It's Not Just About the Product - It's Also About the Process and the People: Laying the Foundation for Successful Implementations
Welcome to part two of our series on the top 12 strategies for a successful implementation! Today, we will take a look at the kick-off stage.
Here are four things to look for in a solution partner that will make a difference in your implementation.
6. Preparation
During this stage you will choose your team members, and they will meet with the solution partner’s team. Business and IT team members from both sides will start exchanging relevant information. A customized implementation plan may begin to be put together.
TIP: Although training seems a ways away, now is the time to think about who will be doing the training and make sure they are assigned to the implementation team. If you have your own training department, it can be helpful to have them take part in the design phase of the project so that they have a better understanding of the platform’s functionality. If you are using a “Train-the-Trainer” approach, consider making your subject matter experts (SMEs) the trainers as they will be involved in the design phase and so will be familiar with how the system works.
7. Design and Configuration
It is tempting to want to jump into design and configuration specifics right away, as you work to determine what the platform will “look like.” But you need to make sure you understand how the new system functions before making these decisions as the design and configuration will be informed by the functionalities that you have in your specific package. Throughout this phase, business and technical SMEs will collaborate on making these decisions.
TIP: Reporting plays a major role in design, but is often overlooked at this stage. Know what your reporting requirements are first so that the system can be configured to track the specific metrics that are important to your organization.
8. System Testing
System testing takes place throughout the implementation process. Early on in the process, the configuration team and SMEs perform unit and component testing. Later in the process IT teams will test integration points. Prior to go-live the product is tested on the front lines by your users.
TIP: Before going live obtain a formal business approval that requires the sign-off of all key stakeholders.
9. End User Training
While there are many approaches to end-user training, such as the "Train-the-Trainer" approach, the goal is the same: for users to feel comfortable with the system and know how to make it work for their needs.
TIP: Schedule training as close to go-live as possible so that how to operate the system is fresh in users’ minds.
Take a deep breath! The go-live stage is just around the corner!
To download the full whitepaper, click the button below. And stay tuned for the final part of our implementation series, which will cover how to make training and go-live a success!
