5 Mistakes Operations Managers Make When Choosing the Right Software

So it’s become challenging for you to keep up with your business 24/7.

You need to keep tabs on your operations, but you’re losing track of the many activities and processes that require your attention.

In business, you have two goals, (a) you need to streamline operations, and (b) you need to boost sales. 

Here’s a scenario for you.

Your sales department is asking for a customer management system to track customers. 

Accounting is asking for a simpler payroll system. 

You need to share information across your company to ensure everyone is on the same page.  

Sound familiar? How are you handling these challenges? The answer: you, our friend, need to move from spreadsheets and paper to a digital solution.

Integrating software into a company’s existing infrastructure is easier said than done. It requires an understanding of the business’ needs in order to undergo an effective digital transformation. 

And, so it goes without saying that preparing for new technology implementation needs to be done carefully and wisely. 

According to CapGemini, 87% of companies believe that digital transformation provides their company with a competitive opportunity. But many organizations are missing steps and making mistakes when it comes to adopting operations management software.

What are these mistakes?

Let’s explore 5 that companies make when adopting a software solution and discuss how to remedy these mistakes.

Mistake # 1: The new software doesn’t support business objectives 

It often happens that companies are eager to implement a new tool, but they don’t take into account the long-term needs of the company. When we don’t see the big picture - where we want to be in a year... Three years.. 5 years… it often happens that the business solution outgrows our business and no longer supports the operation. As a result, it becomes difficult to perform more difficult tasks.  

To avoid this, it is essential to have a plan that includes the ability for a tool to be scalable. There should be an option for a purchase plan that includes purchasing in stages. You must learn if a provider’s solution has all the necessary components - not only for your business today but for tomorrow.

Mistake # 2: Failing to document goals and challenges

What challenges are you facing in your operation? What challenges are you facing with customers? These are the kinds of questions you need to put pen to paper on. When choosing the right software, by having a list of your goals and challenges, you can identify where the needs gap is. This way, you can build a customizable solution that will address your concerns. 

For example, say your HR department which takes care of the hiring process needs to have an understanding of how to assess the pay structure of potential candidates. You would agree that it needs to have access to the time sheets of current employees for reference, correct? 

But, without the right technology, you are facing the challenge of not having visibility into this information. When you know that you are struggling with this simple (yet necessary) process, you understand that you need a solution that incorporates this functionality. 

You need to outline and document the challenges you are facing to implement a solution that is customized to your business needs and fits with your organizational objectives.  

Mistake #3: Cutting employee training

Companies having trouble with operations management down the line is often attributed to poor user training. Think about it: You’ve hired telemarketers but didn’t train them on how to speak to customers! How do you expect them to close sales if they don’t know how to sell?

Similarly, this works with the implementation of company-wide technology. When everyone is trained on how to implement the system, they can be effective and efficient when using it. Otherwise, you’ve got (a) a system that isn’t being utilized, (b) a system that is being utilized ineffectively and all the knowledge is getting lost in the mix.

Mistake #4: Not including end-users in the decision-making process 

More than 15 percent of companies in a 2018 study conducted by Futuram reported that Chief Technical Officers had only basic to no knowledge of digital technologies at all. 

When implementing an operations management system, many companies focus their time and effort on getting only the operations manager to approve the roll-out. But, as you can see - not too many understand what needs to be implemented. Who is asking employees if they have an understanding since they will be using the system themselves?

For successful implementation, It’s crucial to involve employees not just from operations, but across the entire organization: accounting, warehousing, and HR. Engaging all stakeholders across the company in every step of the decision-making process ensures that everyone is invested in finding and implementing the right solution as seamlessly as possible.

Teamwork is a necessary component when undergoing a digital transformation. When everyone shares their ideas and pinpoints their needs, it becomes possible to choose the perfect solution.

Mistake #5: Not investing in support

Any implementation is unique just as every business is unique. Having strong customer support is critical because you need people who understand your data. You need a team that understands your business and can help control your processes to be able to help your employees should a problem arise.

When implementing company-wide software, understand what type of services and support you will be provided with. You need to ensure that you have dedicated specialists that are available 24/7 to support you with any issue you may have.

Key takeaway

Investing in operations software is a big decision, not only from a financial standpoint but also in terms of your business’ productivity and ability to add value to your company. 

With the right platform, you will be able to take your business to the next level because all stakeholders will have control over their processes, and; what’s more - you will see collaboration on a whole new level with each department. 

Is it time to undergo a business transformation from paper to digital? The best time is now to start achieving higher success levels and increased ROI!