The 3 Essentials of Retail Software Implementation
How long did it take to learn to ride a bike? How long will it take to learn to use new software?
Retail management software is an essential for the way a retailer must operate in today’s markets. It is the infrastructure that supports the accurate, efficient handling of all the data generated by every transaction, every management decision, every status change, and more. Therefore, it is equally essential that your retail management software is supported by professional services.
ChainDrive’s Professional Services team uses a three-phase disciplined approach we call “Implementation Methodology.” This takes our clients through planning, implementation, and deployment of the software so that things run smoothly. The implementation phase has three essential steps. Each one of these steps is built on the previously laid step so that future actions have a stable foundation.
Executing the Plan
During the planning stage, our team has worked with our client’s team to develop a plan. This plan has goals, milestones, and deliverables. The planned software is as perfect for the unique business application as possible, so now we execute that plan and begin trial runs with minimal disruption to daily operations. We want to see if it will work as planned in the not-perfect reality of retail.
Testing the Reality
As the testing is going on, adjustments can be made. Our professional services team is part of the process, observing, asking questions, listening for pain points, and adding the needed alterations. Instead of a “sink-or-swim” method where you are handed the software and left to figure it out, we use a “training-wheels” approach to make sure everything will work the way it should before we take them off and you go on your own.
Training the Team
Retail software is used by people, and people need to be trained to use it correctly. Inadequate training results in mistakes and confusion that can affect your business. Training your team to use the software ensures that minimal disruption will occur in daily operations. Your customers will notice a new efficiency and confidence, not glitches and exasperation.
When the three essential steps of the implementation phase have been successfully reached, ChainDrive’s Professional Services team will take off those “training wheels” and make sure things run smoothly before the last step of deployment is made. During the deployment phase, ChainDrive Client Care takes over and is available at all times to provide support whenever it is needed.
