoption
When vendors make it so easy to try new technologies, why is adoption still slow? There are really two main roadblocks.
The first is bandwidth. Sales and marketing teams in senior living are asked to do a lot. Even when new technology is offered for free, the mental cost of implementation is so high that many teams simply cannot take it on.
The second is perceived downside risk. Senior living has long battled negative public perception. If you ask someone unfamiliar with the industry about senior living, their first response is often, “I’m never putting my mom in a place like that.” Dig deeper, and they are likely thinking of a nursing home, not the modern communities we know today.
Because of this ongoing image challenge, providers hesitate to adopt external-facing technologies out of fear—Will this reinforce misconceptions, or will it help solve them?
By recognizing these two barriers—bandwidth limitations and perceived risk—senior living leaders can take strategic steps to drive tech adoption and innovation forward.