How To Ensure A Successful Software Rollout
One of the biggest obstacles to introducing new software to an organization is training staff and getting them to make the switch from the old way of doing things. It takes the right mix of educating employees while not overwhelming them with too much information all at once. We’re sharing a few of the ways we’ve seen brokerages successfully implement Ocusell so that all the humans in the equation can get onboard.
1.Share Enthusiasm From The Top
Once leadership has introduced a new product or shift in direction, it becomes time to spread their enthusiasm about the opportunity to the rest of the team. This can be a challenge when we are all already drowning in emails and newsletters, so it will probably require repeated messaging and multiple mentions in meetings.
2. Specific ROI
A very close cousin of the need to spread enthusiasm is the need to define the specific ROI. It is no longer good enough to say the new software will save time or make work easier. Employees are much more motivated if they can hear specifics, such as ‘it will save two hours of time’ or will ‘reduce the typical workflow from five steps to two’. The more you can hone in on the benefits, the faster staff will embrace the new technology.
3. Different Users, Different ‘Whys’
Sometimes specific, measurable ROI can differ depending on the user group within an organization. When you have such a short amount of time or space to convey the benefits it can be a challenge to get the message across to different audiences. In these situations it can be more impactful if your messaging starts with the acknowledgement that there are different benefits for different groups and an explanation of how each sub-group will benefit. That way each group is aware of what the other’s needs are and can understand the rationale behind specific decisions.
4. Recruit Early Champions
Besides making sure the leadership is demonstrating their enthusiasm, one of the best ways to get a whole organization on board is to start out by having the unofficial leaders of the company show how useful the product has been for them. In a brokerage this might mean the top producers or the ones who have been in the industry the longest. These are the people who have the credibility and respect from the rest of the organization which increases the likelihood of others following suit.
5. Hands-On Demos
It is one thing to show someone how a product works, it’s an entirely different thing for someone to use it for the first time. While it can take more logistics and coordination to organize training sessions where staff are using the product while someone is nearby to help, it can pay off in the long run to put these types of meetings in place as early as possible in the process.
6. Announce Transition Early. Repeat Often.
One of the things we hear from our brokerage clients about successful adoption is how valuable it was to give their staff a heads up well in advance of the changeover date. Any software that impacts so many touchpoints of the core business is going to have implications for many different pieces of someone’s workflow. It is almost never too early to say a product is coming and to lay out a timeline for the transition.
7. Make Ease-Of-Use A Priority
We have all felt the growing pains of using new software. Sometimes just the thought of having to learn a new tech product can dissuade someone from giving it a try. If staff are going to be asked to change their workflow, it will be much more successful if they know beforehand the product is easy to use and won’t cause them much of a headache. From the very beginning of rolling out the implementation, make sure the product has been quality tested by real users so any glitches are fixed before it goes out to a wider group. Then let employees know a group has already used it for a beta period and can confirm it isn’t going to be difficult to learn how to use it.
Rolling out new software across your brokerage doesn’t have to be painful, Ocusell was built with ease-of-use at the forefront, making agent adoption easier. Learn more.