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Any good employer knows that in order to get the desired results of a new initiative or procedure, extra time and attention must be paid to how they roll out for employees. You have probably spent months researching and test driving different software platforms and found the perfect software to solve your company’s needs. However, if you don’t get those most affected, the employees, onboard, that could end up being a lot of time wasted for you.
It’s human nature to be resistant when it comes to change no matter how much that change may be needed. When it comes to rolling out new scheduling software for employees, you may meet resistance ranging from “But our old system worked just fine” to “How will I ever learn this new software?”
How you roll out the new system is vital to how your employees will accept it and adapt to the new procedures it puts in place. In this article, we will give you our 4 best tips for making sure you have a successful rollout and an easy transition that keeps employees engaged and productive.
Don’t underestimate the impact that new scheduling software can have on your entire organization. Delegate some of the responsibilities of the rollout to a specialized team within your organization whose focus is to make sure the rollout is successful. They will be better equipped to ensure all departments and teams are ready for the rollout and achieve success through the process.
Anytime something new is being introduced into the workplace, communication is vital. When it comes to new software, one of the biggest worries your employees probably have is what the learning curve will look like and how it will affect their job performance.
That’s where ensuring all stakeholders are thoroughly trained in a timely manner will save you. When it comes to your new software, determine who will need to use it, what tasks it will need to be used for and how the software will impact every type of employee in your organization. Knowing who will be impacted and how will help you develop appropriate training for every employee.
Once you know who will need training, develop a schedule for training before the software goes live. This will help your employees feel more comfortable with the new procedures long before those procedures will be tied to their job performance.
When new initiatives are rolled out, a question that is often asked by employees is, “Why are we doing this?” Don’t answer this question with a simple, “Because I said so.”
Instead, give them transparency as to why the new system is being adopted. Tie the implementation to the vision and goals of your company to help them see its importance. Highlight the benefits that the new system will bring to their individual roles and to the health of the company as a whole. Communicate the “why” to your employees, and you will have an increase in buy-in, which increases the consistency and correctness with which the new system is used.
Rushing to the finish line is the biggest mistake you can make when it comes to implementing new scheduling software. We know you’re anxious to get rolling and experience the benefits it will bring, but rushing the process will ensure disaster.
Design a rollout plan with your implementation team which introduces the new software in stages from awareness to implementation to refinement. Choose a specific date to launch, but be sure to be strategic when choosing it. Make sure it’s a date far enough in the future to not rush the implementation and a date that doesn’t fall at a bad time for your company like your busiest season.
Once the software is up and running, keep your patience. The transition won’t be 100% on day one. Send reminders to the staff about new procedures and offer support for any issues they have encountered along the way.
We know you’re excited to get your new scheduling software rolling so that you can start to see the benefits of it, but skipping any of these tips could lengthen the process by wasting time in fixing issues along the way.
Complete Payroll’s employee scheduling software is just what you need in your busy company to minimize human error and maximize employee productivity. Contact our team to discuss how our time and attendance solutions can best serve you and your employees.
