Why might pre-existing tools hinder digital change efforts?

Pre-existing tools can significantly impede digital change efforts primarily because they are often more comfortable to retain due to familiarity. Organizations tend to develop habits and workflows around existing tools, making it challenging to shift to new systems. This comfort and ingrained usage can create resistance to change, as employees may be reluctant to learn new tools or adapt to different processes. Stakeholders might prioritize maintaining productivity with familiar tools rather than investing time and resources in adopting new technologies that promise improvement.

While it is true that different factors, such as training needs and maintenance costs, can also influence the decision to continue using existing tools, the prevailing comfort and ease associated with familiar technology often outweigh these considerations. Consequently, the inertia created by pre-existing tools can serve as a major hurdle to effectively implementing digital change initiatives.