You’re almost there. You’ve done your homework, chosen a reseller and a electrical supply inventory optimization solution – now it’s time to put your system in place. To ensure a smooth and successful implementation, consider the following guidelines:
- Start with a plan
- Begin the implementation process by laying out the goals of the project. This helps keep every team member focused. An installation usually takes between one to three months with an off-the-shelf package that requires minimal customization. If you have numerous goals to achieve, plan on a longer implementation with more consulting resources.
- Revisit your timeline
- Make sure your implementation timeline is realistic. Your reseller will propose a timeline with deadlines they feel confident they can either meet or beat. Find out what you need to do and which individuals need to be available to help with the process.
- Remember: Time is money
- Your reseller will probably give you a range of hours each task will take. The general rule is: the more resources you allocate for implementation, the less it will cost you in both time and money. The reverse is also true. If you aren’t able to give your reseller the time and resources requested, the process is going to take longer and cost more.
- Provide ongoing training
- If you want your warehouse operations to reach their full potential, maintain constant vigilance over your system. Ideally, the electric supply inventory optimization system training never ends. Promotions, new hires and the start of every quarter introduce new opportunities for training. Develop a training agenda focused on continuous learning, along with supporting materials, such as written tests and training guides. These tools will enable you to reinforce existing methods and procedures, teach new hires and ensure that you’re optimizing the efficiency of the people in your warehouse.
- Integrate the back-office
- Direct your efforts toward integrating your new electric supply inventory optimization solution with your back-office accounting data. Most companies want the ability to push transaction data from the warehouse system to their accounting database and vice versa. You will need to have this essential piece completed and tested before launching the Inventory Optimization System.
- Postpone modifications
- Don’t request any major modifications to the software before you’ve actually installed it and started using it. Instead of trying to make the software work the old way, wait until you and your staff are familiar with the new system before attempting to change or customize it.
- Schedule a good rollout time
- Find an appropriate time to roll out your new system. It’s difficult to schedule a “right time” to do this, but at the very least, plan to install the new software during your organization’s slowest time of year, to minimize business interruptions.
- Measure against the old system
- The success of your electrical supply inventory optimization system in part depends on the goals you have established for your operation. Once your system is up and running, be sure to benchmark it carefully and compare the results to your pre-system benchmarks. You’ll collect vital information to help calculate the return on your investment. The benchmark also sets a standard for your team to beat. With ongoing benchmarks, you can put measurable employee incentives in place, compare your results to industry averages and set targets for coming years.
Please find the original version of this post at NetStock.
