Top tips for nailing software implementation

At Chalkstring, we help our clients on a daily basis to implement our cost management software successfully. Here are some best practice top tips to help you do the same.

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Change management

When people think about introducing new software into their business, they often just focus on training. But it’s so much more than that. And why?

Because it’s all about change. 

By virtue of introducing technology, you’re going to change operational methods and that may require a change of mindset, a change of process and it may even impact on who does what in your business.

But change is good.

You want that change because you know technology will bring your business benefits. And the key to success is supporting your staff through this change.

Some will take to it like a duck to water. But it’s not unheard of for some people to resist change.

And it’s not the end of the world if they do.

Four fear categories

Typically people resist change because they’re fearful of something. And there are four fear categories to consider.

1. Fear of the unknown

Maybe that person was not involved in the sales process and they don’t know anything about the technology. And they’re simply just nervous?

2. Fear of incompetence

This is not unusual. Perhaps someone is worried they’re not going to learn the new technology as quickly as others.

3. Fear of failure.

We often see this with people who have been in an organisation a long time and have done the same thing, the same way for years.  There can be a fear they 'won't get it'.

4. Fear of losing status.

This is an interesting one. If someone has a complex spreadsheet that only they know how to use, it gives them some level of power and status.

And by moving to a cost management system like Chalkstring, which is transparent, it could take away some of their power.

To help your staff transition to a new system, think about whether they fit in any of the fear categories before they start the training. Then you can mitigate those problems before they even know they may exist.

Top tips

At Chalkstring we employ lots of techniques to help our clients with change management, and we have some ideas to help you when it comes to your staff:

• Buddy up the less technical staff with those who are IT literate.
• Introduce super users, who can become internal subject matter experts and support your other staff.
• Elevate those team members who perhaps might feel like they’re losing status. Give them some level of responsibility or importance as part of the implementation project.
• Consider your processes and document them so that your staff know how they’ve got to use that new technology.
• Lead from the front. If you’re learning the software and you’re making changes, others will follow.
  
  

Summary

There are just a few ideas on how you can manage change and support your staff when implementing software. It needn't be difficult to do, with a little planning. And we can help with that.

Learn more about Chalkstring's implementation process here.