It's time for another article from Mr. Rollout about the do's and don'ts of nationwide technology deployments. So hold onto your hats and get ready because here we go!



The complexity of multi-site technology rollouts make it difficult to balance low project costs with a high quality of guaranteed service, especially on a nationwide or global scale.

If you are dealing with multi-site technology deployments that take several months or longer to complete, it is wise to first understand the Technology Rollout System being implemented by the potential rollout vendor. By doing so, you will assure your cost structure can be maintained throughout the entire rollout cycle.

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR

Experience and having a proven Technology Rollout System that is able to rapidly deliver multi-site, multi-service, multi-technology rollouts with a consistent level of service quality is a critical factor that must be evaluated as part of your technology implementation cost structure.

In a nutshell, a Technology Rollout System is a comprehensive deployment system with defined processes and procedures that is designed to meet varying project requirements in an ever-changing technology industry for multi-site rollouts. It is comprised of four parts: Process Structure, Rollout Services Model, Internal Resources and Partnerships. A Technology Rollout System exceeds the capabilities of a web-based software application which traditional technology rollout companies include as a key part of their deployment management sales pitch.

As a technology rollout expert, I've witnessed competitive bids where companies have been selected primarily based on cost to find out the companies have no Technology Rollout System in place to provide:

- Redundancy of field technicians

- Direct lines of communication with field force

- Rapid response time and professional service to resolve site issues

- Billing systems that deliver invoices timely and accurately

The list can go on, but one can easily see the trends. So let's move forward to some tips that can help you choose a technology rollout company today for your deployment needs.

6 TIPS FOR LOWERING COSTS & MAINTAINING SERVICE QUALITY

1. Know What to Expect from a Technology Rollout System

Companies inexperienced and searching for nationwide and global technology rollout companies tend to trivialize what is needed to implement a technology solution in the field. This leads to an underestimation of the importance of a proven, comprehensive Technology Rollout System. There are industry white papers available on the web that can detail a Technology Rollout System and how to evaluate it.

2. Employ a Centralized Single-Tier Process Structure

With the Centralized Single-Tier Process Structure, the customer or end user employs a technology rollout company that directly manages field technicians. It is designed specifically to minimize the number of subcontractors involved (think fewer $$$) which increases communication efficiency, response time, and minimizes overall implementation time.

3. Ask Questions to Determine Capabilities

There are key questions that you should ask a technology rollout company before employing them to perform any work. These include:

a. What is the company's process structure that supports their Technology Rollout System?

b. How does the company guarantee not to exceed one subcontractor? Remember, the more subcontractors, the more people involved in the deployment phase which equates to increased costs and communication lag.

c. What is their guarantee of Quality of Service beyond just their sales pitch? This should be built into their process structure through technician redundancy, standards and overall deployment efficiency.

d. What are the technology rollout company's core capabilities? To determine this, review their website and examine their key messages. Is their core business multi-site technology deployments or is it something else? Remember: a company that specialize in deploying technology on a local or regional scale will not have sufficient expertise or capabilities required to deploy multi-site nationwide technology rollouts.

4. Understand the Rollout Categories

Categorizing your technology rollouts by size and requirements allows you to clearly communicate what you need from a technology rollout company. Category 1 deployments have an onsite work timeframe of one day or less, a Category 2 has a two to six day timeframe and Category 3 rollouts require seven days or more at each site.

5. Utilize Pilot Sites (Typically Used for Category 1 Multi-site Rollouts)

If your project timeframe allows, have the technology rollout company install several pilot sites as a sample workload to confirm and/or define typical project requirements. This will assist in ironing out any pricing differences between the initial quote and actual implementation costs.

6. Ensure Billing Accuracy & Timeliness

Make sure invoices are sent by the technology rollout company within several days, not weeks or months, of the completion time of each site to ensure there are no discrepancies in cost structure. The longer the delay, the greater the risk of billing issues.

Multi-site nationwide rollouts and global technology deployments can quickly become a management nightmare. The bottom line is to avoid this, you need the knowledge and criteria for evaluating a deployment company and their Technology Rollout System. These 6 tips help do just that.

For more information, check me out - Mr. Rollout - at the Concert Technologies Website. Until next time, my technology rollout enthusiasts!