The Ultimate Guide To Smooth Software Rollouts

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software sounds like something designed for multinational conglomerates. However, small and medium businesses have a lot to gain from well-designed business management apps and other tools. The software rollout may seem daunting, but a smooth transition is easy to achieve with planning and preparation. Use these tips from Meade’s PC Repair Shop for a nearly-seamless integration.

What Is ERP Software?

Enterprise resource planning software helps any company integrate and automate business processes. While it used to be something reserved for larger corporations, Datacor notes that this type of software is used more and more frequently by smaller companies.

A well-designed ERP system helps streamline business operations across different departments. Finance, inventory management, purchasing, and manufacturing are just examples. What makes this software so powerful is its ability to apply one system across different business functions.

While each department of your organization will have specific processes and procedures, those will be organized in a manner that is recognizable across the board.

Considerations for a Successful Rollout

A successful software rollout starts with a solid strategy. Information gathering is the first step. What exactly does your ERP software need to achieve? Which business functions need to be covered?

Engage Your Team

The people best placed to answer these questions are those team members who will use it afterward. Involving them from the start not only ensures their buy-in but will also give you access to unique input. As a consequence, your management team will understand in greater detail what the team needs from the new software. 

Having this level of detailed input can make the difference between your software being somewhat useful or having a big positive impact on your company’s bottom line. Based on this information, it becomes easier to choose the most suitable software. Many ERP products are cloud-based and available on a subscription basis.

When choosing one to suit your needs consider not only the current size and demands of your business. Ideally, the chosen software is able to expand with the company’s needs.

Make Training a Top Priority

Consider the training and support available to your organization. If you have staff in various locations, video-based training may work best. In-person seminars might seem ideal but can be hard to schedule. Another option is self-guided online learning. 

You can also offer incentives to help generate feedback, and whether your team is local or remote, you can find inventive ways to disperse information to encourage responses. Add a banner to your intraoffice email channels, send text messages, and go the extra mile by creating a flyer you can hand out to local staff or send as a PDF to your remote workers. An online flyer maker gives you the chance to tap into your creativity, allowing you to craft an impressive memo with design features that show your staff you really care about their input.

While thorough training will go a long way toward starting you off well, it is important to have access to ongoing support. Some questions may not immediately be clear. Instead, they will only arise during the use of the software. For these occasions, access to a support community or frequently asked questions is valuable.

Taking Finance as an Example

Accounting, bookkeeping, and other finance-related business functions are often among the first that a company will use ERP software for. Even very small companies benefit from establishing solid management foundations in this respect.

As your company grows, keeping your financial health on track is vital. Enterprise resource planning software from QuickBooks, for example, is suited to small and medium businesses. It is easy to use for your finance team but packed with critical analytics and functions. The software can integrate different business functions and workflows. These include tracking and managing inventory, managing your payroll, and delivering advanced reporting statements. At the same time, it avoids becoming too complex for a small business to manage.

Rolling out business management software smoothly seems challenging, especially for small businesses. However, a well-managed process that integrates management, team, and developers helps avoid common pitfalls. Training and long-term support help users stay on track and deal with initial teething problems.

When your hardware needs retooling or a quick fix, turn to Meade’s PC Repair Shop to get your PC up and running.