So you’ve recently purchased the latest product or technology that’s going to revolutionize your business. You’ve done your due diligence. Check references and are looking forward to implementation. You are excited about seeing the fulfillment of all the promises made by the sales person who pitched the product to you. With a successful launch of this system you anticipate a quick ROI and ideally a boost to your bottom line.

But without the proper process in place a successful implementation is highly unlikely. Software and solutions are only as good as the process that supports them
And when I speak about process, it’s as much the resources as it is the people who will support the system and interact with it on a daily or weekly basis.

Over the years I have seen many a failed implementation of systems because the people who have to use the solution on a regular basis have no desire to change. They want to maintain the status quo. These people feel they are being forced by their leadership, but can’t say this, so their focused animosity is pointed toward the provider of the new technology.

After a few weeks or months of back and forth and struggles. The new technology initiative is abandoned and you, as the leader who saw the value is left believing that this system you were going to implement is the worst decision you had made in a long time.

This happens far too often. Great systems are abandoned because of staff that refuses to change and adopt this new technology. Often it is out of fear of job security but more commonly it’s purely a lack of desire to change what seems to be working fine. Change is scary. Change is difficult.

So how, as an owner can you overcome this challenge?

It’s quite simple – involve your key staff in the decision making process. Include them in demonstrations and evaluations. Keep them engaged and lead them down the path with you to making this change. They then have a vested interest in seeing this thing succeed and your enthusiasm toward this change becomes contagious. They won’t want to let you down and have more stake in seeing this succeed.

Then and only then, will the Product you implement be supported by the Process in place and will ultimately lead to Profitability or at the very least efficiency.