The contribution below is from an external party. The editors are not responsible for the information provided.
BLOG – When companies contract for new cloud applications and then go live, that doesn’t mean the adoption process is over. On the contrary, the success of software adoption is achieved in the steps after go-live. To achieve this, users must put their best foot forward, but it is also important that companies look at how they can organize collaboration with the supplier to get optimal value from the new cloud application.
Have your employees get started with the new cloud application immediately after the go-live, so that users can quickly familiarize themselves with the software. Make sure that as an organization you do not propose too many changes at the same time. Let’s take the example of a new SaaS solution: start with a minimal viable product, in which only the functions that are most needed are made available. Then expand the solution step by step. An additional advantage of this is the relatively short implementation time. Remember to also involve the supplier in identifying best practices in the field of software adoption and determine how best to approach the adoption step by step.
Transfer
A new cloud application means that many tasks are automated. It is important that this actually spares the employees. Otherwise, they will quickly go back to the manual ways they are used to. And that of course does not benefit adoption. So always pay sufficient attention to setting up automatic processes. Because otherwise the principle of ‘garbage in, garbage out’ also applies here.
The software supplier plays a major role in setting up automatic processes. A good supplier will ask you what exactly you have in mind in order to advise you on how to set up the automatic processes as effectively as possible. If they go the extra mile, they recommend a process based on the best practices they have developed over the years. The supplier will help you avoid pitfalls and help you find the best approach.
Expertise
A final piece of advice is to make optimal use of the expertise of the supplier’s customer success manager throughout the entire adoption process of a new cloud application. Talk to him or her regularly to gain valuable knowledge. Start this early and keep doing it so that it becomes a routine.
We live in a world where it is easier than ever to switch software vendors. That is why they can no longer get away with half-measures, but must show that they are the party with the most knowledge and the best service. Take advantage of this to ensure that the adoption process runs as smoothly as possible. That is a win-win situation for both your organization and the supplier.
Jean de Villiers is chief customer officer at Unit4
Tim Eclair-Heath is global vp success engineering at Unit4