4 Tips for Training Staff on New Software

Forward-thinking businesses seek opportunities to bring in new software to help run their business more efficiently. The most common problem they face is their staff – who do not want to see change and are worried about not being able to understand the new technology in place.

If you decide to implement the new business software, you should make sure all your staff understands the purpose of the new software, the benefits of this, and any important points of what the software package can do to improve their productivity and performance. The more you explain the more likely it is that your staff will understand and enjoy the new training.

Here are 4 tips to keep in mind when training your staff on new software or any technology introduced in the workplace:

 

new software

 

 

  1. Pair up workers-Encourage all employees to teach one another through what is called the buddy program. In order for this system to work, your company should have support and established structure in place. Otherwise, staff members could get tied up in their daily duties and let opportunities slip away.

 

  1. Mentorship opportunities – Start an in-house version of a formal mentorship program.  Pick 10 of your best employees from among a group who has volunteered to become mentors.  In order to ensure that both sides commit to the training process, it’s important to set up a framework. Both parties should make a long-term commitment (i.e. 3 months) and that means meeting for at least 1-2 hours a week until the mentee is comfortable using the software.

 

  1. Cheerlead– Opt for a more realistic, yet positive portrayal of the upcoming changes. Your employees will look to you as their manager for direction on how to feel and what to think about the new implementations, and many will resist change simply because it’s change. Experts advise mangers to answer the “‘what’s in it for me?’ question for anyone you expect to use the software—which is really just another method to ensure your staff knows the importance of why they are learning what they are learning.

 

  1. Use positive reinforcement -Want your team to stay motivated during the training and beyond? Use positive reinforcement every step of the way.  Experts argue that positive reinforcement both shapes behavior and enhances an employee’s self-worth. And if you use positive reinforcement immediately after someone learns something new, you’ll encourage fast and thorough adoption.

Although there is an upfront cost, the long term value far exceeds the cost. If your employees do not know how to use the system properly, they won’t buy into your proposal. When staff members don’t buy into what you’re doing, this nullifies any potential future returns. With Carmel Vision you don’t have to worry about lost investments. Our account managers will prepare you for the transition and provide you with the ammo you need to ensure the staff that the investments you are making are smart ones.

DiggThis

Best Ways to Improve a Project with Contact Management Software

With business software, what makes a difference is not what business tool you use but how effectively you use it.  Business tools used ineffectively can fall short of their promised glory not because they are not excellent tools but because they were underutilized and left with untapped potential.  Many companies who choose to implement contact management software make the mistake of doing so, especially when it comes to project management.

This is unfortunate considering the dynamic impact contact management software can have on company projects. For companies struggling with persistent team communication issues, this software can be the best solution for keeping team players talking.  Through shared notes, teams can keep projects updated in real time without the usual delays for turnaround.  With just a click of a mouse, most solutions allow team members joint access to vast amounts of company information for better communication across the board.

In fact, contact management software has the ability to address even the most complex project management concerns. Companies everywhere are in search of the best devices for putting an end to project management pitfalls such as routine wastes of time and resources.  With the effective use it’s possible to conserve resources by reducing paper waste and printing costs.  Data can be scanned and stored easily into most systems and even linked to company contacts for greater compatibility with existing company organization – a feature that saves both time and money.

Adding contact management software to your project management methods can make team tasks run a whole lot easier. That’s because it’s a solution that is easily customized, with management and classification controls that can be adjusted to fit the particular needs of any project.  If, for instance, your project involves only certain key accounts, parameters can conveniently be set to filter contact information linked to documents, emails and account history as a solid foundation for the project’s completion.

Using contact management software also stands to improve the skill set of team players.  Collaborators learn how to chisel and hone the software’s organizational features and can become experts in accessing key components for the best results possible.  Learning to communicate via software and update data in real-time, fielding  a variety of inputs from coworkers, is a 21st century skill that innovative companies should encourage as often as possible.

The good thing is that no matter which solution your company chooses, the benefits just keep getting better.  As vendors continue to develop increasingly interesting ways to streamline communication and expand collaboration capabilities, contact management software continues to be the top business tool for successful project management.

DiggThis

On-Premise/Cloud Hybrid Office with Contact Management Software

The possibilities are endless when contact management system teams up with remote office capability.  Yet, the remote, or virtual, office is one feature of contact management software that many businesses may not be aware of.  It’s an extremely useful tool for the increasing number of offices with employees working from home or while on the road.  However, not all contact management software systems have the ability to offer such versatility, so it’s a good idea to do your homework to find those that do.

Today’s business world is a patchwork of various work scenarios designed to accommodate almost any level of productivity.  In fact, during the recent economic down turn, many offices were forced to allow employees to work from home in order to cut costs. This produced a greater need than ever for software capable of giving off-site employees the same access to company systems as those on the premises.  A few choice vendors rapidly responded with on-premise systems capable of installation on any CPU, yet with top security features to ensure users could work remotely, yet worry-free.

In fact, top contact management software vendors make absolutely sure that security is at its finest for remote offers features, and that’s something to look for when choosing the best solution for your company. Security features are crucial to prevent breeches into private company information over remote connections. Look for contact management systems with 512-bit encryption for maximum security, but with firewall transparency within the system for flexibility in access and sharing of information among employees, no matter the location.

Also, keep an eye out for special deals which can significantly reduce the costs associated with virtual office technology. With  software, affordability of remote office features or systems can be a problem since many vendors charge extra as the number of users increase.  It’s always a good idea to seek out contact management software that allows an unlimited number of clients at no extra charge – and they are out there.

The advantages of contact management software with integrated remote office capability make it well worth the investment for your company’s day-to-day organization.  Take the time to examine each solution available and be sure to carefully consider purchasing a system with remote access features for a versatile, secure system that’s sure to meet your company’s needs.

DiggThis

Best Ways to Improve a Project with Contact Management Software

With business software, what makes a difference is not what business tool you use but how effectively you use it.  Business tools used ineffectively can fall short of their promised glory not because they are not excellent tools but because they were underutilized and left with untapped potential.  Many companies who choose to implement contact management software make the mistake of doing so, especially when it comes to project management.

This is unfortunate considering the dynamic impact this software can have on company projects. For companies struggling with persistent team communication issues, it can be the best solution for keeping team players talking.  Through shared notes, teams can keep projects updated in real time without the usual delays for turnaround.  With just a click of a mouse, most solutions allow team members joint access to vast amounts of company information for better communication across the board.

In fact, contact management software has the ability to address even the most complex project management concerns. Companies everywhere are in search of the best devices for putting an end to project management pitfalls such as routine wastes of time and resources.  With the effective use of this software, it’s possible to conserve resources by reducing paper waste and printing costs.  Data can be scanned and stored easily into most systems and even linked to company contacts for greater compatibility with existing company organization – a feature that saves both time and money.

Adding contact management software to your project management methods can make team tasks run a whole lot easier. That’s because it’s a solution that is easily customized, with management and classification controls that can be adjusted to fit the particular needs of any project.  If, for instance, your project involves only certain key accounts, parameters can conveniently be set to filter contact information linked to documents, emails and account history as a solid foundation for the project’s completion.

Using contact management software also stands to improve the skill set of team players.  Collaborators learn how to chisel and hone the software’s organizational features and can become experts in accessing key components for the best results possible.  Learning to communicate via software and update data in real-time, fielding  a variety of inputs from coworkers, is a 21st century skill that innovative companies should encourage as often as possible.

The good thing is that no matter which contact management software your company chooses, the benefits just keep getting better.  As vendors continue to develop increasingly interesting ways to streamline communication and expand collaboration capabilities, contact management software continues to be the top business tool for successful project management.

DiggThis

Using Contact Management Software for Project Management

The name of the game in project management is communication. Precise communication, can greatly effect the success of company projects.  Added to that, streamlined organization and the ability to share documents and information conveniently are top necessities.  Contact management software delivers all this and more for project management in a single package.

Keeping all the details sorted during a project can be an extremely difficult task.  Each project has its own nuances and specifics which require special attention. Without a predictable way of handling both incoming and outgoing information, the success of the project could be jeopardized. By linking information such as documents and emails to contacts and allowing users to share the information in visual displays, this software ensure that the details stay in tune with the bigger picture.

Information sharing is also a vital necessity for the successful completion of most projects. Companies without the ability to easily share documents and emails are definitely at a loss.  The time saved when these items can be conveniently displayed in one central location and accessed at any time is invaluable. Software gives businesses the power to harvest the full potential of information sharing at it’s best.

Project management is essential for moving most businesses forward, and business tools that offer the highest levels of convenience for team players win the day.  This is mostly due to the complex nature of project management and the fast pace of today’s business world.  Business tools that deliver solid results quickly with the click of a mouse can propel projects forward, empowering companies to match the speedy pace of competition and become powerful leaders in the industry.

Overall, the best thing about using contact management software for project management is the amount of versatile communication that can take place.  The software increases the possibility for crucial communication between and among your project management teams, whether your company is a vast network of team members working on several different projects at once or a cohesive unit with just a few key players. Give contact manager software a try on your next company project for top-notch results that deliver.

DiggThis

Benefits of Project Management

Project management needs can be greatly diverse.  Without a comprehensive and convenient way of managing projects on a day-to-day basis, even the best endeavors can be quickly derailed or delayed.  This is why contact management software is so important for project management.  A fully integrated system can bring clarity and simplified organization to even the most chaotic ventures.

Contact management software is often used to manage and streamline everyday company business functions and routines, but it can also be useful in project management. At the heart of project management is the teamwork and group activity necessary to achieve a new and specific goal. Even though the work of the team may not be routine, it’s still helpful to have a way of managing tasks and information within the group on a daily basis until the product or service is complete.

For instance, consider the many benefits of using project management to coordinate group activity, making documents, emails and more available to anyone in the group through a single display.  This information sharing is made possible with special contact management software features sometimes available as an add-on features.  Most project management add-ons are fully integrated, meaning they works with your existing system to execute a project.

Using the fully integrated project management features of a contact management software system means the ultimate elimination of third party software.  Team members will be able to collaborate freely with each other by sharing and distributing emails, files voice recordings and documents throughout the group.  Even calendars, notes and contacts can all be shared, openly updated in real-time and stored neatly in specific shared locations.  With all the benefits of a complete and fully integrated contact management software system, there’s no better way to make project management the best it can be.

DiggThis