5 Traps to Avoid in Your Freight Software Implementation

You’ve done your due diligence. You’ve weighed all the pros and cons. You’re confident in your selection. Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a freight software implementation project!

What could go wrong?

You’re excited about your digital transformation. Ready to modernize and reap the benefits of your new solution. Although you’re eager to dive in, a little planning and reflection goes a long way to ensure that your project goes off without a hitch, that you gain full value from your investment quickly, and that you set yourself up for long-term success. 

 Key Takeaways

• Changes to existing software stacks and IT frameworks can cause unexpected friction across your organization, in turn limiting the impact of your new software tools.
• Take time to carefully review the data accuracy and make sure that nothing important gets left behind. You might want to pull in subject matter experts from various parts of the organization to put eyes on the data that matters to them during the testing phase.
• Failing to use effective change management procedures to get employees on board is a common misstep. Plus, lacking a clear use case and straightforward documentation on how best to leverage new tools can prove a substantive roadblock on the path to successful implementation.

You probably don’t have time to turn away from your day-to-day operations while you work on setting up a new software system. But, failing to plan effectively and dedicate time and resources to implementation in the short term can yield long-term damage. It’s like the old construction-industry adage, “measure twice, cut once.” It’s important to strategize from the very beginning to ensure you gain fast and full value from your software investment. Some of the most common freight software implementation project traps include:

Failing to Adhere to the Timeline

The more quickly you can get logistics software up and running, the better, right? You want access to connected tools and services that make it possible to streamline key processes, boost customer satisfaction, and increase ROI. The challenge? Initial timelines often fall by the wayside as implementations become more complex than expected and everyday operations get in the way. What should have taken a month can quickly become two, three, or six, in turn creating driving up both time and resource costs. So, be reasonable in setting your timelines in collaboration with your project team and software vendor. Set a timeline that you can commit to, even when day-to-day operations get in the way, and leave room to “expect the unexpected”. After all, in business, time is money, and the longer you let the project drag, the longer you wait to start reaping the benefits of your investment.

Not Considering the Big Picture

New software should make things easier, not harder. The challenge? Changes to existing software stacks and IT frameworks can cause unexpected friction across your organization, in turn limiting the impact of your new software tools. This is especially problematic if you’re facing tight timelines for upgrades and adoption — if current processes don’t work well with new software, you may spend more time putting out fires than leveraging new functions. Take inventory of everything in your current tech stack and consider how other systems might need to interoperate or be affected by your new freight software. The more you connect upfront, the more value you’ll get from streamlined processes and centralized data. Don’t be tempted to skip steps here.

Data Quality Problems

At the end of the day, what really matters is the data that your system harbors, makes use of, shares, and presents. You might be performing a data load or conversion as part of the implementation project. Take time to carefully review the data accuracy and make sure that nothing important gets left behind. You might want to pull in subject matter experts from various parts of the organization to put eyes on the data that matters to them during the testing phase.

Lack of Employee Adoption

If your employees don’t (or won’t) use your new software, then what’s the point? Even the best software won’t help boost revenue if employees prefer familiar processes or take steps to actively avoid new deployments. Failing to use effective change management procedures to get employees on board is a common misstep. Plus, lacking a clear use case and straightforward documentation on how best to leverage new tools can prove a substantive roadblock on the path to successful implementation.

Implementing new freight software is a big project, no matter what size organization you’re working in. That’s why it’s so important to partner with a vendor you trust. At Magaya, our dedicated, in-house implementation team has a wealth of experience with software projects to help you avoid any potential pitfalls along the way. Interested in learning more about Magaya’s approach to freight software implementation and support? Contact us today to discuss your project!