If you’re reading this post, first, I’m sorry this happened to you. In hindsight, you’d likely agree that the experience was completely avoidable. If you’re wondering, “How do I keep this from happening to me?” I highly encourage you to take the advice in this post and implement it today. You never know when you’ll face a new implementation that requires you to avoid these pitfalls.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a project manager for over 15 years, witnessing or inheriting projects where these mistakes led to a missed Go Live—mistakes that were entirely preventable. I want you to be successful by learning from the experiences of others.

 1. No One Took Testing Seriously

Testing your new tech is extremely important. However, it’s often assumed that testing is solely the vendor’s responsibility, leading to a lack of thorough testing on your end. If your vendor advises you to start testing after configuration and you wait until the last minute, you set yourself up for failure. By postponing testing, you may realize too late that you don’t feel ready, which can push back your Go Live date. Take testing seriously from Day 1 and ask questions constantly to understand how the tech works. There are no dumb questions when you’re making an investment in a product.

 2. No One Made Time to Commit to the Project

It’s essential to know your internal implementation team and engage with them regularly to check on progress, upcoming deadlines, and achieved milestones. A lack of engagement can lead to diminished commitment to the project and erode your team’s confidence in being ready to Go Live, ultimately resulting in a missed Go Live date.

 3. No One Prepared the End Users

Preparing end users is just as important as getting your implementation team ready for Go Live. The administrators cannot be the only ones trained to use the new product. You must strategize how you’ll prepare end users—will it be on-site training, pre-recorded sessions, live calls, or Q&A sessions? Additionally, don’t solely rely on vendor-provided training materials. Your team understands your business best, so tailor the training to incorporate your specific needs, which will ease the transition and prevent a missed Go Live.

 4. A Project Manager Was Not Assigned

A project manager (PM) sees the entire playing field. Think of a PM as the quarterback of your implementation team—they coordinate between stakeholders, end users, and leadership to ensure success. They manage the project schedule, risks, and milestones, always staying one to two steps ahead. If you don’t designate a PM, you miss the opportunity for someone to drive conversations and maintain focus throughout the implementation.

 5. Your Vendor Isn’t Meeting Your Needs

If you find significant gaps between your expectations and the actual performance of the technology during testing, it may be time for a serious discussion with the vendor. Often, the sales team may engage with higher-level decision-makers, leading to discrepancies between what was promised and what the end users experience. If you encounter issues during testing, be prepared to revisit discussions with the vendor to adjust configurations, which can delay your planned Go Live.

To avoid these pitfalls and ensure a successful implementation, you need a project manager who has navigated these challenges before. Schedule a call today to discuss your needs and ensure you never miss another Go Live!