If you’re about to implement a new field service software because your operations are being held back by your current solution choice, one of your first jobs will be to decide which team will be assigned with the implementation task. Yes, it’s possible to implement field service software in-house.
Be warned though, it won’t be an easy ride and we’ll explain why in this blog post.
- You have total control…
- …but the management of the project is your responsibility
- You know the ins and outs of your business…
- …but do you know the ins and outs of field service software implementations?
- You can start work as soon as you want to…
- …but you need to build the team first
- It’s a chance to boost employee engagement…
- …but it’s time-consuming and expensive
You have total control…
Perhaps you want to ensure you have the right team for the project. Or you want to make sure you’re following best practices when it comes to implementations and it might take some trial and error to get it right.
Whatever your requirements are, you have complete control when you’re implementing the solution in-house.
…but the management of the project is your responsibility
From managing the team and ensuring you have buffers in place to accommodate for employee absences to chasing deliverables, every aspect of the project is your responsibility. This is often one drawback of implementing in-house - you might have total control but with that comes project management responsibility.
You know the ins and outs of your business…
If you keep the implementation in-house, naturally, your designated implementation team will know more about your business than any external party. From the processes and your unique requirements to what’s worked in the past and what hasn’t, your internal teams live and breathe this sort of stuff every day.
This can ensure you’re tackling the project’s deliverables in a way that’s best for your business.
…but do you know the ins and outs of field service software implementations?
Implementation projects are long and complex. It might help if you know your business inside and out but do you know what is even more advantageous? If you know implementation tactics and tried-and-tested practices for your industry inside and out too.
You want to ensure your field service software has been properly rolled out across the business and your employees will be using it according to recommended best practices.
You can start work as soon as you want to…
Theoretically, you can start the implementation as soon as you want to. You’re in charge, after all. You just need to have chosen your implementation team beforehand.
…but you need to build the team first
Leading on from the above, you can start work on the software implementation as soon as you have the right team. Do you already have enough talent in-house or will you need to recruit more? And don’t forget about the costs and timeframe required for recruitment too.
It’s a chance to boost employee engagement…
Software implementations, being the long and complex projects that they are, are a great opportunity for you to develop your in-house talent. The more opportunities for personal growth and development you can give your employees, the more engaged and satisfied they’re likely to be.
…but it’s time-consuming and expensive
Assuming that you don’t have a dedicated implementation team, the time that your chosen team spends on the project is time they’re not spending on their day-to-day tasks. This includes any training they may need to embark on. You’ll have to ensure their regular workload is evenly distributed among your employees who aren’t involved in the implementation so those tasks don’t fall behind.
Also, implementation projects aren’t short - they can take months or more commonly, years.
Still determined to implement your field service software in-house?
To summarise:
- You have total control over the project, from who you want on your team to how tasks are executed. However, that also means you have to manage the project and all its deliverables, which can be time-consuming
- You’re safe in the knowledge that the project is being handled by people who know the business inside and out. However, can you be sure that they also know implementation projects as well as they know your business?
- You can start the project (and stop/pause the project) as soon as you want to - you just need to have the right implementation team. And if you haven’t got the right talent (or enough), you’ll need to hire them which can be lengthy and costly
- It presents a chance for your employees to learn and develop new skills which can boost their engagement and work satisfaction. But, in-house projects are very time-consuming - can your employees spare enough time for the project? Can you spare the resources?
With the above in mind, are you sure you still want to keep your project in-house? Many businesses choose to outsource their implementations because the benefits of outsourcing outweigh any potential ‘cons’.
Outsourcing might make you wonder if a third party will ever know your business as well as you do. They might not initially but the best software implementation partners and consultancies will always take the time and effort to familiarise themselves with your business before the project begins.
Even during the process, they’ll give you free rein to advise where you see fit and provide regular updates so you’re always in the loop. Additionally, you might feel as though you don’t have complete control over the project as you’re not doing the implementing. But, the best partners/consultancies will make sure you do have total control - after all, you’ll be instrumental in formulating the strategies and nothing will happen without your approval.
The biggest advantages of working with a partner/consultancy are that you gain exclusive access to a highly-skilled talent pool (it’s difficult to find and recruit such people because they usually work for consultancies rather than in-house) and they handle all time-consuming implementation work. Now your business can focus on the higher-value tasks that require your attention.
After reading those pros and cons, is the option of outsourcing looking more attractive now?
How to choose the right partner to work with…
Now you’ll have another question in mind. How do you find the best partners/consultancies and when you do, how do you narrow down the options?
In our guide, we'll help to ensure your CRM implementation is always on the road to success. That starts with deciding who you want to give the responsibility of the implementation project to.
We also discuss some questions you should ask when sorting through your options. Check out the guide via the button below.
