The implementation team has a manageable workload such that they can pay sufficient attention to our project

Description

An overwhelmed team may not be able to provide the necessary attention to individual projects, leading to subpar outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial that the vendor ensures their implementation team has a manageable workload to guarantee each client success on their project.

Example Use Case

Scenario: A multinational corporation preparing to install a new CPM system. They want to ensure the vendor's implementation team is not overextended, risking the success of their project due to lack of adequate resources and project attention.

Solution: The vendor provides information on the number of projects handled by their implementation team at any given time. They also ensure they have enough resources and time management strategies in place to handle multiple projects - providing regular updates and maintaining constant communication, showcasing project progress and any potential issues that may arise thereby assuring the client that their project is receiving significant attention.

Considerations

Hiring competent implementation consultants is the most challenging aspect of managing a consulting company. The ecosystem for consultants trained on a specific platform is generally small, unless the software vendor has been in business for an extended time. Ramping them up is expensive and turnover can be high in the first few months. As such, utilization tends to be very high for the most competent consultants.

It is reasonable to expect that an individual consultant will be working on 3+ implementations at once. It is rare to see them dedicated to a project full time, as customers sometimes go dark during close or other busy times - leaving the consultant underutilized and driving up costs. Expect a big implementation quote when asking for a dedicated resource.

Questions to Ask a Vendor

• Implementation Team Capacity: How many projects can your implementation team handle at one time? How many are they involved in right now?
• Utilization: What is the current utilization rate of the consultants we'll be working with?
• Relief Valve: Do you have other resources that can assist should the project take longer than planned or if our requirements expand?