Effective Consulting in the Face of New Technology: Part 2

When I first joined the consulting ranks in the early 1990s, my customers expected their technology implementations to take a year or more. And that was acceptable. After all, how could people possibly learn that stuff any faster? Then came the sudden realization that a century was coming to an end and current software programs were using two-digit years instead of four. 

As Y2K approached, the software industry boomed–businesses needed to upgrade their software or risk implosion. As consultants, we were required to come up with a way to compress an 18-month project plan into however much time was left to finish the job.

Fast forward 16 years, and customers expect as much of a turn-key implementation as before, yet still require the functionality their organizations “can’t live” without. Customers now expect a very intuitive system that requires little or no end-user training. The cloud has become the answer to everything. “Cheaper, faster, better” is the mantra I often hear.

Successful Cloud Implementation Today

What many of today’s customers and sales reps fail to recognize is that cloud implementation only eliminates the hardware- and software-install. There are still many implementation aspects that can’t be rushed, such as business process definition, configuration and training. A cloud implementation requires the consultant to set expectations early and often. At initial introductions, explain to your team that you realize they are under pressure to be successful and the best way to accomplish that is to set a realistic pace.

Another thing: You can’t start an implementation without a final, unchanging chart of accounts. Therefore you need an accountant on your team. By nature, accountants are more methodical than the rest of us, which means they move at a potentially slower pace. I encourage you to review the chart of accounts before an implementation officially starts. It will surely keep you ahead of the game.

Your Implementation Arsenal

Whether your implementation is on-premises or in the cloud, there are a number of tasks that can’t be abbreviated or eliminated. If you plan ahead and come prepared, you can make the most of the time available. From my experience, here’s a quick list of what you need in your implementation “arsenal”:

The cloud is a new concept for consultants and customers alike. You need to mentally prepare yourself for the experience. It’s easy to blame the software when you don’t get expected results, but what if the client later determines that the lack of results was due to your lack of experience? You have now lost all credibility–and that is a difficult commodity to regain.

Avoid pitfalls by taking measures ahead of time to prepare for the implementation. Learn all you can about the cloud applications for which you are responsible. Create a plan for yourself and your team that will keep you on track. Most importantly, be honest with your team about your experience. Chances are, the notion of cloud is relatively new to all of us.

All the best,

Kim Miller

Kim Miller is a Director at Oracle within the Global ERP, EPM & SCM Sales & Partner Enablement team and is the author of The Oracle Way to Consulting, What it Takes to Become a World Class Advisor

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