Farming and agriculture are the most important aspects of the human race. For this reason, seamless management of farms and agriculture can help with streamlined outcomes and management. That being said, the utilization of a farm management system can help enterprises and organizations from the farm and agriculture industry improve the supply chain process. It can also help create strategic goals that directly impact food production.
10 Factors to Consider For Successful Farm Management Software Implementation
Now, the key here is the right implementation of the system. That’s because, according to stats, more than 30% of the software projects are canceled before they are even completed. So, if you want to ensure that you get the full potential out of your farm management software there are certain implementation factors that you must consider! Below we will be looking at 10 important factors to consider for the successful implementation of farm management software.
1. Correct Business Objectives & Expectations
Whenever you are designing the implementation plan for the farm management system, you have to be mindful and extremely precise about the business expectations and objectives. This is because the developers and companies need to agree on some objectives before the project is initiated. It’s evident that the implementation of farm management software comes with a truckload of challenges, however, with the right expectations, and a meticulous implementation plan these can be overcome.
For instance, if the companies are working with farmers and food manufacturers, they have challenges like profit, value chain KPIs, data centralization, and traceability. That being said, clear communication about business objectives and expectations is necessary to ensure streamlined project planning and seamless implementation during the integration stages.
2. Company Needs
To begin with, the companies should focus on the specific as well as standard needs. The farm management system can help plan, monitor, and analyze different activities of the manufacturers and farmers, but it still cannot replace the CRM solutions or accounting programs. However, if you want to create a central agriculture system, it needs to integrate different systems.
Also, the farm management software can be integrated with current company systems, such as CRM, accounting, and ERP. While designing the FMS, the companies must outline the need for different integrations and customization.
3. Precise Project Scope
One has to outline the correct solutions about the business expectations and determine the precise project scope in alignment with expectations. Generally, the solutions compromise the customizations, FMS solutions, integrations, and third-party systems. That being said, defining the project scope enable companies to focus on the research phase priorities.
4. Phasing Approach
When companies try to implement the ideal solution at one time, it can lead to management and solution errors within the company. This is because the in-house resources are not always suitable for implementation and execution. If you want the successful implementation of a farm management system, you must define the requirements, priorities, timeline, milestones, and management phases.
5. Strong Strategic Decisions
The top management plays an essential role in every organization, and change in the management activities is not possible without strong decisions from the upper authorities. One needs to keep in mind that the change begins from the top. That being said, strong strategic decisions from upper management are essential for promising successful implementation of the projects.
6. Project Manager
The implementation of farm management software comes with multiple phases, deliveries, and steps. For this reason, the companies must have a person who is responsible for controlling and managing everything. It is better to hire the project manager because he/she can monitor the progress and discuss the internal steps and ideas. In addition, he/she can schedule the team meetings, ensure streamlined communication, and provide updates and summaries.
7. Initial Meeting
When it comes down to the development of successful farm management software, the initial meeting will set the pace of the project. For this reason, hosting effective and engaging initial meetings from both sides, ranging from top management as well as operational personnel. With this meeting, the top management will have the liberty to define the project focus, importance, and expectations. In addition, the project manager can also explain the key milestones, phases, and action steps.
8. Internal Farm Management Software Champion
Identifying the internal company champion is an essential yet the most undermined aspect. It’s best to recognize such people and train them. It is an essential factor for establishing trust between the team and company and encourage them to complete the project. It’s best to opt for the train-the-trainer method for educating the company stakeholders.
9. Regular Committee Meetings
When you are creating the farm management system, everyone in the company needs to be on the same page. For this reason, promising monthly and biweekly meetings will deliver control over the execution of projects. In addition, the meetings will address the challenges and issues on a timely basis while updating the parties and reduce the chances of miscommunication to ensure proper FarmERP development.
10. Reliable Partner
In particular, we are talking about the FMS partner who understands the experience, know-how, and value chain. This will ensure that people have access to integrated solutions. The most intriguing factor is that people fail to understand that having the tech system is not enough because choosing the right partner can make or break the project!
