Brad Wynter, Chief Executive Officer at Mira, offers tips on how to ensure a smooth onboarding process when it comes to adopting new business software.
Onboarding new software can be a daunting task for both employees and employers. The process of introducing new software to an organisation involves a lot of planning, training and support, whether it’s a small family-owned company or a larger pest management operation. The challenges of onboarding new software can range from technical difficulties to employee resistance. This article will look at some of the common challenges of onboarding new software and offer advice on how to overcome them.
One of the biggest challenges of onboarding new software is employee resistance. Employees may be resistant to change, especially if they are used to the old system. This can lead to a lack of adoption of the new software, which can be detrimental to the organisation. To overcome this challenge, it is important to involve employees in the process of selecting and implementing new software. This can help to build buy-in and increase adoption rates.
One software option is Mira, a business software developed by ITS Pty. Ltd, an Australian software company with a history of producing cloud-based tools for managing small businesses. Founded by a former pest control business owner, Mira was developed to transform the working lives of inspection-based business owners throughout Australia. Not only does it save time for pest management businesses, but it helps them grow by automating business processes. It integrates with Xero, MYOB, and Quickbooks as well as Stripe and Square.
Once employees are on board with the new software, the next challenge arises: technical difficulties. New software can be complex and difficult to use, especially for employees who are not tech savvy. This can lead to frustration and a lack of productivity. To overcome this challenge, it is important to source an easy-to-use system and provide adequate training and support to employees. This can include training sessions, online tutorials, and help desk support. Make sure you check if your software supplier charges for this or provides it as part of the service. Mira is a great example of this as it was built by a pest manager for pest control businesses, so it is easy to use and has great customer reviews for its usability. Mira includes extensive help services with online step by step articles, videos and free support by chat and phone.
Data issues can also arise when onboarding new software. Most systems do not validate their data adequately and this can lead to data loss or bringing poor quality data into the new system. To overcome this challenge, it is important to use systems that have adequate tools to validate data thoroughly before implementation. For example, Mira has tools to manage both error checking for data imports as well as error checking for data input via the accounting provider integration.
Cost is another factor to consider when it comes to new software. New software can be expensive, especially if it requires paid setup or services to correct data before loading it into the new system. To overcome this, it is important to find systems with in-built self-service tools for onboarding as well as paid services if they are required. Check to see if support is freely available or an additional cost. Mira has excellent free support and a low subscription rate of $41 incl. GST for the first user and $36 incl. GST for every additional user. Unlike many other systems, Mira has regulation compliance reports included in the subscription fee.
Security is a concern when onboarding new software. New software can introduce new security risks, especially if it is not properly configured or maintained. This is overcome by implementing proper security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and data encryption.
Finally, staff turnover can be a challenge when onboarding new software. If staff members leave the organisation, it can be difficult to train new employees on the new software. Having a comprehensive onboarding process in place is the best way to overcome this challenge. This can include documentation, training materials, and support resources. Mira has inbuilt onboarding tools that are easy to use but also offers paid onboarding, if you don’t have time to do it yourself.
It is fair to say that onboarding new software can be a challenging process for pest management companies. However, by involving employees in the process, providing adequate training and support, testing the software thoroughly, sorting out data issues before importing data, implementing proper security measures, and having a comprehensive onboarding process in place, pest management businesses can overcome these challenges and successfully onboard new software to drive their businesses forward.
Brad Wynter, Chief Executive Officer, Mira
