The Importance of Discovery During Implementation
It is no secret that software implementation projects don’t always go as planned. Implementation projects can be complex with many elements, including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and deployment. With so many moving parts and teams involved, it can be easy to overlook one of the most critical aspects of the implementation process: Discovery.
What is Discovery
Discovery is the very first step in any implementation project. During Discovery, organizations analyze what they currently have, their needs, where they are headed, and how they will get there.
Discovery typically involves working with the end-users and stakeholders in the organization to identify individual goals for the project and better understand their pain points and how a new solution can solve them. Simply put, the purpose of Discovery is to ensure a complete understanding of the organization’s business process, its pain points, its needs, its goals, and how a new solution fits into that equation.
Before you get too deep into a discovery process for a software implementation project, there are some things every business needs to have clarity on:
Identify your goals: Setting clear business goals can be very useful in helping your company determine how you plan on leveraging your new business solution.
Measuring success: Have a clear vision of what the end result will be like and the specific measurements in place that help to define project success.
Identify the stakeholders: Anyone involved or directly impacted by the project should be identified and included early on in the project.
Documentation: Describing and documenting your business processes is a critical first step to creating a more efficient workflow.
Putting time and effort into describing your goals, defining and documenting your business process will ultimately lead to a successful implementation.
Why Discovery Matters
To successfully implement any new idea, software, or process, you need to understand what it will take to make it work. Often organizations implement software that doesn’t address their specific needs. They don’t realize that software implementations require considerable planning, and Discovery is vital. A thorough discovery process helps organizations:
Fully understand the “why” behind the project they are about to embark on.
Open up the dialogue about the current business process and potential gaps.
Urges them to define their goals and get a well-rounded and in-depth understanding of the scope of their project and any limitations.
Understand what it will take to make the change work before they try and fail.
Ensure that projects and initiatives are on-target and aligned with strategic goals.
Trying to develop something fast, without critical thinking or problem solving, can lead to wasted time and money. You might end up overspending on a solution that doesn’t provide the right amount of flexibility or functionality. Or you might build something that doesn’t resonate with your users and adoption suffers.
Final thoughts on Discovery
When we jump headfirst into projects without taking enough time to discover all there is to know beforehand, we set ourselves up for failure. The discovery process is an essential step in any implementation process. Plan for as much Discovery as possible during implementation, and don’t be afraid to add time or resources if needed.
Implementing a new piece of software requires a lot of planning and preparation to make sure you have a smooth transition and a successful implementation. If your organization is not clear on any of these, find an implementation partner to guide you through these steps.
An implementation partner can make a huge difference in steering you away from some common pitfalls. The right partner does not only provide clarity around discovery, they can provide you with the right solution that meets or exceeds your goals and expectations, and ensure your project is a success.
If you’re planning an implementation project and are looking for a partner to guide you through these crucial steps, reach out to us here.
