Choosing your software solution is foundational to the success of your project. However, your software selection is not the only critical decision you need to make. Your choice of implementation partner will ultimately be as important as which solution you intend to implement. 

At Canidium, our expert software implementation teams know how the wrong implementation partner can render even the most sophisticated software solution ineffective. We help clients design and configure their solutions to maximize their benefits and prevent challenges down the line.

This article gives you a comprehensive understanding of why your chosen implementation partner matters just as much as your software solution by covering the following topics:

• 12 consequences of choosing the wrong implementation partner
• Attributes of a great software implementation partner
• Why your implementation partner is as important as your software 

The 12 Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Implementation Partner

Choosing the wrong implementation partner for your software can lead to many issues that hinder project success and organizational efficiency. The consequences can be severe, from logistical challenges and limited expertise to poor documentation and stakeholder exhaustion.

Logistical issues, such as time zone differences and language barriers, can delay communication and extend project timelines. Limited expertise means the partner may not fully understand your unique needs, leading to inadequate solutions. Poor documentation can result in significant challenges during future modifications and scaling efforts. Continuous change requests and project delays can exhaust stakeholders, diminishing their enthusiasm and engagement. Without the proper support, projects often experience increased costs, reduced ROI, and significant disruptions to daily operations. 

To get the full scope of the importance of your implementation partner to the success of your project, here are the 12 significant consequences of selecting the wrong team:

1. Implementing Shelfware

Implementing new software requires significant investment, both in terms of money and time. However, choosing the wrong implementation partner can lead to a scenario where the purchased solution remains unused, commonly referred to as shelfware. This happens when the implementation process is not carried out effectively, resulting in poor adoption and underutilization of the software. Even if the chosen solution is ideal, a poor implementation can prevent the company from reaping its benefits, leading to wasted resources. 

The right partner fully integrates your software into business processes and ensures employees are trained to use it effectively, maximizing the return on investment. Without this, the company risks the software becoming an unused asset, sitting on the shelf, and not contributing to the business's growth or efficiency.

2. Logistics Challenges

Logistics challenges are a significant concern when choosing an implementation partner, especially if they are in a different time zone or speak a different language. Time zone differences can cause delays in communication, as questions and issues might only be addressed after significant delays. This challenge can slow the entire project, leading to missed deadlines and extended timelines. Language barriers can further exacerbate these issues, as miscommunications and misunderstandings can lead to errors and rework. The consequences of these challenges are significant. Poor communication is a contributing factor in 56% of projects that fail. 

An implementation partner in the same or a similar time zone without language barriers can mitigate these challenges. They can provide timely responses and clear communication, ensuring the project progresses smoothly and efficiently. For example, Canidium's team includes bilingual experts who can effectively communicate with English and Spanish-speaking clients, ensuring that language is not a barrier to successful implementation.

3. Limited Expertise

Expertise is crucial in software implementation. Each company's needs are unique, and a lack of experience from the implementation partner can result in an inadequate understanding of these needs. This limited understanding often leads to solutions that don't fully address the company's requirements or integrate poorly with existing systems. 

Experienced partners bring valuable insights from previous projects, applying best practices and lessons learned to new implementations. They can anticipate and address potential issues proactively, ensuring a smoother process. They also deeply understand the software and how it can be tailored to meet specific business needs. Without this expertise, the implementation may face numerous challenges, leading to delays, increased costs, and a final product that doesn't deliver the expected benefits. Therefore, choosing a partner with a proven track record and extensive experience in similar projects is essential.

4. Stakeholder Exhaustion

Stakeholder exhaustion can significantly impact the success of a software implementation project. Continuous change requests, delays, and challenges during implementation can reduce the stakeholders' enthusiasm and engagement. These additional difficulties can lead to a lack of support for the project, reducing its effectiveness and increasing the risk of failure.

Stakeholders are critical in driving the project forward, providing valuable insights, and ensuring the solution meets the company's needs. When they become exhausted or disillusioned, their involvement diminishes, leading to potential gaps in the implementation process. 

The right implementation partner will manage the project efficiently, minimizing disruptions and keeping stakeholders engaged and motivated. They will communicate, set realistic expectations, and ensure the project progresses smoothly, maintaining the stakeholders' interest and commitment throughout the process.

5. Lack of Documentation 

Proper documentation is essential for maintaining and scaling a software system. It provides a comprehensive record of the implementation process, configurations, and customizations, ensuring you can implement future modifications and troubleshoot effectively. Without thorough documentation, the company faces significant challenges when there is turnover in the team or when scaling the system to meet evolving needs. 

For example, poor requirements gathering at the beginning of a project leads to 37% of ultimate failures, making it crucial that your implementation partner provides a thorough Scope of Work (SOW) at the start. Then, they should record every step of the subsequent implementation process. 

Documentation ensures that knowledge is retained within the organization, allowing new team members to understand the system quickly and make informed decisions. It also facilitates smoother transitions and upgrades, reducing the risk of errors and downtime. An implementation partner that prioritizes documentation provides a valuable resource that supports the long-term success and sustainability of the software. They ensure that every aspect of the implementation is well-documented, enabling the company to maintain, modify, and scale the system confidently.

6. Training and Adoption Difficulties

Training and adoption are critical components of a successful software implementation. Without proper training, users may struggle to understand and utilize the new system effectively, leading to low adoption rates and poor ROI. Limited training can result in the software not being used to its full potential, reducing its overall value to the company. 

A practical implementation partner provides comprehensive training programs tailored to the company's needs and workflows. They ensure users are comfortable and proficient with the new tools, facilitating a smooth transition and maximizing the software's benefits. This process includes hands-on training within the company's system, allowing users to practice and learn in a real-world environment. Proper training not only improves adoption rates but also increases user satisfaction and productivity, contributing to the overall success of the implementation.

7. Poor Change Management

Change management is crucial to software implementation, ensuring the organization can effectively transition to the new system and processes. Poor change management can lead to employee resistance, confusion, and disruptions to daily operations. These issues can significantly impact the success of the implementation, as employees may struggle to adapt to the new system and fail to utilize it effectively. 

A good implementation partner will guide the organization through the change management process, providing support and resources to facilitate a smooth transition. They will communicate changes, implement training programs to build competence and confidence, and provide ongoing support to address any issues. Effective change management ensures that employees are engaged, informed, and prepared for the new system, reducing resistance and increasing the likelihood of a successful implementation.

8. Stagnant Scalability

Scalability is a critical consideration in software implementation. Without a well-thought-out implementation plan, the system may face significant limitations when the company needs to scale or adapt to new requirements. Poor infrastructure planning can hinder the company's growth and flexibility, making responding to changing market conditions or business needs challenging. Proper planning and documentation are essential to ensure the system can grow and evolve with the company. 

A forward-thinking implementation partner will design the solution with scalability in mind, ensuring it can handle increased workloads, new features, and integrations. They will also provide comprehensive documentation to support future modifications and upgrades. By focusing on scalability from the outset, the company can avoid costly rework and disruptions, ensuring that the system meets its needs as the business grows and evolves.

9. ROI Constraints

Your ROI is a crucial metric for evaluating the success of a software implementation. The average large IT project runs 45% over budget, often due to poor planning and unexpected challenges. Choosing the wrong implementation partner can lead to higher costs, delays, and reduced ROI, making it difficult to justify the investment. 

Alternatively, the right implementation partner will manage the project efficiently, minimizing costs and maximizing the return on investment. They will provide accurate estimates, set realistic timelines, and manage resources effectively, ensuring the project stays on track and within budget. They will also focus on delivering a solution that meets the company's needs and drives business value. By choosing the right partner, you can achieve a higher ROI and ensure the long-term success of the implementation.

10. Increased Costs

Beyond initial budget overruns, ongoing costs can escalate if the implementation is mishandled. This includes expenses related to additional support, troubleshooting, and inefficient processes. The wrong implementation partner may lack the expertise to anticipate and address potential issues, leading to increased costs and disruptions. Plus, they may also fail to provide adequate training and documentation, resulting in higher support costs and reduced efficiency. 

An experienced partner will manage the project efficiently, minimizing ongoing costs and ensuring that the solution is implemented correctly the first time. They will provide comprehensive training and documentation, reducing the need for ongoing support and troubleshooting. By choosing the right partner, the company can avoid costly rework and disruptions, ensuring that the implementation delivers maximum value and minimizes long-term costs.

11. Workflow Disruptions

The implementation of new software can significantly disrupt daily operations. The wrong implementation partner may fail to plan and manage the project effectively, leading to significant disruptions to the company's workflows and productivity. This can result in missed deadlines, decreased efficiency, and frustrated employees. 

A conscientious partner will minimize these disruptions, ensuring the company can operate smoothly while transitioning to the new system. They will plan the implementation carefully, managing resources and timelines to reduce the impact on daily operations. They will also provide support and training to ensure employees can continue performing their tasks effectively during the transition. You can avoid significant workflow disruptions by choosing the right partner and ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation process.

12. Partner Dependence

Over-reliance on the implementation partner can occur if the company is not self-sufficient once the solution goes live. This dependence can lead to increased costs and reduced flexibility, as the company relies on the partner for ongoing support and troubleshooting. 

Your implementation partner should ensure you are self-sufficient by providing thorough training and support, ensuring they can manage the system independently post-implementation. This includes hands-on training within the company's system, ensuring users are comfortable and proficient with the new tools. It also includes comprehensive documentation, providing a valuable resource for future modifications and troubleshooting. 

The right implementation partner will enable the company to operate independently, reducing long-term costs and increasing flexibility, ensuring the implementation delivers maximum value. Choosing the right partner ensures that the company can become self-sufficient, reduce dependence on external support, and effectively manage and scale the system.

Attributes of a Great Software Implementation Partner

Your software implementation partner should bring substantial experience, expertise, and resources. They need to deeply understand the software and how it can be tailored to meet specific business needs, and they should be capable of applying best practices and lessons learned from previous projects. 

Experienced teams communicate effectively, set realistic expectations, and keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process. They offer comprehensive training and documentation, ensuring users are comfortable and proficient with the new tools. Moreover, they also support change management, guiding the organization through the transition and minimizing resistance. 

Focusing on self-sufficiency enables the company to manage the system independently post-implementation, reducing long-term costs and increasing flexibility. Choosing the right partner ensures the implementation is efficient, effective, and delivers maximum value, driving the company's growth and success.

Another critical advantage an established software implementation team brings is partnerships with software developers. These collaborations combine the technical expertise of the software vendor with the practical, hands-on experience of the implementation partner. 

Vendors provide deep insights into the software's capabilities, updates, and best practices. At the same time, implementation partners bring a nuanced understanding of diverse business environments and the intricacies of deploying software solutions in real-world scenarios. Together, they create a synergy that enhances the overall implementation process, ensuring the software is installed and integrated seamlessly into the client's operations.

For instance, our specialized teams at Canidium have long-term partnerships with our software solutions. We have worked with Xactly for 12 years and SAP Software Solutions for 16 years. We also bring in talent for newer partners like Pricefx, giving us in-depth relationships with solution providers.

Why Your Implementation Partner Is as Important as Your Software

Choosing the right implementation partner is crucial to the success of any software implementation project. The wrong partner can lead to numerous challenges, such as underutilized software, logistics issues, lack of expertise, stakeholder exhaustion, poor documentation, and training difficulties. These problems can result in significant disruptions to daily operations, increased costs, and a reduced return on investment.

A skilled and experienced implementation partner ensures the software is fully integrated into business processes, effectively trains employees, and provides comprehensive documentation. They manage the project efficiently, minimizing disruptions and keeping stakeholders engaged.

Now that you understand the importance of choosing the right partner, your next step is to learn how to select your implementation team. Learn the 20 questions you should ask before selecting your software implementation partner.