Powerful software continues to dominate the operations of many businesses. For companies of all kinds, organizational software is at the heart of daily function. Whether it’s to manage supplies or customer contacts, employee records or marketing data, the wide world of database and management software only becomes more powerful – and more common.
When implementing any such software, IV&V can make a huge difference in hitting the ground running.
Before we get too far in, let’s take a quick look at the most common types of management software:
• ERP – Enterprise Resource Management
• CRM – Customer Relationship Management
• HCM – Human Capital Management
• EHR – Electronic Health Record
As you can see, these umbrella terms indicate the industries/purposes each type of software may be used for. There are multiple options available for each type, and specific functions will vary across providers and “types.” Implementation, however, can have many of the same characteristics – and pitfalls.
That’s exactly where IV&V comes in.
Why You Need IV&V
As we’ve touched on before, IV&V is a method of quality control during the process of software development and implementation. A third party evaluates the ins and outs of the software, from code to compliance, to ensure that it meets all of your standards.
Because these types of software are typically the epicenter of operations, it only makes sense to do things correctly from the get go. If software is being customized to meet the needs of a specific business, all the more reason!
With the in-depth evaluations IV&V provides, you can catch problems early – before employees are depending on the software to keep the company operational. You can solidify processes, test security, confirm that reporting works the way you want it to… And on and on.
The IV&V team will work with your staff directly to make your software solution a powerful addition to the company, not a money pit or ongoing hassle.
You need staff to be experts at using the software, but you can’t expect them to be masters of implementation. It’s not their job to spot bad code or notice potential gaps in training. Relying on a third party with experience getting such systems up and running is a worthwhile investment financially, and for your employee’s peace of mind, it is absolutely invaluable.
The point is to identify trouble early in the process, and deal with it while you have the experts on hand. The alternative often means waiting until things go horribly wrong, and dealing with problems retroactively. This costs time and money, frustrates employees, and depending on severity, can stall operations entirely.
Regardless of what type of management software you plan to use for your company, strongly consider adding IV&V as part of your plan for implementation. It will save a ton of trouble (and money) in the long run.
For more information about management software, as well as IV&V services, contact us today!
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