Ensuring a smooth transition to a new online database application solution

There’s a reason that a new president is elected in November but doesn’t take office until January. If a new president were to move into the White House on the day after the election, the entire government would be thrown into chaos.

It takes eight or nine weeks for the new administration to transition into office. Cabinet posts have to be designated. Ambassadors need to be appointed. Someone has to redecorate the Oval Office. Only when the pieces are all in place can the new president start governing.

When transitioning to an online database, you need to get your own pieces in place to make sure that everything goes smoothly. If you spring new ideas or online database application solutions on your co-workers without any notice or preparation, you’re going to get a lot of pushback.

Here are a few suggestions to help your office ease into unfamiliar territory. Involve end-users early.

Reach out to the people who are going to be using the new online database application solution early in the evaluation process. This will get collective buy-in two ways: One, people will feel like they had a say in the final delivery of the application. And two, they will take ownership of the new solution and commit to it faster as a result.

Listen and react

Show them that you’re listening to their concerns because you have their best interests in mind. Recommend adding a table for any proposed changes to the online database application. With Quickbase, your application administrator can make changes right in the app and create a record of those changes. It shows people that their voices are being heard.

Collect comprehensive feedback

If you have the time, a limited rollout of the online database application to a small group is one of the best ways to help the transition. Ideally, this group should be made up of people who represent users along all points of the tech savvy spectrum. When you get their comments, it will represent the collective opinion of the entire office. It’s what effective managers call 360° feedback.

Enroll a champion

Lastly, get yourself an executive champion before the new application rolls out to the whole office. Enlist this person to extol the virtues of the online database application solution and encourage its day-to-day use.

And, of course, encourage patience for your team and yourself every step of the way. Any transition takes time to fully take hold. If you don’t believe us, just ask the president.