Take care when investing in software solutions for your business
Many companies these days are making major investments in software solutions whether it is for a CRM system and payroll system or a major business operational system MRP/ERP. Large companies often get it as wrong as small companies but a few simple steps that can be followed can save most businesses a small fortune.
Business Tip:
Step 1 : Make sure you really understand your business processes before you look to systemise them. Start by thinking about your internal processes and whether or not they are correct. If not then a lot of software packages will simply make you run bad processes more efficiently. However they are still bad and this means that you have just invested in making that process more difficult to move away from.Step 2 : Make sure any software provider can provide you with several references from companies who have bought and implemented the system correctly. If possible take the time to go and discuss this with the company you want to hear about the support, cost, training and aftercare.
Step 3 : If you are happy to receive a system specification at this point then make sure it includes a clear list of what components are included and which units are not.
Step 4 : Try to establish what units you need and have the company do a strictly controlled demo only involving the units that you are interested in. A lot of software providers do great demo's using all of the units that make up a software package and then when you scale down the order to fit need only the demo is not appropriate as you have seen the whole package. Many mistakes start at this point because some units of a package have a major impact on others. So you see an all singing and dancing demo and what you end up with is a lot less suitable.
Step 5 : For any order £5k plus it maybe worth considering getting outside system analysis support in to look at the system. This can cost as little as £1000 for a two day basic assessment. This is nearly always very well spent money to gain the view of an outside expertise.
Step 6 : Always ensure that you build a very strong training program and that no one person become's depended upon as a result of the implementation. You need a team of people involved internally with no one dominant lead on the implementation.
Always make sure that your provider has built a very strong package of training for the implementation team. Always ensure that the team members will have the time and focus on this major investment. Make sure one of their objectives is an idiots guide to using the system this needs to be developed from day 1.
Step 7 : Make sure when you place any order that your provider makes it clear who the various parties are who may or may not be involved. Example a lot of sub contractors are used to implement systems and to train staff. This is not a bad thing but you must check the sub contractors out as wel as ou have the software company wonderful software can be a disaster without good implementation and the issues dealt with at step 6.
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