Installing new auto repair shop management software is a major undertaking. After you have learned the best tips for buying new software, you need to understand what will happen once the installation takes place.
Knowing the exact installation procedures ahead of time will alleviate most of the hassle. Ask the company you hired:
That way, you can make arrangements accordingly. Get this in writing ahead of time so you and the company are clear on your expectations. You do not want to find out that you will be unable to use your computer systems for a day or two.
You also need to understand how the installation will be taking place. It can be done several ways:
Sometimes the company could offer all three as options and allow you to select the one that fits your needs best. Understanding the limitation of your company will make it easy to know which option is the right choice for you.
With the scale of most auto repair shop management software installations, it is recommended that you get professional help. This can be done easily by remote installation. It also offers several benefits over the other methods. It can be done by the professionals from their offices and eliminates the need for delays due to travel. It also allows the company to quickly diagnose and fix problems that occur during or after the installation process.
It is also very important to make sure you or the company you hired has backed up all of the existing files and data. If this is not a service the company provides, consider buying a portable hard drive for this purpose. In the event that something goes wrong, being able to restore your data is critical. This will prevent you from having to use expensive data restoration services that seldom work. For more information about how do this, read How to Backup and Restore with an External Hard Drive.
Another factor to consider is downtime due to the software installation. In general, this should be minor, but every software package is different. Understanding how this will affect your day-to-day procedures will eliminate surprises on installation day. This would be another good thing to get in writing. That way you will not be surprised when you find out there will be another several days of system downtime. Also, ask if they have a guarantee about the amount of downtime they expect. If they cause your company’s computer systems to be down for more than a certain amount of time, what will they do to fix it?
Be aware of how much help the company is willing to offer after the installation is complete. Are they willing to walk you through the new software? Can they provide a basic orientation or a company-wide training? This can eliminate the problems caused by having employees who have not learned to use the new software. If that is unavailable or impractical for your company, see if they can provide an online webinar at a later date.
Installation of new auto shop management software is not something that is done every day and can be confusing. To prevent this from happening:
With clear expectations and a well-planned installation procedure, it will be easy to have a smooth process. Making sure you are comfortable with the process is the most important part. The company you hired should help along the way and address your concerns. If you follow these steps, you should have nothing to worry about.