Making the decision to implement a software business solution is an often imposing one that takes careful consideration of many factors. You want to make sure that it is a good one? Having a detailed implementation plan in place can ensure that the bases are covered and can protect against potential failure. We have included some strategies that can assist in making the transition as smooth as possible.
Ensure leadership buy-in
Everyone from the CEO/Owner to the front-line managers needs to be engaged with the implementation process. Even though the tone is set from the top-down, executives are not the only leaders that need to take an active role. Realize that if your front-line managers are disengaged with the process or casting a negative light, then all others under them will share the same view.
Address employee concerns and fears
Oftentimes, employees feel they have a certain expertise with the current way of doing things. Familiarity is comforting. Growth requires them to be uncomfortable. A new system will require new processes and behaviors, and for busy workers, learning a new system will be a hard sell. Realize that you are asking them to start from square one and everyone will be on equal footing as novices and that may make the more senior employees unhappy with the loss of experience. One should strive to understand how employees currently work and what impacts a new system will have on their workflows. Then, carefully consider the benefits the new system will have for those employees, and market those benefits to your team. Managing the people aspect of change is the hardest, however, it is the most important and the one that will pay the most dividends.
Consider past organizational change success and failure
Overall strategies vary depending on organizational culture. The organization’s overall attitude to change and resiliency can be an effective barometer for how they will adopt a new software solution effectively. Think about other instances of change the organization has gone through and apply lessons learned from those changes to leverage experience. If the company has a history of resisting change efforts, this will significantly increase the amount of effort needed for an implementation effort to be successful.
Customize best practices and policies
What is good for the goose, is not necessarily good for the gander. Every business is unique, just like the employees, and will need specific detail paid attention to business workflows and processes. New best practices and policies will not only need to account for the new software but take careful consideration of organizational culture. It can be helpful to engage process owners and stakeholders, even end-users, in the formulation of new policies.
Consider the post-implementation period
Stick the landing. Ensuring a successful implementation does not stop at “go-live.” Ongoing training and tweaking of processes and workflows will need to occur in the following months. People will need time to get used to a new software solution as well as adjust their own personal approach to leveraging the software to their needs. Ongoing training will be necessary.