One of the things we are proudest of at IDU Software is the high level of successful software adoption our clients experience within their organisations. We recently received feedback from a few of them on why they think this is.
Here are 7 tips to a successful software adoption as laid out by our clients –
1. Ensure you have buy in at all levels
Before trying to sell a product or service to upper management, you need to make sure they agree that change is necessary. When spreadsheets become your personal hell as an FD, and they are riddled with mistakes - it is time to introduce the concept of change as fast as possible. If the need is clear, adoption will be driven from the top down.
2. Finding a match
If the software provider you choose is a natural fit with your organisation, and the owners and employees you deal with all have the same passion and understanding for their product; there is a higher likelihood that adoption by your organisation will be successful.
3. Demonstrate the value
Your software provider should understand your business, be able to look at what you do and how you are doing it and clearly demonstrate the value their software will bring to your business. From upper management saving money to the man on the ground saving time, if the value is obvious, adoption will be too.
4. Clear Project Plan
A complete project plan should come out of the initial strategy meeting. Everything from defining what success looks like for both parties, a clear schedule with timelines, to implementation, training and follow up support. Knowing exactly what to expect and when goes a long way to smoothing the adoption process for all parties.
5. Phased Implementation
Although not the way forward for everybody, recognising when a limited or phased approach is necessary, can go a long way into making a successful software adoption. Allowing users to familiarise themselves with the system and what it can do in time frames that suit them and their business requirements, let’s them test drive the system in stages and want to learn more of what it can do.
6. Training
Even the most user-friendly software is a change, and it is human nature to resist change with everything we’ve got. On-site training, before leaving the users to their own devices, is a must if you want the adoption to be 100%. Showing people how to use the software without them having to try and fail on their own and then follow up with questions that they may or may not feel are “stupid”, empowers them to use the system right from the get-go.
7. Support
While it may seem obvious that knowing they have the support they need after the implementation will allow them to accept and adopt the new software more easily, post-implementation support is not always a given. Ensuring the support will be there when needed will go a long way to ensuring you have successful software adoption.
There is nothing more frustrating than spending a fortune revamping your financial software systems and having your people ignore it and keep trying to do things their own way. If you lay the groundwork properly and ensure you have the right partners on board, successful software adoption can be one of your top selling points.