Helping Your Crew Adopt New Digital Tools in the Field
Running a commercial beekeeping operation means managing constant movement — crews in the field, shifting weather, tight pollination windows, and the natural unpredictability of the bees themselves. Introducing a new digital tool like Nectar can make that work easier, but it also requires change.
This guide outlines how to make adoption smooth, ensure crew buy-in, and reinforce good habits over time.
1. Understanding Resistance to Change
Many beekeepers and crew members are used to doing things a certain way — notebooks, whiteboards, memory, and experience. Switching to a digital system can feel uncomfortable at first.
Here are the most common reasons crews resist change, and how to address them:
“We don’t have time to learn something new.”
How to address it:
Make clear that Nectar saves workers time after only a few days.
Show how hive visit history, directions, and inspections replace manual work.
Emphasize reduced mistakes and rework.
“The old system works fine — why change it?”
How to address it:
Explain the benefits of consistent digital records:
Fewer mistakes
Better hive decisions
Less back-and-forth with managers
Easier pollination and honey reporting
Share that the entire industry is trending toward digital workflows.
“I’m not great with phones or apps.”
How to address it:
Reassure workers they don’t need to be “technical.”
Show them only the features they need for daily work.
Remind them that the app is designed for fast, simple use
“This feels like monitoring or surveillance.”
How to address it:
Make it clear the goal is better data, not watching people.
Emphasize: The system is there to support crews, not micromanage them.
Explain that good data protects workers — it proves the job was done right.
2. Crew Lead Buy-In (The Key to Success)
Your crew leads are the single most important factor in whether your operation successfully adopts Nectar.
If the crew lead uses the app, the crew will follow. If the crew lead ignores the app, the crew will ignore it too.
Here’s how to set them up for success:
A. Bring them into the process early
Before launch:
Share why you chose Nectar
Explain how it will help them specifically
Ask what support they need in the first few weeks
Crew leads want to feel consulted, not blindsided.
B. Give them a leadership role in the rollout
Assign clear responsibilities:
Making sure workers log visits
Helping others learn the app
Confirming worker logins
Giving feedback to management and the Nectar CS team
When crew leads see themselves as champions instead of testers, adoption accelerates.
C. Show them how Nectar reduces headaches
Crew leads often carry the mental load of:
remembering yard details
tracking queen issues
updating managers
correcting worker mistakes
Demonstrate how Nectar:
keeps hive history in one place
automates communication
reduces errors
shortens end-of-day paperwork
If it makes their job easier, they will make sure everyone uses it.
D. Celebrate early wins
After the first week, highlight:
successful inspections logged
hive-level improvements
better communication
time saved
Small wins build momentum.
3. Ongoing Reinforcement (How to Make the Change Stick)
Adoption isn’t something that happens in one day — it builds week by week.
Here’s how to keep crews consistent over time:
A. Make Nectar the source of truth
Set expectations that:
Tasks come from Nectar
Hive issues are recorded in Nectar
Yard visits are tracked in Nectar
If a crew lead comes to a manager with an issue, the manager should ask:
“Is it in Nectar?”
This reinforces usage in a natural, non-punitive way.
B. Keep training short and repeated
Instead of one big session, do small, ongoing refreshers:
5 minutes before heading out
Quick demos in the truck
A weekly “Nectar tip” from the manager or champion
Repetition builds habit.
C. Use real data to show impact
Within the first month, review:
Hive health patterns
Worker coverage
Queen events
Varroa trends
Show crews what the data reveals. When people see the payoff, they commit.
D. Hold a Month 1 check-in
Review:
What’s working
What’s confusing
What changes the crew wants
What additional training is needed
Make sure the Champion and crew leads are part of this discussion.
E. Reinforce during peak seasons
Right before pollination or honey flow, remind crews how Nectar helps:
contract setup
block and drop tracking
honey production planning
seasonal insights
Tie usage to real-world outcomes.
4. What Nectar Will Do to Support Your Team
Nectar’s Customer Success team will help you through:
Crew training
Worker setup
App basics
Troubleshooting
Seasonal workflows
Regular check-ins
Insights reviews
Long-term adoption planning
We are here to make sure your transition is smooth and that your team gets value from Day 1 — and especially during busy seasons.
5. Summary
Successful adoption happens when:
You prepare crews early
Crew leads are bought in
Workers understand the benefits
Managers reinforce habits consistently
The operation reviews progress regularly
Digital beekeeping is a big step forward — and when rolled out properly, it saves time, reduces mistakes, and creates visibility across your entire operation.