By: Joli Shumpert, equivant Corrections Product Implementation Specialist
Technology within the corrections industry is changing rapidly. With corrections resources stretched and staff overworked, deciding when and how to implement a corrections software solution is impactful. While the implementation of a full-service corrections software solution will help you better serve stakeholders and make your workflows and processes more efficient, you must be well-informed about what this change will involve—and plan for it accordingly. Below are the top 5 technical components to consider before implementing a corrections software solution to ensure the process goes smoothly for your team and facility.
Resources
It’s important to take inventory of your current internal and external project resources (both technical and human). Consider tools and people at your disposal, which stakeholders must be involved, and what other agency interfaces will be required. In addition, assess hosting and security needs and requirements. It is imperative to plan out who and what you need to ensure the proper rollout of your software solution.
Timelines and Communication
How aggressive are your timelines? Do you have the capacity to manage the project requirements in accordance with those timelines? You must proactively communicate with everyone involved about their capacity, flexibility, and timeline preferences to get an accurate and realistic scope of work in place.
Prioritization
Which functionality do you absolutely have to have upon implementation? Which functionality can wait? It is important to prioritize the rollout in accordance with what will bring your staff, your facility, and your stakeholders the biggest benefits. It is equally important that all stakeholders agree on this phased approach before it begins.
Data Conversion
How systems talk to each other will impact the overall success of the project. Have your technical project managers confirm that all systems that need to talk to each other can do so to ensure a smooth rollout. In addition, make sure that someone on your technical team will oversee maintaining data integrity and clean up every step of the way to ensure the system continues to perform on an ongoing basis.
Testing and Training
Your job isn’t done after implementation. You must consider who will help test the software and lead your internal training effort. Brainstorm who on the team is most likely to resist the change and identify product champions who can help bring more resistant team members along to get onboard.
It may seem overwhelming, but proactive planning makes the implementation of any change, especially a technical one, more successful. Consider assembling a project committee to help with the software implementation and rollout. Make sure the team consists of members of your technology staff, end users, subject matter experts, and early adopters and testers. Ensure the communication to the committee comes from the top down and that roles and responsibilities are clearly assigned according to competencies, capacity, and interests. With the project committee working in tandem with your corrections software vendor, you’ll be able to make sure every effort is made for a seamless implementation. Schedule a call with us now to learn more about our implementation process and dedicated implementation team today.
