Project implementation is an all-hands-on-deck effort from top to bottom. Either your project is a success from everyone buying in or a failure because not everyone's on board. Whatever the project may be, improper installation can lead to miscommunication among your staff and to unhappy customers in the marketplace. Fortunately, there are implementation consultants to help you discuss, strategize, and apply it to the desired portion of your business's day to day operations
How an Implementation Consultant Can Help Your Business
How an Implementation Consultant Can Help Your Business
Organize your next big project in a major way by harnessing the power of an implementation consultant!
1. Organizational Awareness
1. Organizational Awareness
An "outside looking in" view can help grasp a conception of how things are running as a whole. Implementation consultants take their years of experience to review your business's current practices and diagnose what can be improved. This helps the initial process of understanding what you're trying to accomplish.
That way, they can see what current operations in your business would thrive in after the project is installed. They can also provide alternative options for which ones would be a disaster. It's also helpful for the consultants to take note of each employee and department's strengths and weaknesses to plan how to properly roll the project out.
2. Intel
2. Intel
Another useful aspect of hiring an implementation specialist is their marketplace expertise. This information can vary from sharing what projects your company's competitors are installing into their operations to information on the trends with businesses that chose to implement the strategy you're considering. More than anything else, the consultant is there to be a guide of sorts. Once you've chosen what applications you're looking to make for improving your business, the consultant can share valuable information to either support or contradict the idea.
3. Providing Solutions
3. Providing Solutions
After the consultant has made their rounds and reported back to you with what they've found, they may bring some ongoing issues to light within your business. Rather than shrugging those issues off and trying to install a whole new plan as they were hired to do, the consultant will offer up helpful ways to solve said problem. Often times, the solution isn't just black or white.
That's why consultants assess how you've tried to solve the problem and assess the results. Are there variations available to try? Where there any missed steps on the previous attempt to solve the issue? What solutions out there can be beneficial to this situation? A deeper dive will reveal what the best course of action is to get things back on track.
4. Unbiased Discussion
4. Unbiased Discussion
Even though businesses hire consultants as a third-party presence, they often overlook one major asset to the consulting industry: an unbiased opinion. Sometimes a project idea is brought to the table out of personal preference, which can lead to executives turning a blind eye to certain flaws in the plan. Consultants, however, are there to challenge the "Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How" of the project.
The consultant's job is to help you lay out a strategic plan with a "business isn't personal" ideology. This can help you talk through some difficult topics with a third party in the room. That way, there can be a neutral party to help steer the conversation when emotions are high.
This can help you talk through some difficult topics with a third party in the room. That way, there can be a neutral party to help steer the conversation when emotions are high.
5. The Implementation
5. The Implementation
The consultant can have as much or as little control as you allow on the project itself. Ideally, the consultant will put the project into effect naturally. This negates them having to take a managerial role to do so. That way you're gaining experience in how to oversee it as well.
Having the consultant come in to completely control the integration of a new system does you no good. Because as soon as they leave, you're left to hit the ground running and pick up where they left off. It's a balancing act that consultants are prepared for. Let them be your sidekick through the implementation phase.
6. Getting Everyone to Buy-In
6. Getting Everyone to Buy-In
The introduction of a new system isn't the hard part; it's getting everyone to buy-in to the new way that's tricky. This is where implementation consultants use their experience, the information they've gathered on your workers, and the strategic plan you've discussed to create a smooth transition.
During this phase, there will be troubleshooting that needs to be done. The consultant can help you figure out the best plan of attack. An implementation consultant will jump on any miscommunication and provide clear steps in the launching process.
During this phase, there will be troubleshooting that needs to be done. The consultant can help you figure out the best plan of attack. An implementation consultant will jump on any miscommunication and provide clear steps in the launching process.
7. Lessons for Your Business
7. Lessons for Your Business
It's no secret that you'll learn a thing or two during this process. Consultants teach you and your staff healthy habits to use in the new system. Not only that, but they bring awareness to potential problems you may face down the road and how to solve them.
Their main focus is to have as many executives and managers involved in any given portion of the implementation, to ensure a consistent message (and understanding) of the process among the entire staff. This way you'll be able to face any upcoming issues head-on for years to come!
Time to Put Your Project into Action!
Time to Put Your Project into Action!
Now that you've seen the numerous benefits to hiring an implementation consultant, it's time to get things moving in the right direction. We'd love to work with you on your next project. There are multiple ways we can help you achieve your goal.
Get started with your free consultation by scheduling a call with us today!
