Implementing a new Business Application can be a complex and challenging process. Here are ten tips that can pave the path to a successful implementation.
- Clearly Define your Goals: Before you start the implementation process, define your business goals and objectives for using the applications. For example, the area of business we are trying to improve, the amount of time we are aiming to save, the percentage of revenue increase we are aiming to achieve etc.
- Engage Stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders from different departments, such as sales, marketing, and customer service, to ensure that the application meets the needs of all users. Every successful implementation has high levels of stakeholder engagement and excitement around the business outcomes that the application will help them achieve.
- Document the Scope: Typically, you will not be able to accommodate all requests in a single phase. So, set the right expectations by documenting the scope of the current engagement as well as creating a road map of future changes. Some key questions to cover:
1. Which business processes does this phase include? Are there any dependencies that need to be part of this phase?
2. Where is our data today? Which datasets are we going to migrate to this application?
3. Which processes will be automated vs remain manual for this phase?
4. Which departments/teams will this phase be focused on? - Streamline your Business Processes: Implementing a new system is a great time to review your current business processes and classify the steps into:
1. Must-have steps that add-value
2. Necessary steps that are required but do not add any business value
3. Legacy or wasteful steps that do not add any business value – Eliminate these! Minimizing waste in your business processes results in cleaner, more efficient systems that improve employee experience as well as the bottom line. - Schedule ample Training for your Team: Provide comprehensive training to ensure that your team knows how to use the system effectively. Make sure that the training is interactive, hands-on, and tailored to their specific role and responsibilities.
- Test, Test and Test: Test the system thoroughly before rolling it out to your entire team. And this doesn’t mean from just a functionality perspective but also from a business perspective. We like to have a wide pool of testers for User Acceptance – from IT as well as Business. This will help you identify and resolve any issues as well as predict the impact and adoption of the platform.
- Incorporate Feedback: It is better to roll out in a phased approach, starting with a smaller group of users and smaller use cases. The application is built for the business – so it is imperative that we get their feedback and incorporate changes as needed. This also helps build ownership and find some raving fans for the application who can help bring the rest of the team on board.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously monitor and evaluate the system to ensure that it is meeting your goals and objectives and that your team is using it effectively. A business application is only as good as its adoption rate.
- Have a support plan in place: Make sure you have a dedicated support team or point of contact to help the team with any questions or issues they may have with the CRM. If you are looking for Power Apps or Dynamics 365 related support, reach out to us at info@powerx365.com.
- Communicate, Communicate and Over-Communicate: Ensure your team is part of the implementation process and not just forced to use an application IT built. Communicate the value of the application, why we are implementing it, how far we are, the star users and how they are using it, and how their feedback is being incorporated.
Overall, a successful Business Application (or CRM) implementation requires careful planning, effective communication, and comprehensive training, along with the ability to adapt to change and, most importantly, teamwork. It is a challenging yet extremely rewarding project – so don’t forget to have some fun along the way! 🙂