When implementing a new project management software solution, getting everyone in your organization to become accustomed to using it on a daily basis is one the main challenges faced by organizations in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries. Cleaning and then migrating data, setting up the infrastructure, and training new users are all relatively easy. But what seems to send software implementations spiralling into oblivion is a lack of user buy-in once the initial implementation process is over.
Our experience with software implementations shows that lack of user buy-in is one of the main reasons so many fail. And understandably so. Adapting to a new working environment, changing work processes, and relearning basic proficiencies such as document creation are difficult challenges for many end users, particularly if the new software is totally different from anything they’ve worked with before.
But one of the more positive things we have also found during software implementations is that if you can give end users a solution built around something they are already familiar with, they are far more likely to become engaged with the software from the start and quickly adapt to the new environment. That’s why we built a on top of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
As Microsoft Dynamics CRM and our project management software IPM can be used from within Outlook, this has an extreme advantage when it comes to end user adoption. As most users are already familiar with the Outlook operating environment, CRM and IPM can be easily learned and adopted by end users. is such a point of difference over other CRM solutions, and something few project management solutions can boast. What’s more, Microsoft’s latest version of CRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, has an even better integration with Outlook than ever before, meaning the integration is so seamless that users often feel they are using one product when they access all their CRM and IPM project data through Outlook.
End users can make or break your software implementation, but Outlook integration is definitely the key to keeping your end users happy and comfortable in their new operating environment, and ultimately ensuring the success of your new software solution.
To find out more about how your project management needs can benefit from the combination of IPM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, contact .
By Reef Fielding, IPM Global: the creators of IPM –
