Implementing Power Platform or Dynamics 365 is only half the battle — the real challenge begins after go-live. Too often, teams focus heavily on delivery but underestimate the effort required to help people actually use what’s been built.
User adoption isn't just a metric — it's the difference between a successful investment and a shelfware failure.
In this post, I’ll walk through the most common challenges that derail adoption efforts — and the practical strategies I use to help clients overcome them.
1. Lack of Stakeholder Buy-In
"This was IT’s decision, not ours."
If business leaders and team leads aren’t actively promoting the solution, end users see it as a top-down imposition — not a tool to help them.
Fix it:
- Involve stakeholders from Day 1
- Let them help shape requirements and naming conventions
- Encourage visible leadership endorsement during rollout
2. Poor Communication of the "Why"
"Why are we doing this again?"
If users don’t understand the purpose of the change — or how it improves their day — resistance is natural.
Fix it:
- Create a one-pager or short video that explains the problem, the solution, and the benefit
- Tie improvements directly to their pain points
- Repeat the message consistently through the rollout
3. Overly Complex UX or Features
"It’s too complicated. I’ll just stick to Excel."
If your app or solution tries to do too much up front, you’ll lose users quickly.
Fix it:
- Prioritize a clean, intuitive UX
- Deliver in phases: start with MVP and grow based on feedback
- Provide tooltips, help buttons, or short embedded walkthroughs
4. Insufficient Training & Support
"I don’t have time to figure this out."
Even the best-designed apps can be frustrating if users feel unsupported.
Fix it:
- Offer short, role-specific training (don’t try to train everything at once)
- Create quick-reference guides or video snippets
- Have a support champion or team lead available post-launch
5. No Feedback Mechanism
"No one’s listening to what we need."
If users feel ignored after launch, they disengage.
Fix it:
- Schedule feedback sessions 2 and 6 weeks post-rollout
- Add a “Suggest a Feature” form directly in the app
- Communicate updates and fixes visibly so users know they’re being heard
🔁 Adoption Is a Process — Not a Switch
User adoption isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifecycle:
- Awareness – What is this, and why should I care?
- Acceptance – This could actually help me.
- Adoption – I’m using it because it works.
- Advocacy – I’m showing others how to use it.
Your implementation isn’t successful until you’re seeing advocacy.
🧭 Architecting for Adoption
When I design Power Platform or Dynamics 365 solutions, I bake adoption into the process:
- 🧠 Co-design with real users
- 📊 Track usage with built-in analytics
- 💬 Build a feedback loop from Day 1
- 👨🏫 Train and empower champions across teams
This isn't fluff — it's what turns a solution into a success story.
👋 Let’s Talk Adoption Strategy
Need help getting your users on board — or turning around a failing rollout?
At Power Platform Innovators, I help organizations design for adoption, not just delivery.
📬 Contact me or 📰 subscribe to the newsletter for more real-world insights.