How to Transition Well From One Practice Management Software to Another
By Next Level Pod on December 8th, 2021 in Uncategorized
All law firm owners know that the firm’s practice management software is one of the key foundations of the business. Without it, the processes of the firm would be in utter chaos.
However, what about when it comes time to switch practice management softwares? This can be a bit of a scary topic. We’ve seen firms that have had the same software for years just sitting in a server.
It truly can be a pain to switch softwares. Some firms have even had bad experiences with switching project management softwares in the past. This makes them understandably very hesitant to switch.
However, we consider this a very important topic. For one thing, the marketplace for practice management softwares is huge right now. That much money can bring new options and products for your firm. There also may be new features on your current software that you just need to catch up on.
We want you to be able to take advantage of these advances so we’re going to teach you how to update your practice management software or switch to a new one.
Get Your Team on Board
You can’t use practice management softwares in a bubble. If you’re the only one using it on your team, it’s just not going to be helpful. This is only made more true when changing your software.
Therefore, the first thing you should do when making this switch is ensure that everyone knows the plan to switch and why you’re switching. Share the reasons behind the switch with your team, focusing in on how it will make their lives easier. The more you convince them that it will benefit them personally, the more they’ll get on board.
Additionally, make sure that your team has the support they need to make a confident and successful transition to the new software. Most times, this looks like taking the time to train them in it and provide them with great training resources.
Instead of sending your team members videos to watch about the new software, set aside some time on the calendar specifically for watching those training videos all together. You should also give them training resources after they’ve had a chance to dive into the new software. Sometimes we can’t figure out what our questions and concerns are until we get into the software and start using it.
Make a Plan
When making this transition, your firm must make a solid plan for it. This starts with setting a timeline. This gets everyone on the same page on what’s going to happen. Then, as things change you can adjust the timeline.
When creating your timeline, think about working backwards. Identify each of your goals and set a date for when you want them to be accomplished. From there, work backwards to schedule each step that it will take to reach the larger goal.
Some specific things that should be on your timeline include your data transfer and when the first billing cycle will be in the new software. These are the kind of things that your team will be worried about if they don’t know the plan. The more that you can organize and present them with a plan, the more comfortable they’ll feel with the transition.
If you want to learn more about how to transfer everything over to a new practice management software, check out Episode 024: Switching to a New Practice Management Software.