A brilliant digital solution – but did we forget to activate it?
You’ve invested time, budget, and effort into a cutting-edge digital experience. The platform is live, the system runs smoothly, and everything is secure. But what if no one knows it exists?
A digital solution that sits quietly on an intranet or behind a login screen won’t deliver value - no matter how good it is. For it to make an impact, it needs to be both technically sound and properly activated.
At Cadpeople, we specialise in visual communication, digital learning, and digital experiences. We’ve delivered some of the most innovative solutions in the industry: virtual platforms, learning universes, event platforms, and digital simulators. But no matter how advanced a solution is, it won’t reach its full potential unless people know about it, understand it, and use it.
Bringing a digital solution to life involves two complementary phases (hold that thought...).
Camilla Tække,
Digital Marketing Manager
1. Implementation (the technical foundation)
This phase ensures the solution is properly set up and integrated into the organisation. It includes:
✔ Installation, configuration, and testing
✔ Security, GDPR compliance, and hosting setup
✔ Ensuring seamless user access (e.g. single sign-on, intuitive navigation)
✔ Clear documentation and support to remove user barriers
A well-implemented solution is robust, secure, and easy to access, but that’s only half the battle.
2. Activation (making sure people actually use it)
This is where many digital solutions fail. A platform isn’t useful if people don’t know it exists, don’t understand its value, or simply forget about it. Activation is about making the solution visible, relevant, and engaging. This can include:
✔ Internal communication that answers “why should I care?”
✔ Training and onboarding that make adoption effortless
✔ Marketing and launch initiatives that create buzz
✔ Ongoing engagement to keep the momentum going
A strong implementation without activation means a great solution no one uses. A strong activation without solid implementation leads to frustration and technical issues. Both need to be in place for success.
How to successfully activate a digital solution
The key to activation is meeting users where they are and making the solution impossible to ignore. Here are some tried-and-tested ways to do that:
Teaser videos that focus on the "what’s in it for me?" - Instead of just explaining what the platform does, show how it solves a real challenge in the user’s daily work.
Interactive challenges. Instead of simply gamifying navigation, give users a reason to engage: "Find three hidden features and unlock a reward" or "Solve this task using the platform."
Internal takeovers. Ensure the solution is highly visible in places employees already frequent:
- A banner or popup on the company intranet
- Automatic email signatures promoting the platform
- Office screens displaying key platform features
Smart email campaigns. Instead of one generic launch email, create a short series of micro-messages:
- "What’s in it for you?" Address pain points and benefits
- "Did you know you can do X?" Highlight a key feature
- "Test yourself: Are you using the platform to its full potential?" Engage users with a simple self-check
Internal influencer activation. Every organisation has super-users. Let them test the platform first and share their experiences. Others will follow.
Experiential launches. Make onboarding an experience, not a chore. Instead of a standard walkthrough, how about an interactive Escape Room-style challenge where employees have to navigate the platform to solve a problem?
Tactile experiences – but with a twist. A QR code on a piece of chocolate is fun, but what if users received a locked gift box and had to log into the platform to get the code to open it?
What does 'activation' rhyme with?
Always remember! Do you need help?
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