Let’s jump in, both feet first, and get started.
Employee Engagement
So, you’re researching new software prospects. What an incredible opportunity your company has to engage staff, and the effect will be better than you bargained for. The Workplace Research Foundation reported that “highly engaged employees were much more likely to have above-average productivity, to the tune of 38%”[i]. Show your staff that you listen to their needs & stay engaged with those who make your world go ’round. All too often, we see companies ignore their most important resource, their staff. Those who spend their days working with the software are your biggest and best resource, they have first-hand knowledge of the do’s, don’ts, and the have’s and have not.
According to Dale Carnegie, “Companies with engaged employees outperform those without by 202%”[ii]. It’s important to consider all input when making company-wide changes. Asking your end-users their opinions does MORE for your bottom line than saving you from making costly purchase errors.
Your Future Needs
Forecasting is a part of doing business, and your software is a substantial piece of your business. This is an all-inclusive statement; whether you currently have software or not, this applies to you. All companies require forethought, and yours is no different. Why waste time and money purchasing resources you genuinely don’t need & won’t use in the future. After speaking with your staff/employees, you should now have a beginning list of must-haves and wants. Comparing this list with the company’s current and future needs will help you narrow things down a bit.
Easy Transition Path
Let’s set real and proper expectations here. Having a transition path doesn’t mean that you won’t have any hiccups while integrating. Your new software should have utilities that will transition the information from your database(s), i.e., vendors, customers, and general ledger accounts from your old software to your new software or, at least, can code one for you; this saves time during the transition and helps to alleviate some of the stress.
Training
With ease of use, we see $avings! Who doesn’t like a healthier bottom line? If your new software is easy to use, it will likely be easy to learn, manage data entry errors, and increase productivity. The effect of this is seen in the strength of your team and, of course, your bottom line. Training should be flexible and meet the needs of your company. Do you want in-person training? Do you want led training classes? Do you want the software company to train a team of your employees on the processes so they can prepare the rest of your staff? There are options, and it is up to you and the software company to navigate the best choice for your company.
Post-Sale Support
With this type of purchase, there will, without a doubt, be a need for post-sale support. It is best to inquire at the beginning which types of support you will require and which kinds of support the software company will require you to have. Will you designate someone in your office to get trained in the entire system to help manage future staff inquiries? Will the software company offer post-sales training? After the agreed-upon personnel training is completed, will there be additional support available if needed? Will tech support be available & to what extent will it be available? What if you need to add additional users? The truth is we don’t know what we don’t know; the answer is to research & know your position.
Budget + Additional Costs & Fees
As with any purchase, it is crucial to understand what you agree to fully. The contract will indicate the initial costs and any (foreseeable) additional potential costs and fees with many software providers. As always, it is your responsibility to read and discuss the contract in full with the software architect and company sales representatives.
I encourage you to discuss the following:
1. Initial software purchase price
2. Additional items needed
3. Post support
a. What are the associated hourly costs
b. Cost of any standard updates
c. Costs of any additional code or programming
4. Adding additional users
5. Training Costs
Frequently, changes to the service provided, additional items above and beyond the principal software offered will involve additional costs. These are not necessarily considered hidden fees. Things to watch for are after the contract is signed, are you asked to pay an increased amount for items within the contract itself. Research your purchase, engage current customers of the prospective software, understand your needs, and what you are purchasing. The best way to protect yourself is to be informed.
Know Your Partner
Once you have your list of possible companies narrowed down, it is time to learn all that you can about this company with whom you might do business. Can they fulfill all of your needs – be a growth partner and most of your wants? Since this is a partnership, it is vital to consider the values of a company. Do they fit within your value system? This may seem like a small thing to some, but trust me when I tell you; this is a critical step. You are about to partner with a software development company to change the inner workings of your company. It would be best if you took the time to learn all you can to ensure that they will work well with your company. It is a challenging and expensive lesson to learn after the contract is signed, and the software is installed that your new partner’s values indicate a lack of trust, focus, and reflection. Save yourself the additional stress!
Stress
Speaking of stress – taking your company through a software transition is stressful regardless of how much you prepare or how great the software company is. The best way to ensure the least amount of stress is by following the steps outlined above. Ensure employee engagement, know your needs, research, and build a viable plan for transition, analysis, implementation, and training. It is equally important to know your software companies’ value system, processes for post-sales support and get to know what is expected to be provided and where additional costs and fees can appear. If you follow these steps, your transition will be as stress-free as one can be.
Written by: Rachel Hedrick – Rhedrick@rdb-solutions.com
RDB Solutions – Crafting thoughtful business solutions since 1998
We Listen. We Collaborate. We Deliver.
[i] https://www.qnnect.com/blog/8-eye-opening-employee-productivity-statistics
[ii] https://talentculture.com/6-eye-opening-employee-engagement-statistics/