How Tech Services Partners Ensure Clients Experience Real Business Results
Supporting change is now more critical than ever for tech services partners, delivering successful business outcomes 6 times more often than those without change.
A dedicated change practice with a prescriptively designed, full lifecycle, customized change offering is the game-changer for successful tech transformations. It guides through every step—from planning and execution to post-launch support—focusing not just on technology, but on the people side of change. This ensures a smooth transition and lasting results and builds a foundation of trust for long-term relationships with clients.
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A FULL LIFE-CYCLE CHANGE APPROACH?
Setting the stage for success starts from day one! The more you know about your client’s goals, culture, and mission, both as a company and for the transformation, the better prepared you’ll be to hit the ground running.
This phase of the change engagement typically runs parallel to the technical architect and design phase. The goal? To craft a tailored, informed change approach that aligns with the client’s culture, business objectives, and impacts of the transformation.
Focused workshops are conducted with project leadership and internal change teams to develop a clear vision, goals, and business objectives for the transformation—setting the foundation for organization-wide alignment,
Impacted users will be identified along with the level of impact they will experience
A tailored change plan will be built with key milestones, covering Leadership Engagement, a Change Influencer program, a Communication Plan with essential messages, and a timeline for Instructional Design.
Tip: Since the change team and tech team need to be in sync throughout the entire project, it is crucial to be included in user story gathering during this phase.
This phase runs alongside the technical “Build” phase, where we shift from planning to action. Now it’s time to execute the Change Plan:
Launch Leadership Engagement
Roll out the Change Influencer program
Communicate through various channels to engage, excite, inform, and build trust
Create instructional materials and training plan
Regular pulse checks and feedback are essential—use the Leadership and Change Influencer programs to stay connected and gather real-time insights
Tip: Flexibility is key as projects evolve; work closely with the project team to adjust the change plan while staying aligned with deadlines and business goals. Sometimes, the project vision may need a reset—but that’s all part of the process.
The big moment is here—UAT and Launch are just around the corner!
Expect more frequent updates, not just to build enthusiasm, but to prepare users and show them how they’ll be supported through launch and beyond
Training will be conducted
Leaders and Change Influencers will step up as key players, actively participating in UAT and championing the change during training and launch
Tip: As reality sets in, impacted team members may feel overwhelmed. That’s why it’s necessary to have a clear, reliable support channel where they can get info, ask questions, and share concerns. This keeps anxiety low and ensures a smoother transition.
There’s often a big sigh of relief once the system goes live—but don’t get too comfortable! Studies show that about three weeks post-launch, impacted team members will hit the bottom of their Change Curve. That’s why having a solid post-launch support plan is crucial.
Keep your leaders and influencers engaged—helping to gauge morale and pinpoint any areas that need extra attention
Keep those support lines open and continue doing regular pulse checks—this is a critical time, and the more support you offer, the better
Stay engaged and make sure your team knows they have a place to turn for help when they need it most
Tip: Don’t forget to celebrate the wins and share those success stories during this key phase—it’s the perfect way to keep the momentum going!
HOW DO I DO THIS?
Ready to increase your client success 6x and create a long-lasting partnership? But not sure how to get started? I get it—starting a change practice can feel daunting, but guess what? You’re not alone. I’m here to help! Book some time with me, and let’s talk about how we can make this transformation happen together!
