8 steps to successful implementation of new business software
The adoption of new uses and new tools is a key development issue for the company. Digital tools can, among other things, increase team productivity, freeing up their time to concentrate on high value-added tasks. But how can you be sure that implementing new software will be a success? Introducing new equipment can be difficult, and mistakes made during this phase can have consequences for your business. That's why it's crucial to have a clear plan of action from the outset, to ensure successful implementation and a positive ROI.
Here are the best practices for successfully implementing new software in your company. Ready to find out more?
1. Assess your company's needs
Before getting started, it's essential to understand your company's needs and determine the software's functionalities and requirements. Your project team must work in perfect harmony and transparency with the software supplier. Take the time to discuss what can and can't be done with the software, whether improvements via updates are possible, and whether help, tutorials or other features are available to make it easier for users to get started.
2. Involve stakeholders
Involving stakeholders right from the start of the implementation process facilitates faster adoption of the software. Change often frightens employees, but digital technology should be a tool, not an obstacle. Take the time upstream to present the advantages of the software and the benefits they will derive from it. This way, when they first use the software, they'll adopt a positive attitude rather than one of rejection.
3. Plan deployment
Deployment planning must take into account the various aspects of the process, including user training, validation testing and risk management. Risks can be human - will users reject the software? How quickly will they get the hang of it? Will their productivity suffer? -But they can also be linked to the company's data: if we change the software, does that mean we have to migrate our data? How quickly can they be transferred? How can we secure them? These are just some of the questions to be taken into account when planning.
4. Evaluate costs
Evaluate the costs of implementation, including development, training and maintenance. Will your IT department be responsible for resolving technical incidents, managing interactions between multiple business applications and their consequences, and answering user queries? Or would you prefer to leave management and support to the supplier?
5. Select the right people
Choose the right people to implement the software, based on their expertise and experience! Team managers have a good knowledge of the business and are close to the end-users. HR departments, on the other hand, have an overall view of the project. Identify the people you want to work with on this project; they'll be in the best position to respond to any fears or needs you may have. It's also important to determine from the outset, with the software supplier, the level of support guaranteed throughout the deployment.
6. Train users
Provide adequate user training to ensure rapid and effective adoption. Several solutions exist, such as face-to-face training, synchronous distance learning, or even tutorials which often seem long and boring. And why not use an Application simulator for interactive training?
With our K-STUDIO e-Learning Authoring software, train hundreds or thousands of employees so that they are immediately operational on a new version of HR, Purchasing, collaborative tools, CRM or ERPsoftware... You can reduce training time and costs by +55% and increase learnerassimilation levels by +200%*!
7. Anticipate to avoid a drop in productivity
A software implementation can often lead to a drop in productivity and affect employee morale. Some employees may feel discouraged or even overwhelmed. So it's essential to put in place a digital adoption process tailored to your needs, both in terms of resources and organization.
A DAP like K-NOW can help by providing context-sensitive learning and real-time assistance, assessing user needs while maintaining productivity.
8. Evaluate performance
Evaluate software performance on a regular basis to ensure that it meets business needs and user expectations. Are your users comfortable using your applications, web portals, etc.? What functionalities are they actually using? What are the most and least used processes?
Our K-VALUE Analytics Platform enables you to measure application usage in real time and return key indicators to instruct the ROI expected as part of your project. You have to know yourself before you can anticipate and improve!
9. Knowing to anticipate
Implementing new software takes time and preparation. Don't forget: your planning will determine how well your teams are prepared, and how successfully your software will be integrated into your company. If you want to build your future on solid foundations, supporting your employees on a daily basis is THE key! Integrate ongoing training into your software and develop the digital dexterity that will facilitate the integration of future tools or changes in your business!