So you know that your current creative workflow process isn’t working. Your team is wasting time and creative energy managing everything from those last minute creative requests to your pony-express approval process. Emails get ignored, version control is your nemesis and you’re constantly in the do more with less mode.
So you need a creative workflow solution — right? In a word, yes.
As you look for a solution that fits your team’s needs, understand that the technology only plays a part in getting to the side where the grass is truly greener. You also need to consider and plan for how you’ll get your team to use the solution.
What good is a creative workflow solution if it isn’t used properly — or even at all? We’ve all seen it — organization gets a best-of-breed tool. Best-of-breed tool is expected to solve all of the world’s problems (or at least yours) overnight. You roll it out…and it keeps rolling. Right over the hill and off into the horizon. Great tool + no adoption = bad investment.
So let’s assume you have a tool that fits your team’s needs. So how do you get your team to buy in? Here are a few things to consider:
- Pick the right partner. So the company you selected has a great tool — but do they back it with great training? The right partner brings a great tool and a plan to get you up and running. If that plan requires them to be onsite with your team for a week – it’s too complicated. If that plan is nowhere to be found — they’re after your money. Pick the wrong partner and you’ll be right back to where you started.
- Identify your internal champion. This person will be the go-to to answer your team’s questions. Choose someone with clout. Have this champion invest the most time with your vendor during training to really understand how everything works.
- Commit the right resources. Pick a team (or individual) more willing to work through the natural learning curve on the first few projects. Parlay that success into the next project with a wider team.
- Define success in stages. Rome wasn’t designed overnight. Don’t set your team up to fail by expecting to be fully versed on your new shiny system. Set some early, very achievable milestones with your team to build momentum. Make your first full team projects something with a more generic creative workflow.
Understanding that an application is only useful if your team uses it — be sure to go beyond just evaluating the solution. Invest the time upfront to be sure that you have a solid implementation plan that’s well supported by your vendor or internal IT team and you’ll have a much better chance at getting a return on your investment.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to manage your team’s user adoption, reach out on Twitter @hartmere or email: bhartmere@inmotionnow.com.