Make sure to get the most out of your software investment by taking advantage of the resources your vendor offers. Here’s how.
Are you taking advantage of all your vendor has to offer to ensure a smooth transition to their software?
You’ve purchased software, your employees are onboarding (or already onboarded), and the new platform is becoming an integrated part of your team—well done!
It’s a huge accomplishment to get to this stage in the software buying journey, and one that may cause business leaders the most anxiety. According to our recent survey*, implementation concerns are the top barrier to software adoption.
If you’re a small-business leader who wants to reduce the learning curve as your organization adjusts to new software, and you are seeking to put together a set of training materials for your team by exploring available resources, we've listed a few options below to help you get started.
5 resources you can use to get the maximum value out of your new software platform
Here are some resources vendors regularly provide that will help you find new ways to use the software. We’ve included tips on how you can use them to get the most value from your new software investment.
Resource # 1: Webinars
Webinars can be a great way to connect with your software vendor and see the tool in action without having to travel anywhere. Many software vendors offer webinars to announce new features, demonstrate existing features, share ideas for better optimization, and give tutorials for specific industries.
If your software vendor offers webinars, check their website for schedules and register for any that are relevant to your team. If you see one that would be helpful but you can’t attend, don’t worry—reach out to the software vendor to see if the webinar will be recorded. Also, be sure to see if the vendor has an archive of past webinars that might be useful to your business.
Resource # 2: E-books
E-books are convenient resources that typically explore topics in depth and are especially useful for people who prefer to learn by reading. For example, software vendors may offer e-books to lay out use cases for their tool or to explore how specific industries can get the most out of their platform.
If your software vendor offers e-books, they will likely be on the vendor’s website as downloadable files. If you have trouble finding them or are unsure if they offer them, ask your service representative for more information.
Resource # 3: Community forums
Community forums are a great way to connect with other users both within and outside of your industry. Some vendors might provide a forum for their community of clients to discuss pain points, workarounds, and specific use cases for the tool.
If you’re having trouble with a specific feature or feel like there is a simpler way to do a certain task, this could be a great venue for not only problem solving, but ideating new ways to use the tool.
Resource # 4: Trainings
If you haven’t already, ask your software vendor about training videos or tutorials they may already have, as well as ones that are scheduled. These could be key resources for your team that you can save and access when a specific problem arises or for onboarding new employees.
Some software vendors also offer dedicated implementation services or may even partner with a third-party consultant that can help you with training and integration.
Resource # 5: Conferences
Aside from digital resources, some software vendors may also offer in-person training and conferences. These events may include helpful sessions, talks, and workshops to help you learn how to get the most out of the tool now and to also be aware of future feature rollouts.
In-person conferences and workshops are another great opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with other businesses who use the software and swap tips.
Boost the ROI on your software purchase by taking advantage of resources
After you’ve purchased the software, trained your team, and integrated the tool with the other platforms in your software stack, keep building your relationship with your software vendor. Most vendors offer a variety of resources to clients to help them make the most of their investment and stay updated on new feature rollouts.
If you’re looking to upskill your employees, inspire more use cases for your software tool, or maximize your investment, check in with your software vendor to see what they have to offer.