NetSuite is an example of a software platform that is gaining increased usage by companies in the last couple of years, but one that gives managers a headache, for a variety of reasons.
Like a lot of business software, it takes a long time to train new users; even after the training employees often make mistakes when performing key tasks, are often confused and frustrated, and will repeatedly ask and then wait for IT helpdesk assistance – time away from actually being productive and performing the tasks they are paid to do. Finally, training aside, often managers face the challenge of employee resistance to using an unfamiliar software, and therefore – even if they are required to use it – fail to fully get the most out of it, for the benefit of the company, team and individual.
Yet overcoming initial employee resistance, ensuring rapid onboarding and effective long-term usage is NOT impossible. To the contrary, it an attainable objective, one that can be reached by not only formulating an effective strategy and but carrying out a series of actions that are clear and not complex. Finally, it doesn’t have to cost a whole lot either.
So how do we reach NetSuite user nirvana? Here are 8 tips for facilitating your employees’ transition when it comes to using NetSuite:
1. Start with One Step at a Time
Change can be overwhelming for a lot of people. Whether a new employee is trying to learn what will be his/her central business software going forward, or a veteran employee having to undergo new training to a department-wide migration to NetSuite from a previous platform, I think we can all relate to feeling a bit of trepidation. So I would suggest introducing NetSuite in stages. I’ll speak about the individual employee more in a moment, but let’s look at it from a company-wide level first.
While NetSuite can help with both back and front office needs, I would suggest that you first actualize your back office changes, so you and your group have an opportunity to explore the progressions initially; far from any customer confronting data. From that point, you can rollout your front office changes, actualizing your request administration, client records, client access on the web, and site needs. Doing a switch to NetSuite with one singular motion sounds simpler, however it may not be as thoughtful to your clients as you may think. Therefore, everything needs to be done slowly but steady, through on-the-go training.
2. Define Strategic Goals
What was the introductory quality suggestion that headed you to choose NetSuite? Looking past the execution will permit you to center all the more on what your top needs are as an organization, characterizing which procedures are vital. NetSuite could be designed or redid in unlimited approaches to empower your objectives as an association. However, in the event that you aren’t sure about what those objectives are before you begin, then you may end up pursuing a moving target or battling to help contending diversions. Always set your strategic goals before implementing NetSuite.
3. Turn Employees into Advocates of NetSuite
Back to the individual employee, and overcoming initial resistance to change. The most important element here is open and frequent communication between managers and team members. Most commonly, resistance to change happens when people don’t have all the facts. So yes, communication is key. Ask and show that you appreciate employee feedback, at each step along the way.
Yet there also will be some employees who more adopt and familiarize themselves with the software, and you should leverage them strategically. When implementing NetSuite, an important advice is to keep track of who your power users and offer them a chance to test the platform first. You can teach them the software’s features and capacities along the way, but it’s imperative that they are on your side when the system is rolling out. On the off chance that power users are not included until after the go live date, you may run into safety problems with NetSuite or have issues where other employees reliably express “this doesn’t work”. An absence of recognition with NetSuite and an answer that doesn’t help will as a rule, hurt the achievement of the usage. Observe the new users. Open them to NetSuite right off the bat and everybody will be more content with the results. You might also need to adopt a simple approach on why they need to use the new software.
4. Explain why NetSuite Benefits Both the Company and Team
I want to touch upon the importance of communication one more time. Explaining to employees (and managers by the way) the benefits brought by the new platform and how it can ease their work significantly, greatly contributes to a user buy-in. Users should be given incentives toward rapid adoption and proper usage, and shown – in clear details – why NetSuite is better than the other platforms, why it will make their job more comfortable and efficient, in addition to the proper training of how to use it. Speaking of which….
5. Deliver Easy-to-Absorb and Impactful Training
Another way to overcome initial lack of enthusiasm to NetSuite is to give the new users the necessary knowledge to operate the software with confidence. It sounds almost too simple, but yes, knowledge equals confidence which eliminates user resistance.
First, in the big-picture, you need to train each user on the key processes that they will be performing in NetSuite, where they can find key function, each user’s dashboard, etc.
Yet learning is no longer perceived as a single, one-time event which workers have to go through in order to accomplish their everyday duties. The old process was regarded as too long and ineffective by the experts, with users tending to forget what they learn soon after the training was over. Therefore, by adopting a “learn on the go” approach you can significantly improve your company’s results. Employees will get everything they need to know right when they utilize the software and they will not have to bother with long tutorials or physical guidance.
One final word on training – make sure it is RELEVANT. The beauty is that NetSuite is designed with relevance in mind, to each user’s role and specific functions and dashboard. Yet the training itself cannot be something too abstract – it should ideally be onscreen, and in the moment of need, showing the user how to perform the necessary steps to complete a key process.
6. Consider it an opportunity
As your business develops, NetSuite can adjust itself, giving an answer that doesn’t bring you down and dependably keeps you making headway decisions. Utilizing the product to enhance how your groups impart represents just how fruitful it is for you. On the off chance that you feel that NetSuite is the enchantment wand to each past issue you’ve had, you’re in for a ride. At the same time when you see that you can influence NetSuite to enhance how your organization works, you’ll end up in a finer spot.
7. Ensure Rapid Training and Correct Usage in the Long-Term
Ok, maybe I wasn’t done talking about training just yet. Yet I wanted to talk about continued process support AFTER the initial training sessions have been completed. Employees should be able to benefit from rapid and onscreen access to information each time they need it in order to benefit from the advantages brought by NetSuite. Performance support software, which provides needed information in the moment of need, onscreen and without the need to open a new browser window or watch instructional videos, has seen increased adoption in the last couple of years (See WalkMe for NetSuite as a good example). Real-time, step-by-step instructions help walk the user through the process, even if he/she had forget some of that knowledge from an earlier training sessions. We learn best by repetition, relevance, immediacy and specificity. NetSuite users learn best that way as well.
8. Reduce the Need for Helpdesk Support
Employees can resort to the helpdesk support every time they encounter a problem, but this is certainly not an effective approach for your company. Time is lost, time spent away from the employee actually performing the necessary tasks he/she is being employed to perform. Once again, a performance support application integrated with NetSuite will help each user get the information they need in the moment they need it, without having to turn to others for assistance.
So to sum up? We all want the roll out NetSuite to be as smooth and burden-free as possible, one characterized by rapid onboarding, high user adoption and low resistance to change, and correct usage once the training ends. I hope that these 8 ideas will help YOUR employees to get accustomed with the software more easily and they will yield better results over time.