Plan How You'll Implement the Let's Get Started Program

The crucial first step for implementing eNsite is to create a written plan. This plan helps you organize, prioritize, and execute each step in the Let's Get Started program. Your plan is an important factor in making your implementation as quick and efficient as possible, and should reflect as much detail as possible.

Before you go live, there are certain steps that you must complete. A list of these steps is available in the Implementing eNsite handout. You should print this handout and complete the checklists as part of your going live process.

Creating a plan requires three steps:

1. Appoint a Key Operator
2. Select a "Go Live" Date
3. Assign Tasks and Create a Calendar

1: Appoint a Key Operator

Appointing a key operator is the most important decision you make in implementing your eNsite system. The key operator oversees the implementation process from start to finish. Your key operator should be someone who understands every aspect of your business, has the knowledge and authority to make important decisions, and can motivate your staff.

Your key operator (key op) becomes a very important resource for your company. From the warehouse to the accounting department, key ops develop a detailed understanding of your business operations and of what eNsite can do in each area. Your key op soon becomes your best and fastest source of information about your computer system.

Because your key operator plays such a vital role, Silver Plus highly recommends assigning a backup or assistant key operator. This person should receive the same training and system exposure as the key operator.

You must also allocate enough time for the key operator to implement eNsite. Structure the key op's daily tasks so that there is enough time to successfully implement the system — Silver Plus recommends 10 hours a week as a bare minimum.

The key op's duties change during the implementation. At first your key op does extensive reading. Later, there is more direct, hands-on work with the system, and time spent training other employees.

2: Select a "Go Live" Date

To "go live" means to begin using eNsite for daily business transactions. It's the date when you make the switch from your current system to eNsite, so this is the date when your Let's Get Started program must be completed.

Most users choose to go live on the first day of a new month. This lets you close the old month on your old system, and begin a new one with your new system.

Implementing eNsite is much like taking a self-study college course for a semester — and your go live date is the final exam. Like a self-study college course, you can take two approaches:

1. Go to class each week, learn the material at a slow, steady pace, and take the final exam at the end of the semester.
   
   
2. Cover the material as fast as possible and take the final as soon as you're ready.

You can go live as soon as you complete the tasks outlined in the Let's Get Started program. If possible, we recommend the slow, steady approach, because it provides a longer learning curve and lets the key op assimilate the material more thoroughly.

3: Assign Tasks and Create a Calendar

After you assign a key operator and set a go live date, you need to assign tasks, and determine when each task will be completed. The key operator is reponsible for the overall process, but other people should be assigned specific tasks, so you can make progress on several projects at once.

The principal tasks, as we stated earlier, are:

1. Plan the implementation (what we're discussing now)
2. Prepare your physical site
3. Choose business forms
4. Set up the server
5. Connect hardware and peripherals
6. Inventory your existing processes
7. Create databases
8. Learn applications and features.

To help you determine who should complete each task, click on each of the links above, or use the buttons at the top of each page, and read the introductory paragraphs so you understand what's involved.

Some of these tasks can be worked on simultaneously, but others cannot be started until you complete the previous task:

• You cannot start Step 4: Set up the server until you complete Step 2: Prepare your physical site.
  
  
• Step 7: Create databases must be complete before you begin Step 8: Learn applications and features.

The last two steps, Step 7: Create Databases and Step 8: Learn applications and features, comprise about 85 – 90 percent of the work you do in the Let's Get Started program.

Most dealers find that an implementation calendar is vital for keeping their Let's Get Started program on track. A calendar makes it easier to assign tasks in a logical order, and monitor their progress.

Most word processing programs have a calendar template you can use for this purpose. We have a sample calendar in Acrobat format. To see it, click here. (To return to this page, click your browser's Back button.)

Creating your calendar completes this step. Continue with the next step by clicking the right arrow below, or use the buttons at the top of the page.