Every organisation reaches a tipping point

A moment where you could continue on well enough as you are, or embrace change to become an even bigger, better business.

You’ve grown and evolved so much over the years. But because of this, your existing systems and tools aren’t quite cutting it anymore. You’re not the same business you were ten, five, or even two years ago. And to maintain momentum, it’s time to invest in something new, fresh, and more suited to your current size and trajectory. An enterprise solution that’s bigger, better, and more tailored towards your unique needs.

You’ve even found the perfect new solution. Months of searching and demos have led you to an impressive piece of software that looks set to push your organisation forward. There’s only one catch: the dreaded implementation process.

Change is scary. Especially since switching enterprise systems will impact the day-to-day of your business. But we’re here to help. When you invest in a new set-up, you want it to be a quick, painless transition. And we have three tips for making it as simple and straightforward as possible.

Involve your team

Big operational changes require the support and cooperation of your entire workforce. Your organisation has to work together to learn and adapt. Otherwise, you risk facing a complex, stressful, and unproductive transition process. With a top-down approach to change, the gap in understanding between C-suite and entry-level employees sits at around 31%. But with an open-source approach – one where every member of staff is included in the journey – that gap drops to 3%.

By taking the time to ensure staff are aware of the changes taking place, and are enthusiastic and excited about what the future holds, you make switching systems far easier to manage. Bring every member of staff on this journey with you. Explain not only why a new solution will make the business better, but also how it will make their individual roles more manageable and engaging. Being fully transparent and honest allows you to minimise a lot of the stress, worry, and anxiety associated with change. 

Improve data quality

One of the more complicated, fiddly parts of switching enterprise systems is moving across all the relevant data. Especially when it comes to internal communication and HR tools, the success of your system relies on having access to the right user information. And the more you can pre-empt this, improving data organisation and quality, the easier the final transition will be.

Let’s say your system uses job role and location permissions to share information, assign responsibilities, and organise daily operations. The more organised and up-to-date your employee data, the quicker you’ll be able to get up and running on your new solution. And by cleaning it up ahead of time, you reduce any risk of errors or mistakes being carried over. 

The same goes for any type of data you’ll be moving over. Whether it’s inventory, accounting, sales, or anything else. 

Start with the basics

One of the easiest ways to make costly mistakes is to rush the implementation process. It’s understandable. You want to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. But realistically, you can’t do it all at once. And it’s better to focus on doing things right, rather than doing them quickly. So instead of setting tight deadlines, get the foundation of the platform in place first. Then you can add to it over time. 

Identify the core data and features you’ll need straight away. And then create a priority list for the next few months. You might start with one weekly audit, before adding in your annual checks later. You could initially share all user guides but then, in a month’s time, start sharing all documents and training. You may also hold fire on adding performance reviews until everyone is comfortable with the new system. 

Levelling up your organisation’s system and tools is an exciting time. But it can also be a stressful one. You want to make the transition as quick and seamless as possible for the sake of your business and staff. But to do that, it’s important you approach implementation in the right way. 

Inform People is a powerful enterprise solution to connect your people and business like never before. We can have all your enterprise level tools set up and ready to use in under two working weeks. Plus, we’ll work with you on an ongoing basis to make the rest of the roll out as seamless as possible. To find out more, reach us on +44 (0)161 713 4104 .