Any company that depends on a fulfillment department to process orders and ship them out can instantly benefit from back office software. In fact, if that sounds like your company, you may have already considered what this type of software could do. While MOST® versions are perfectly user-friendly, there are still some things you should think about regarding implementation in order for the entire process to go smoothly and to get your whole department on board immediately. Otherwise, your company could suffer from lackluster results despite having amazing software on your hands.
Know What the Manufacturer Provides
Sometimes, implementation isn’t completely your responsibility. Many times, the manufacturer will help in some way. This step comes first because it should really be handled long before you pay for the software. Understand what it is the manufacturer will be responsible for where implementation is concerned.
If they’re going to assist during the actual process, be sure you know when their support is available and what they’ll need you to do. Also, find out what happens if they end up dropping the ball in any way.
Get Clear on What You Want from Back Office Software
Now, hopefully you thought about this long before you paid for back office software. But if you haven’t already, it’s time to bring together the key figures in your fulfillment department and talk about what you hope to get from implementing your back office software.
Obviously, you should have some ideas already and the software itself should help shape this. All back office software is a little different, so even though it all serves the same purpose, the type you purchased will affect what your goals can be.
However, it’s also important to think this through so that everyone is on the same page about what to expect and what to work toward. Then you can also gauge how well implementation is going based on how close you are to getting what you wanted from the software.
Know What Implementation Will Demand
Next, you need to consider what it will take for implementation to be a success. Sure there will probably be some technical specifications you can simply find out about from the manufacturer. But that’s only one component that deserves considering.
You’ll also want to think about what your company needs to do in order for implementation to go off without a hitch. Note that we’re not talking about training employees in it just yet. Instead, think about if there is any software it will need to work with from the beginning. Will you need to alter any parts of your company’s physical space in order to get the MOST® from this software?
Get IT on Board
This should go without saying, but if your company has an IT department, it’s essential that they get on board with the implementation. Obviously, they’ll probably handle the majority of it. But this is all the more reason you need to meet with them well before implementation occurs to see if there’s anything more they need in order to help get this important software up and running. The earlier you’re able to ask your IT department and give them access to the software, the sooner they should have an answer for you.
Train Your Staff
The perfect implementation won’t mean much if your staff doesn’t understand how the software even works. However, make sure whoever is going to train them understands the software inside and out before proceeding. Any issues a staff member has with the software will only be amplified if they think the trainers have the same one. This is why it’s so important to know what kind of support you can expect from the manufacturer.
Although it may seem like a lot of work, the above will be worth it when back office software is helping your company succeed like never before.
Source:
https://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/feature/Top-10-considerations-when-implementing-Software-as-a-Service
