At Day One Technologies, we’re one of the top software simulation providers in the UK, having accelerated user onboarding and digital adoption at major companies for over 25 years.
Here we explain some of the key benefits of software simulations in reducing time to competency with new systems, increasing user confidence, and helping to ensure the overall success of your IT project or digital transformation programme.
The Digital Transformation Context
Rolling out new IT systems or broader digital transformation programmes can be a make-or-break moment for organisations. Despite significant investment, many implementations fail – not due to technical shortcomings, but because users don’t adopt the systems as intended.
Software simulations and digital adoption platforms offer a powerful way to bridge this gap, enhancing engagement, building confidence, and accelerating time-to-competence.
Why So Many IT Rollouts Fail
Implementing a new software system is often fraught with challenges. Research highlights just how frequently these initiatives fall short:
- According to McKinsey & Company, 70% of digital transformation efforts fail, with poor user adoption cited as one of the top reasons.
- In a study by Gartner (cited by MI-3), the figure is even worse, and most enterprise IT projects fail to achieve their intended outcomes, largely due to inadequate training and change management.
- As large organisations look to leverage artificial intelligence to find new efficiencies, in 2024, Gartner also found that 85% of AI projects are deemed failures, so we’re not seeing the potential benefits of AI most of the time as it stands.
The key culprits behind these statistics include:
- Insufficient training and over-reliance on static materials.
- Lack of user confidence, especially in complex systems.
- Resistance to change, driven by fear of making mistakes.
- Delayed access to real systems, preventing hands-on learning.
Software Simulation Benefits for Engagement and User Adoption
Software simulations mimic real-life systems in a safe, risk-free environment. They allow users to interact with the software as if they were in the live system, without the risk of data loss or system errors.
Key benefits of simulations include:
- Active learning – Users learn by doing, rather than passively watching videos or reading manuals.
- Reduced anxiety – Learners can make mistakes safely, encouraging exploration and better understanding.
- Higher retention – Many studies have shown that people retain up to 75% more information when they learn by doing, compared to 5-10% with reading or lectures.
- Faster time to competency – Users can reach proficiency more quickly, reducing support demands and performance dips.
- Safety – Practice in learning simulation modules in no way impacts the real system or real data.
Simulations also enable personalised, role-specific onboarding, ensuring users focus only on the tasks relevant to them.
Evidence That Simulations Deliver Better Outcomes
A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of simulation-based training:
- A Brandon Hall Group study found that simulation-based learning improves performance by up to 40% compared to traditional training methods.
- IBM reported that employees trained via simulations reached proficiency 50% faster and required fewer refresher sessions.
- According to Deloitte, organisations using simulation-based learning saw a 23% higher user adoption rate after rolling out enterprise software.
Our own clients have seen similar benefits – Lloyds Bank induction training saw new advisor ability to deal with enquiries in one go increase by 25% after introducing our simulations, while their after-call work time dropped from 2 minutes to 45 seconds.
Co-op found our personal banking simulations so true-to-life that their employees thought they were using the real thing!
Simulations are increasingly used in high-consequence environments like aviation and healthcare – sectors where precision, confidence, and retention are critical.
For example – for Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), we created logistics risk management simulations to improve worker safety, while for Roche Pharmaceuticals, we created CRM software simulations to increase user adoption and confidence.
What Good Simulations Look Like
Effective software simulations share several key characteristics:
- Realistic interface replication – The closer the simulation is to the real system, the more effective the learning.
- Step-by-step guided workflows – These support users as they build familiarity with key processes.
- Interactive feedback – Instant responses help users learn from mistakes and reinforce best practice.
- Scenario-based challenges – Simulations should reflect real business use cases, not just system functions.
- Multiple modes – The simulation engine should allow different levels of engagement with the simulations – show me, let me try, test me, score me.
- Accessibility and tracking – Cloud-based delivery with learner tracking ensures reach and visibility of progress.
How to Implement Software Simulations Well
To gain the full benefit of simulation-based onboarding, organisations should follow these implementation best practices:
- Start early in the project lifecycle – Create simulations as part of the system rollout plan, not as an afterthought.
- Involve subject matter experts (SMEs) – They ensure the simulated tasks reflect real-world workflows and nuances.
- Focus on critical use cases first – Prioritise high-volume or high-risk processes for simulation.
- Blend with wider onboarding – Integrate simulations into a broader onboarding journey, including knowledge checks and live mentoring.
- Update regularly – Keep simulations aligned with software updates and process changes.
- Use data to improve – Analyse simulation results to identify common user errors and refine future training.
Conclusion
Software simulations are more than just a training tool – they’re a strategic enabler of successful digital transformation. By offering hands-on, realistic, and risk-free practice, simulations reduce user resistance, boost confidence, and ultimately improve system adoption and performance.
As organisations continue to invest in new technology, investing in simulation-based onboarding is essential to ensure that the people using these systems can keep pace.
If you’d like to discuss how we could help you to improve user onboarding and digital adoption with bespoke software simulations, contact us here at Day One Technologies.
