Fostering engagement amongst your workforce during a new solution's implementation is both challenging and vital. Many employees view learning how to use a new tool like Pricefx as another time-consuming task on their full calendar. They may not want to dedicate portions of their workday to the implementation process. However, the benefits of an engaged workforce during a software implementation are undeniable, leaving it up to you to generate internal interest in Pricefx.

Here at Canidium, we help organizations and their teams understand the unique benefits that partner solutions like Pricefx can offer. We also leverage training throughout the implementation process to foster engagement and increase solution adoption among employees.

In this article, we break down the implementation process into three phases, explaining how to generate workforce engagement through the training during each stage. Then, we cover the four prominent benefits of an engaged workforce during a Pricefx implementation.

Fostering Internal Engagement During The Three Phases of a Pricefx Implementation

A recent study found that 92% of employees believe workplace training positively influences job engagement. Training is vital to getting employees interested and well-versed in new solutions like Pricefx. The more informed and skilled employees are in a new digital tool, the more they will use it. 

Resources like Pricefx's learning center offer extensive training opportunities for your workforce. You can filter lessons by role, industry, or content type to find relevant information and customize each employee's learning journey. 

Your software implementation (SI) partner is also a training resource. They can offer individual demonstrations and walk-throughs of specifically configured aspects of your solution. Your partner will be available through every phase of the learning process, starting with pre-sales engagement, running through the implementation process, and carrying on after Pricefx goes live through managed services. 

Pre Sales Phase

To engage your workforce effectively from the start of a Pricefx implementation, it is essential to communicate clearly:

• Role Changes: Explain how the Pricefx solution will alter their daily tasks.
• Benefits: Highlight the advantages they will experience as a result of these changes.
• Workload Reduction: Discuss potential decreases in administrative duties due to Pricefx's automation features.

Have your workforce engage in educational workshops through Pricefx's learning center or tailored demonstrations with your SI partner designed to show how this tool can seamlessly integrate into your specific business processes and solve your unique challenges. This early exposure helps set realistic expectations and builds a robust foundation of knowledge. It is also an opportunity for your teams to ask questions and interact directly with the software, giving them a preliminary understanding that will be vital as you move forward.

Implementation Training

Your employees' training should become much more hands-on during the implementation phase. Roles utilizing Pricefx should attend comprehensive, step-by-step training sessions that cover all functionalities of Pricefx, designed to build progressively on your teams' growing familiarity with the system. Before beginning user acceptance testing (UAT), your employees must be well-trained in Pricefx's features and functionalities. Otherwise, they will not be able to test the solution thoroughly. Potential issues might slip through the cracks, causing problems after the solution goes live or delaying the project's timeline.

Pricefx pre-package tailored training easily facilitates this comprehensive learning. Training is customized for different roles within your organization to ensure that every team member—from finance to sales—understands how to utilize Pricefx to enhance daily operations. 

During the implementation phase, UAT is crucial. Here are various ways to ensure effective engagement throughout this process:

• Real-World Testing: Teams test the system in actual scenarios to validate end-to-end business processes.
• Issue Identification: Employees pinpoint issues or feature gaps during UAT, ensuring the system meets business requirements before launch.
• Comprehensive Training: Before UAT begins, ensure that employees are well-versed in Pricefx's features and functionalities.
• Thorough Testing: Adequate preparation allows for rigorous testing of the solution, preventing potential issues from emerging post-launch or causing delays.
• Feedback Sessions: Regular meetings where teams can provide feedback and discuss challenges they encounter with the system.
• Role-Specific Workshops: Tailored sessions that focus on how Pricefx benefits specific roles within the organization.
• Simulation Exercises: Conduct simulations or role-playing scenarios to help teams better understand and navigate the new system.
• Progress Reviews: Schedule periodic reviews to assess how well the system integrates into daily workflows and to make necessary adjustments.

Engaging your workforce comprehensively throughout the UAT phase fosters a deeper understanding and ownership of the new system. By embracing these methods, you ensure a smoother transition and a higher likelihood of successful integration of Pricefx into your daily operations.

Post Launch Skill Maintenance

In the Post-Launch phase, the focus shifts towards deepening your teams' expertise and maximizing the software's value for your business. Here are a few ways you can ensure that your team is actively engaged in ongoing training: 

• Instructor-Led Training: Engage in ongoing training sessions led by instructors to equip your staff with the skills for sophisticated data analysis and the use of advanced tools within the platform.
• Customized Learning Journeys: Utilize the Pricefx Knowledge Base, which offers customized learning paths tailored to different user types.
• Managed Services from SI Partner: Your SI partner provides ongoing managed services to help overcome any technical issues or learning gaps, facilitating continuous learning and adaptation to changes and updates in Pricefx.
• Internal Communication Channels: Establish internal communication channels dedicated to Pricefx training, allowing staff to share experiences, challenges, and solutions, thereby fostering a community of collaborative learning.

This continuous engagement significantly enhances proficiency with Pricefx, maintaining enthusiasm and commitment to leveraging the platform to its fullest potential.

4 Benefits of End-to-End Training

Comprehensive training requires effort on the part of your employees. However, the tangible benefits of end-to-end training mitigate the initial costs and effort required. 

The value you can derive from Pricefx is proportional to your workforce's ability to leverage the solution's capabilities. We can narrow these benefits into four categories to outline the value of fostering engagement through training. 

1. Increased Adoption

Enhancing user engagement is pivotal to boosting your organization's adoption rates of new technologies. By focusing on what makes users comfortable and understanding how they interact with the system, you can significantly reduce the time it takes them to become proficient. This initial phase of adoption is not just about learning; it's also an opportunity for you to fine-tune the system based on real-time feedback. As users become conversant with the technology, they often identify additional needs or suggest modifications—tweaking the user interface or enhancing functionality—that help tailor the system to meet their working styles better.

This hands-on involvement doesn't just iron out kinks; it actively drives excitement and ownership among the user base. They start seeing tangible benefits like performance improvements and reduced errors, which are direct outcomes of effective digital transformation. The automation and efficiency gains become quickly evident, fostering a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

As users master the system, they transform into champions of the technology, taking on the role of trainers themselves. This peer-to-peer training further accelerates the adoption across your organization, shortening the time to see a return on investment. With more users proficient in the system, you can begin exploring advanced modules and deeper analytics, unlocking additional value and seeing the financial impacts materialize from these enhancements.

2. Faster ROI

Organizations with structured training programs see a 218% increase in income per employee over those lacking formalized training, and businesses offering employee training also enjoy a 24% higher profit margin.

The connection between well-trained employees and faster ROI lies in the heightened efficiency and capability that training instills. Employees who undergo comprehensive training are better equipped to handle their roles, leading to more rapid completion of tasks and higher quality of work. This increase in productivity reduces the time it takes for your investment in Pricefx to pay off. Moreover, well-trained employees are typically more engaged and committed, further enhancing their productivity and reducing turnover costs, which can significantly impact your organization's financial health.

3. Decreased Budget/Scope Creep

Engaging your employees early in the training process ensures they thoroughly understand how to use the software's capabilities to address their needs. This early and clear comprehension helps set accurate expectations. It reduces the likelihood of unnecessary changes or additions later on, which are often the primary contributors to scope creep.

A well-trained team can significantly decrease the chances of project failure. Without adequate training, users might not fully understand or utilize the software effectively. This knowledge gap leads to dissatisfaction and the need for costly reworks and extensions that can derail budget and timeline.

You can minimize surprises by ensuring that your end-users, company executives, and everyone in between are engaged and educated about the project's goals and progress, creating a collaborative effort towards a shared vision. This collective approach protects the project's budget. It aligns the implementation timeline with strategic business objectives, thereby preventing the chaotic, last-minute fixes that can become a nightmare from an implementation standpoint.

4. Improved Internal Change Management

An overwhelming 94% of employees indicate that they would be inclined to stay longer at a company that invests in their career development. Training programs that focus on career development help employees adapt to changes within the company. Employees are better prepared to take on new challenges and responsibilities by continuously enhancing their skills, contributing to a more agile and adaptable workforce. This adaptability is crucial for organizations in fast-evolving industries, where the ability to pivot quickly and embrace change can often be the difference between success and failure.

Companies committed to their employees' growth often cultivate a culture of trust and loyalty. This investment in human capital pays dividends through enhanced job satisfaction and morale, which are critical components of an effective internal change management strategy.

Fostering Engagement Through End-to-End Training

The strategic integration of training programs throughout the implementation process offers manifold benefits. Training is an indispensable tool in optimizing your pricing strategies, from fostering quicker returns on investment to managing scope creep effectively. 

There is a direct correlation between training and organizational profitability. Employees who are well-versed in the tools and processes of their trade execute their responsibilities more competently and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. This is because well-trained employees are more engaged in the use of the solution and, thus, more in tune with your company’s implementation goals. 

Your SI partner will be an invaluable resource during all phases of the training and implementation process. Their in-depth knowledge and experience with Pricefx give your workforce a wealth of knowledge. 

Read on to learn more ways to strategically leverage your SI partner to their maximum potential.