What are the best ways to research new technologies and their impact on technical support?

1 Follow industry news and blogs

One of the easiest ways to learn about new technologies and their impact on technical support is to follow industry news and blogs. You can find reliable sources of information online, such as TechCrunch, The Verge, CNET, PCMag, and others. These sites cover the latest developments, reviews, features, and issues related to various technologies and products. You can also subscribe to newsletters, podcasts, or RSS feeds to get updates delivered to your inbox or device. By following industry news and blogs, you can get a general overview of what's new and what's relevant for technical support.

2 Join online communities and forums

Another way to research new technologies and their impact on technical support is to join online communities and forums. You can find platforms where technical support professionals and enthusiasts share their experiences, opinions, tips, and questions about various technologies and products. For example, you can join Reddit, Quora, Stack Exchange, or LinkedIn groups related to technical support or specific technologies. You can also use social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, to follow hashtags, influencers, or pages related to technical support or specific technologies. By joining online communities and forums, you can get insights, feedback, and advice from your peers and experts.

3 Use online courses and tutorials

A third way to research new technologies and their impact on technical support is to use online courses and tutorials. You can find free or paid resources online that teach you how to use, troubleshoot, or improve your skills with various technologies and products. For example, you can use Coursera, Udemy, edX, or Khan Academy to find courses related to technical support or specific technologies. You can also use YouTube, Medium, or Skillshare to find tutorials, guides, or tips related to technical support or specific technologies. By using online courses and tutorials, you can get practical knowledge, experience, and certification with various technologies and products.

4 Test and experiment with new technologies

A fourth way to research new technologies and their impact on technical support is to test and experiment with them. You can find opportunities to try out new technologies and products online or offline. For example, you can use online platforms, such as GitHub, CodePen, or Glitch, to access, modify, or create code for various technologies and products. You can also use online tools, such as Google Cloud Platform, AWS, or Azure, to access, deploy, or manage cloud-based technologies and products. Alternatively, you can use offline methods, such as buying, renting, or borrowing new technologies and products, to test them in real-life scenarios. By testing and experimenting with new technologies, you can get hands-on experience and understanding of how they work and how they affect technical support.

5 Seek feedback and evaluation

A fifth way to research new technologies and their impact on technical support is to seek feedback and evaluation. You can find ways to measure, assess, or improve your performance and skills with various technologies and products. For example, you can use online platforms, such as SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or Typeform, to create, distribute, or analyze surveys, quizzes, or polls related to technical support or specific technologies. You can also use online tools, such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Mixpanel, to track, monitor, or optimize your website, app, or service performance and user behavior related to technical support or specific technologies. Additionally, you can seek feedback and evaluation from your customers, colleagues, managers, or mentors, to get their opinions, suggestions, or recommendations related to technical support or specific technologies. By seeking feedback and evaluation, you can get data, evidence, or validation of how well you research and use new technologies and their impact on technical support.

6 Keep learning and updating

A sixth way to research new technologies and their impact on technical support is to keep learning and updating. You can find ways to maintain, refresh, or enhance your knowledge and skills with various technologies and products. For example, you can use online platforms, such as Google Alerts, Feedly, or Flipboard, to get notified, curated, or personalized news and content related to technical support or specific technologies. You can also use online tools, such as Evernote, Notion, or Trello, to organize, store, or share your notes, bookmarks, or resources related to technical support or specific technologies. Furthermore, you can keep learning and updating by attending webinars, workshops, conferences, or events related to technical support or specific technologies. By keeping learning and updating, you can stay relevant, competitive, and confident in your field.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?