3 Tips for a Successful eCommerce Implementation

Project management is no doubt one of the most stressful jobs in any company. If you're a Project Manager (PM), then you're directly responsible — and accountable — for the success or failure of your project.

Some PMs try to cope with the high level of stress, while some PMs simply ignore or refuse to recognize that they are under stress. Other PMs don't fare as well and suffer the negative impact on their personal health and well-being.

Yes, taking on and rolling out a large project such as a new eCommerce launch can put loads of stress on you — and your staff.

What if I told you that you'll be just fine, if you follow ...

3 Project Management Tips for Success

1. Be the Boy Scout [Be Prepared]

The Boy Scouts may have some delicious popcorn, but, really, they’re known for being prepared. They’re the ones who have the tweezers, the water canteen, and even the emergency blanket, because they’ve thought about all the possible issues that might arise. When questions pop up, the Boy Scout of the group has the answers.

Your xTupleCommerce implementation needs a Boy Scout. Well, not literally. But, you need someone who is going to take charge and own the responsibility. This person is organized, understands your business needs, can think through new business procedures, and isn’t afraid of the hard work that it’s going to take to successfully launch an xTupleCommerce Web Portal.

Don’t worry, you won’t be the only Boy Scout on the project implementation team. xTuple has an entire troop of implementers who are also prepared to walk you through the steps. They’ve been through some rigorous training and are ready to show you the ropes, and they’ve been told to stop trying to sell you popcorn.

2. Put a Ring On It [Be Committed]

I’m guessing you liked all the fancy features you saw and realized that your business would benefit from having a Web Portal for your internal team, your external sales reps, your customers and a myriad of other stakeholders. Your company decided to "put a ring on it" as Beyoncé sings it. Congrats on making the big commitment! Now — your xTupleCommerce project needs more than some fancy bling, it needs your time.

We all only have 24 hours in the day, and we must choose which priorities really get our attention. Your xTupleCommerce project has a lengthy check-off list that needs your time — and input. Block out some time to devote to your xTupleCommerce project tasks. If you need to create “meetings” on your calendar to remind you to spend time on your current task, do it. If you need to call your xTuple implementation resource with a list of questions, don’t wait — don't hesitate, pick up the phone or send out an email now.

3. Sharing is Caring [Be in Charge]

Even if you are the Boy Scout of your team, prepared with all of the answers, you aren’t expected to do every task by yourself. Sometimes you have to divide up the To Do List so that everything gets done. Don’t be afraid to assign things to your co-workers or project teammates. They will benefit from the xTuple ERP-integrated xTupleCommerce site as well, so their hard work on the project is in the best interest of everyone involved.

This is especially crucial for the testing phases of the project. You can test the xTupleCommerce site as much as you want, but your team also needs to understand how it is going to work and how it’s going to impact their day-to-day work. So grab some co-workers and go on a shopping spree with the test credit card for your site. You’ll learn what happens when an order is placed and can see how that information flows into the enterprise resource planning (ERP) database immediately. You’ll see how that order becomes an invoice once it completes the shipping process.

Summary

These may seem like silly tips, but when you get down to it, they all still hold water. Be prepared to answer questions and make decisions. Commit yourself to the project and make the tasks a priority. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from your co-workers. They need to know how this project will impact the business, their jobs and your customers. With all of these components, the right level of commitment, and the guidance of our xTuple implementers, you’ll have a successful xTupleCommerce implementation.

Let's get started!