There are two universal truths of running a business: The best part about discovering a problem is finding a solution to that problem, and the worst part about discovering that solution is finding a way to implement it company-wide. In fact, up to 70 percent of organizational changes are failures, and this shocking failure rate has been consistent for decades. People tend to resist change, which is why so many businesses land themselves in hot water after spending a small fortune bringing new technologies into their operation, only to have those systems fail because of poor planning and implementation. Technology implementation has a significant effect on overall profitability, so maximizing the value of technological solutions hinges heavily on just how effectively they can be integrated into the company culture, and founders just aren’t paying enough attention to change management when they decide to introduce new technology into the workplace.

Investing in the Wrong Technology

We’re in the golden era of technology, with innovative new solutions to everyday business woes being “solved” by a variety of different platforms all the time. But not all these solutions are created equally, and ultimately it doesn’t matter how perfectly the wrong technology is implemented if it’s just not going to be a good fit for your company’s needs. One of the most common mistakes founders make is selecting a technology system based almost exclusively on the demonstration sessions led by the software developers; this may or may not accurately reflect how those systems and processes might translate to your startup. Don’t get sucked into the pitch — pay attention to how any new technology jives with your company culture and your business’s overall digital strategy.

Getting Lost in the Data

Big data — and the technology that compiles it — is all the rage in technology and marketing right now, with Google Analytics and similar platforms offering thousands of ways to analyze and interpret huge amounts of data to extract insights. The problem is that many businesses still struggle to mine that data for information relevant to their venture, and too many founders don’t think about their data analytics approach. Statistics and data can be easily manipulated, as Greg Malpass, CEO of Traction on Demand, explains: “The danger is entering into data with a hypothesis and using it to sway your direction and prove yourself right. People can use the same data and come up with completely different stories because their bias shaped it.”

Solving Problems Too Quickly

While this may sound like one of those “problems” that isn’t actually a problem, being too quick to posit solutions can actually be a bad thing. Trying to solve a problem too quickly without listening and fully understanding its scope and impact can close you off to new information that could be critical to your understanding of the problem and how to improve it. What’s more, those preconceived notions can influence the recommendations you make for solutions, which may not bring about the best results. In general, it’s very challenging to listen and be open-minded when your brain is in problem-solving mode; listen first, then seek to solve.

Recommended for You Webcast, January 11th: Everything CEOs & Startup Founders Need To Know About Technical Advisors, CTOs, Agencies, and Engineers

Dropping the Bomb

One of the absolute worst mistakes founders can make when implementing new technology is failing to get buy-in from their team before dropping the bomb that change is a-coming. Founders should emphasize the value of the changes and work on getting the team’s feedback and insights before making moves. This will not only help to ensure that you don’t solve problems too quickly or spend money on technology that won’t even address the right issues, but it will also help your team adopt changes organically and successfully. As Building Design+Construction smartly notes, “real change — the kind that removes obstacles, speeds timetables, saves money, and improves safety — cannot simply be mandated from above. Change that doesn’t include buy-in from your team… risks being marginalized and abandoned as old habits and procedures creep back in.”

Insufficient Training

Understanding and being able to fully utilize the technology you’ve brought into the workplace is just as important as deciding to implement it in the first place; after all, it doesn’t do your business any good to have a “solution” no one can effectively use. You (or other employees who are training your team on the new platforms) must understand the application of the system, not just which screens to go to and buttons to push to perform functions. You want to know how to use the technology to enhance your workflow, and you want to know it well enough to be able to pass that information to others. It may take more time than you’d like it to, but it’s a non-negotiable step in the process.

It can be tempting — and even all too easy — for founders to invest in bright and shiny new technologies that don’t really fit into the overall vision or strategy of their business, but blindly investing in the latest and greatest without taking the time to ensure it’s a good fit for your company can spell disaster. Perhaps even more frustrating for startups, though, are the times in which founders know they have found the perfect tech tool to solve a business conundrum, only to struggle to implement that technology effectively. Becoming more aware of common mistakes founders make when introducing new technology into the workplace is the first step in ensuring your startup doesn’t fall victim to any of these pitfalls.

Did you make any “rookie mistakes” when trying to implement technological changes in your business? Share your experiences in the comments below!