Business has its challenges. Your software doesn't have to be one of them.
Introduction
Choosing the right software package is the first step in improving your company's operations and bottom line. However, it is unlikely that this technology investment will generate any benefits unless it is properly implemented. There are three key issues that require attention to ensure a successful implementation:
Ignoring any one of these issues will almost always lead to a frustrating and time consuming implementation.
Over the years, The Media Services Group has been involved in hundreds of implementations and conversions. Each of these has had it's own unique challenges. With our help and by taking advantage of our extensive experience, many implementation obstacles can be overcome.
The Implementation Team
For new installations, MSG assembles a team of specialists representing the four areas of the company involved in the implementation: Application Support/Training, Programming, Technical support, and Sales. This team approach gives us the ability to respond quickly and resolve potential issues that may occur. Likewise, MSG recommends that the customer assemble a similar team consisting of members from all departments who will be affected by the system.
Pre-implementation
Before any training begins, Media Services conducts on-site pre-implementation meetings. These sessions can vary from a 1-2 day discussion to several weeks of analysis. In some cases, customers have undergone extensive pre-installation training to learn more about the software's capabilities and procedures before rolling out the software.This in-depth knowledge enables users to make better decisions regarding timing, resource allocation, business process changes and potential modifications. Media Services also publishes extensive documentation of all the table definitions and system options that are required prior to general user training. Before the physical installation starts, we will work out the best implementation approach together, ensuring as smooth an implementation as possible.
System Installation/Setup
Our technical staff is deployed to install the MSG software and all of the underlying technologies that we provide needed to run the MSG software. This includes the database management system, the application runtime engine, the ODBC drivers, and the e-commerce technology to name just a few. Our technicians will assist with peripheral setup (eg. printers, scanners, etc.), user access and parameter tuning to ensure that the software will work optimally on your equipment. System administration training for your IS staff is conducted by our technical staff; this includes database and account management and security.
Conversion
Conversion of data from one system to another can be challenging. Deciding what to convert, how to convert it and then how to verify it are all issues that need to be carefully considered. Media Services provides a conversion kit for each of our software modules which lists the standard fields that MSG can import. This allows you to 'map' your data to our fields and should help identify any missing or incompatible data elements.
While migrating from your existing system into the MSG system, there is frequently a need to "clean-up" the data. This data cleansing often involves tasks such as merging/purging client records, correcting addresses or making salutations consistent. For data that cannot be cleansed before it is delivered to MSG, some cleaning can be done using our standard importing tools. In some cases we may need to custom program special filters. We can also work with third-party "conversion houses". Considerable time is spent during the pre-implementation process to identify the conversion issues that will affect your installation.
In most cases, Media Services creates a 'test' environment on your system that allows you to verify the accuracy of the converted data. As part of a good implementation, and before any data is converted, a detailed testing and verification plan should be developed.
Training
Media Services provides extensive on-site training for each of the licensed software modules. Experienced trainers, most of whom come from the publishing business, walk you through each of the system's functions using curricula agreed upon during the pre-implementation planning. In some cases, a "train the trainer" approach is utilized whereby MSG trains a select group of specialists who, in-turn, will conduct internal training sessions.
We train at your location(s) and on your system. Typically, we try to schedule training immediately prior to the software 'going live'. This lets the users immediately try out the functions on which they were trained, increasing their retention. Additionally, we schedule follow up training-- usually 2-3 months after you start using the system. At that time, the users are more experienced with the product and we can help with more detailed requests and advanced training.
Post implementation
Your implementation team remains in place well after you 'go live' enabling resolution to the inevitable questions that arise during the first critical weeks of use. Frequent progress meetings, follow-up and refresher training sessions are all part of the post-implementation process. Media Services can also provide "process change", "process evaluation", and "best practices" consulting.
While there are many standard implementation procedures that apply to all of our customers, we work closely with each new customer to create an approach that works for their site-- with their employees-- and makes possible the best use of the MSG software.
In addition to our comprehensive implementation plan we also offer business consulting services which may be helpful in implementation and business process re-engineering.
The best way to know if we're right for you is to see a demo. Call 1-800-234-4674 or email us: sales@msgl.com and we'll set up an online or onsite demo of the latest release.