5 Things To Make Your IFS Upgrade Go Smoothly

The biggest advantage of enterprise-scale systems like IFS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), IFS Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), and IFS Field Service Management (FSM) is that they allow companies to use one integrated suite to run most, if not all of their operations. In-built modules may include anything from Asset Management, Inventory Management, HR Management, Warehouse Management, Financials, and more. Businesses can rapidly enhance their agility with complete visibility over operations and scale up with IFS Applications.  

When it comes to upgrading the system though, ironically many companies put it off for the same reason. As the software covers such a wide array of departments and functionalities, there is a tendency to stay with the original version implemented to ‘avoid disruption’. However, here are 3 major reasons why you shouldn’t put off upgrades.

1). By not upgrading, you are missing out the latest and best technologies, new functionalities and business process improvements that help streamline your operations for optimum efficiency.

2). Often, not upgrading results in deployments where the source code has been heavily modified. This makes subsequent upgrades (you have to upgrade at some point to keep receiving support and using the software) more complicated and increases expenses because those modifications might be important and need to be taken to the new version. 

3). When you put off upgrades, typically a huge backlog of essential functions that need to be deployed get stacked up. In turn, you have to spend more time, effort, and money on user training, and reworking roles, responsibilities and permissions .

How do you Ensure that Your IFS Upgrade Goes Smoothly? 

An efficient upgrade will be smooth, cost-effective, and take into account planning, testing, and the end-user experience. Here are 5 things you need to do to ensure a smooth IFS upgrade. 

1. Follow ‘lean’ methodologies to reduce waste by doing things like less acceptance training or less user training; improve operational efficiency and save money.
2. Reduce the number of complicated customizations required using configurable fields or out-of-the-box functionalities.
   
3. Break down the upgrade into manageable phases with targeted mini rollouts.
4. Build a solid change management plan to ensure the least disruption to your business.
5. Use ClickLearn, an e-learning and authoring tool that IFS has deep integrations with to help customers implement their systems.

How Can ProV Ensure a Smooth Upgrade For Your IFS Applications? 

One of the biggest perks of selecting a leading software suite like IFS, is that you also get access to an extensive partner network of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like ProV. ProV is a multiple award-winning partner for IFS products and services that helps simplify implementations, integrations, updates, or customizations of your software.

Our best-in-class upgrade plans ensure maximum adoption, minimum disruption, and all the support needed. We cover all phases of an upgrade including:  

Planning/Initiation Phase 

• Evaluate organizational changes and technology upgrades.
• Evaluate the existing application portfolio.
• Project planning, cost planning, identifying resources and creating a project team.

Design/Confirm Solution 

• Training the client team on new technology and functionality.
• Tweak existing processes for maximum efficiency.
• Evaluate and redesign any new modifications/ customizations/ integrations/ infrastructure as required.

Implement Upgraded Software  

• Update existing configuration, configure new applications and develop new reports .
• Update and verify permission sets and profiles.
• Develop required data migration scripts and clean up/modify any affected data.
• Create a test database for modified data sets and revise documentation and user manuals.

Verify Upgrade (Prepare for Cutover/Mock Go Live) 

• Prepare cutover sequence, intermediate checkpoints, test points, and recovery options.
• Extensive integration and functional testing with the training of core users of all key business processes. 
  
• Perform a “mock Go-Live” and check for any performance issues before the final rollout.

Going-live and Post Go-live Support 

• Upgrade to a new release, and perform database and application tuning if necessary.
• Deploy new customizations on the upgraded database.
• Go-live Support and post Go-live Support .

Ready to upgrade your IFS Applications? Take our FREE Consultation today to get started!