3 Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing a PSA Solution

The process of implementing a Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution can be a long one. Cost justifications, platform comparisons, discussions with vendors – once it’s done, your organization is simply looking forward to using their new productivity tool.

Unfortunately, even when you have chosen exactly the right PSA for your business, it may feel like the wrong one at first.

Why? It’s common to get trapped by a few potential pitfalls when implementing your PSA solution. Being aware of these challenges will let you plan around them and make the right choices so that you and your PSA investment get off on the right foot.

Pitfall #1: Not Customizing the Software

A PSA platform is a powerful productivity tool for your organization. To get the most out of it will require customizing it to work with your specific business needs.

It’s true that your PSA will come “out of the box” with a lot of functionality. But the companies that provide good PSA platforms understand that each professional services organization is unique – your revenue model is unique, your reporting needs are unique, the work you do is unique, even your staffing models are unique.

Because of that, PSA platforms are intended to be customized to fit your organization better. Not only will this ensure that the functionality that you need is available, but it will also save you time and money. Your staff will be able to continue using the same internal processes that they always have instead of adapting their work to a rigid software solution.

Pitfall #2: Not Finding the Right PSA Implementation Partner

There are many companies out there that can implement PSA software. But that doesn’t make them the right partner.

Your PSA is intended to support your business, both in day-to-day operations as well as assisting with planning and analysis thanks to comprehensive reporting, dashboards, and search functionality. For your implementation to meet your needs, you need a partner that understands what those needs are.

At Top Step, we hire consultants who understand PSA solutions and get the business needs. Our consultants are experienced business professionals who have walked in our customer’s shoes. This means you’ll work with a team that approaches each implementation as an opportunity to address the problems you actually have.

The right partner will also go beyond simply installing the PSA with “out-of-the-box” features. They will also be there after the implementation engagement is done with resources who can answer questions, offer training and information, and help you adapt and optimize your PSA with you as your business grows.

Pitfall #3: Not Putting the Right Focus on Training

PSA platforms are complex pieces of software, made more so by the customization that will enhance its usefulness for your business. That’s why even the smartest, most capable, most technically savvy team needs training on the new solution.

You want your team to hit the ground running once you launch your PSA solution. As noted, a PSA is a powerful tool and a complex solution. Your PSA users need to understand the nuts and bolts of accomplishing tasks within this new software.

Proper training goes beyond just that. Top Step, for example, includes training with every implementation, and we work closely with the business to understand what groups need training and what the message to those groups should be. Training on your new PSA should not be just about how to use the tools – it should also include what the value is and the benefits of using it. This kind of training not only gets teams up and running quickly – it also helps achieve a high level of adoption for the tool across the organization.

Conclusion

Your PSA is an investment, not just in cost but in the value it can bring to your business. To get the most out of that investment means avoiding the pitfalls that can occur when implementing a PSA solution from the start. Customizing the solution, working with the right partner, and focusing training on both the tool’s technical and functional aspects will help you realize the benefits of your PSA more quickly.

If you’re looking for a partner that can help you get the most from your PSA while navigating around the challenges associated with implementation, Top Step is here to help. Our team of business and technical experts understand your operational, productivity, and technical concerns and their roadblocks. They can get you up and running quickly with the right PSA set up to work for your unique organization.