Implementation Approach and Resources

After you purchase the software or sign a SaaS subscription agreement, your next step is to actually implement the solution. Depending on the level of complexity you may choose to do this on your own or, more likely, with the help of an implementation team from the vendor or one of their approved business partners. It will be almost impossible for the vendor to provide you with a reliable implementation plan as part of an RFP response. There is simply not enough information available to the vendor without significant discovery and there is rarely time for this discovery during the RFP phase. At a future stage when you are closer to a final selection this may be a more viable option. As a surrogate for a detailed project plan for your own project, you can ask for a project plan for a prior comparable project or possibly a template that will be used to build your project plan. Reviewing this project plan will give you a good indication of the vendors ability to support you in implementing the product. Most vendors will have qualified, or certified, partners that can provide resources for this purpose. Our general preference when working with vendors is to use their own professional services team if available. This provides the benefit of a single point of accountability. We have also found that the vendors own in-house resources have much better access to the support and development staff as well as accurate information on future product releases.

One of the most critical aspects of implementation is the actual project team that will be assigned to your project. Dont be fooled by the big-wigs and industry-leaders that youll meet during the sales cycle they will not be on your project team and in all likelihood you will never hear from them again after the sale. Ensure that the post-sale assigned resources have significant experience implementing the solution. A team of green-beans (new consultants with limited experience) will not be able to guide you through the sometimes complex process with predictable success. In addition to experience with the software solution you are going to implement, ensure the assigned consultants are seasoned professionals that have been involved in enterprise systems projects. They should have experience with subjects such as business process analysis, project management and change management.