The Evolution of Software Training and Adoption Investments: Trends from 2019–2024 and the Road Ahead

by Team Userlane

1 day ago ・

Introduction

Over the past five years, businesses in the US, UK, and EU have made significant investments in software training and adoption to drive digital transformation. Organizations have realized that implementing cutting-edge software is not enough; employees must be adequately trained to maximize its value. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, collaboration tools, and automation have emerged as the leading software categories receiving the highest levels of investment. However, challenges related to adoption, workforce upskilling, and change management have frequently hindered organizations from realizing the full return on their technology investments.

Looking forward to the next five years, businesses will continue refining their digital strategies, emphasizing seamless adoption and usability. This article explores historical investment trends, outlines the challenges faced, and highlights how Userlane’s Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) can help businesses bridge the gap between software investment and effective user adoption.

The Past Five Years: Software Categories That Led Training and Adoption Investment

Organizations across industries have poured resources into training their workforce on software that underpins digital transformation. The most heavily invested categories include:

1. Cloud Computing & SaaS Platforms

Cloud adoption has been nearly universal, with over 90% of organizations leveraging cloud technologies by 2023. The US, UK, and EU have all prioritized cloud-first strategies, leading to a surge in multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud environments. However, a consistent challenge has been the complexity of cloud architectures and the need to upskill IT teams and business users to manage cloud-based workflows effectively.

Key challenges:

• Ensuring IT and non-IT employees understand cloud services and security best practices.
• Navigating multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud infrastructures.
• Training on evolving compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR, data sovereignty laws).

2. Data Analytics & AI

By 2024, AI and data analytics have reached mainstream adoption, with over two-thirds of companies actively integrating AI into their operations. Organizations have invested in AI-driven business intelligence, predictive analytics, and generative AI tools. However, despite widespread investment, only 1% of business leaders feel their organizations are “fully mature” in AI usage.

Key challenges:

• Lack of AI literacy among employees, requiring extensive training.
• Difficulty integrating AI into existing workflows.
• Resistance from employees unfamiliar with automation-enhanced decision-making.

3. Cybersecurity and Compliance Software

With cyber threats escalating and compliance requirements tightening (e.g., GDPR, NIS2 in the EU), companies have continued increasing cybersecurity spending. Despite investing in robust security software, companies struggle with internal security awareness training and keeping up with evolving threats.

Key challenges:

• Employees remain the biggest cybersecurity risk due to lack of proper training.
• Rapidly evolving threat landscapes require continuous learning.
• Many security platforms are underutilized due to complex user interfaces.

4. Collaboration and Remote Work Tools

The pandemic-driven shift to remote work led to record-high investment in collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack, and Google Workspace. By 2021, daily Zoom participants surged from 10 million to 300 million, highlighting the rapid adoption of digital collaboration platforms. However, as hybrid work models became permanent, businesses faced ongoing usability challenges.

Key challenges:

• Employees struggling with feature overload and poor onboarding experiences.
• Fragmented tool usage leading to inefficient workflows.
• Adoption barriers for non-digital-native employees.

5. Automation and Process Improvement Software

Organizations have increasingly embraced robotic process automation (RPA), low-code platforms, and workflow automation software to enhance efficiency. Adoption of these technologies has risen significantly, but businesses have struggled with training employees to work effectively alongside automation.

Key challenges:

• Lack of understanding of how to leverage automation for maximum impact.
• Resistance from employees fearing job displacement.
• Difficulty training non-technical staff on automation platforms.

The Next Five Years: How Software Investment and Training Will Evolve

The next five years will see a refinement of digital transformation strategies. While the focus on AI, cloud, security, and automation will remain strong, the way organizations approach training and adoption will fundamentally shift.

Key Trends Shaping the Future:

1. AI and Automation Will Become Core to Software Training – Companies will integrate AI-driven training tools to offer personalized learning experiences for employees.
2. Usability and Adoption Will Take Center Stage – Simply purchasing software will no longer be enough. Companies will focus on measuring adoption rates and usability improvements.
3. Digital Adoption Platforms (DAPs) Will Become Essential – Rather than relying on traditional training programs, companies will leverage DAP solutions to provide real-time guidance within software applications.
4. Cybersecurity Training Will Become a Daily Practice – Organizations will embed security awareness training into daily workflows to mitigate human error risks.
5. Data Literacy Will Be a Core Competency – Employees will be expected to understand and leverage data analytics, making continuous upskilling a necessity.

Addressing Adoption Shortfalls with Userlane’s Digital Adoption Platform

Despite billions spent on software training, many companies still struggle to drive meaningful adoption. Employees are often overwhelmed by complicated interfaces, frequent software updates, and lack of intuitive guidance. Traditional training methods (classroom sessions, webinars, manuals) are inefficient and quickly outdated. This is where Userlane’s DAP can bridge the gap.

How Userlane Solves Software Adoption Challenges:

• Real-Time, In-App Guidance: Instead of static training sessions, Userlane provides interactive walkthroughs directly within enterprise software, ensuring users learn by doing.
• Accelerated Onboarding & Training: New employees can become proficient in software without external training, reducing time-to-productivity.
• Seamless Adoption Across All Business Units: Whether it’s AI tools, cloud applications, or cybersecurity systems, Userlane helps ensure smooth and consistent adoption.
• Reduced Support Costs: Organizations spend significant resources on IT support for software-related questions. With Userlane’s self-service guidance, users receive instant help, reducing dependency on IT teams.
• Continuous Learning & Adaptation: Software evolves rapidly. Userlane updates in real-time, ensuring employees stay up to date with new features without requiring additional training.

Conclusion

The past five years have seen record investment in software training and adoption, yet many businesses still struggle to drive full adoption. As we move into the next era of digital transformation, companies must shift from one-time training models to continuous, real-time learning experiences.

With Userlane’s Digital Adoption Platform, businesses can finally close the gap between software investment and effective workforce adoption, ensuring that employees not only have access to cutting-edge software but also know how to use it efficiently. By embedding learning directly within software applications, organizations can reduce training time, improve productivity, and maximize software ROI.

As businesses prepare for the next five years of transformation, investing in user adoption will be just as critical as investing in the software itself.