Guest Blogger: Code McBride
There are few things more exciting than seeing your software product ready to hit the market. However, the process of getting it into customers’ and clients’ hands can be stressful. There are countless things, big and small, that can go wrong during the rollout process. Fortunately, there are several techniques you can use to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.
InPursuit offers a look at what you need to know to simplify your rollout process
Use the Best Tools
Before you begin the rollout process, you need to make sure your whole business is ready for any hiccups that may arise during the process. That’s why you should take some time to check that your company is using the absolute best tools for the job ahead of you. For example, a good inventory management system will help your business stay on top of other products and sales while this software launches and rolls out. You also want to make sure your team has functional and reliable tech, whether it’s a new desktop, laptop. When researching your options, check out sites like Tech Pro Daily to boost your purchasing power.
You should also investigate new platforms that may help you find even better ways to tackle your current processes. For example, a new tool that offers a fresh take on ERP software might be just the thing to help make your rollout simpler and more effective. A platform like QuickBooks Enterprise is packed with features from accounting and payroll to inventory tracking and order management so you can be sure that your business is taken care of from end to end. This is the perfect way to make sure your business stays on track with its broader financial goals while executing your software launch.
Plan Well in Advance
Many software teams get excited about their product and, understandably, want to get it out to customers as soon as possible. However, pacing yourself and planning your rollout process well in advance comes with myriad benefits. For starters, a long rollout gives you plenty of opportunities to catch bugs before the software is in full use. This is an especially useful function of phased rollouts. Having alpha and beta testers there to give you a sense of what does — and doesn’t — work can save you from embarrassing and business-losing issues come full launch.
Moreover, a long and well-planned rollout allows you to staff your team appropriately throughout the process. You should always be prepared to have troubleshooters available and on call when you’re rolling out your software to a new group of people. You never know who is going to be the one to find a major error that renders part of your software unusable. When those issues come up, you’ll be glad you scheduled things well enough in advance that you could rely on support when you need it.
Seek Out Feedback
As we mentioned above, the ideal rollout process involves gradually releasing your product to larger and larger audiences. However, it’s absolutely vital to get as much feedback as you can along the way, especially from those first small groups. Getting that alpha and beta feedback puts you in a position where you can go above and beyond fixing bugs. This information also empowers you to make the changes necessary to push your product above and beyond.
For example, say you were releasing a program that helped artists keep track of products they used in previous projects. Your alpha group might let you know that, although the app doesn’t seem to have any major issues, it’d be nice to be able to upload a photo of your project into the system. Once you’ve made that chance, you can release it to the beta group, which may give you insight into how the information is organized or presented. This continuous feedback puts you in a great position to have a final product that absolutely wows your audience.
Remember, rolling out software is a long-haul process, and, in many ways, it signals the start of your software’s journey. After all, you’ll need to continue the tweaking and updating process throughout the product’s lifespan. Involving the audience, however, takes this ever-evolving process to the next level.
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