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Remote Training - Overview

Jay Malanga
09-29-2021
Tags: Training

              Remote Training Overview

Thanks for being the latest ShopWorks customer!  With over 950 installs since 1997, we have a good game plan for getting you up and running as soon as possible.  The goal of this program is to get you remotely trained in the basic, and most important skills needed to “Go Live” with your new OnSite system.

–        Company Setup

–        Order Entry

-         Order Processing

Purchasing
Receiving
Production
Shipping
Invoicing

-         Accounting


These are the 4 tasks that you and your employees spend the bulk of your day on. Think of this training program as a “starting point” for your learning of the system. The four “Key Areas” listed above is a lot of material and will enable you to run your company.  Other features can be learned and implemented after you are good with the basics.

Don’t underestimate the overall process.  You and your staff need to be “all in” on the changes and understand that you are changing MORE than just your software.  New procedures will need to be implemented and employees will need to be trained.

We are your partners in the learning process.  A ShopWorks trainer is available to answer questions once you have watched videos on a particular subject.

            Common Implementation Mistakes

Listed below are some common mistakes customers make when implementing our system.  Avoid these and you will be well on your way to a successful implementation!

●        Believing that any training session, video or other training resource is a “Magic Pill” to learn the system. 

i.e. by completing this Training program you will know everything about the system and how to use it.  OnSite is very comprehensive and there are many “bells and whistles”.  It takes some time and effort to learn all these features.

●        Not engaging your employees to be part of the process. 

Hostile employees or employees who just want to keep doing what you used to do.  You need one or more “right hand persons” to help you get the job done.

●        Neglecting the importance of training your employees. 

In most cases they are not going to train themselves.  They will need some guidance from you on what to learn and some employees may need some extra TLC (meaning hand holding and extra motivation!).

●        Neglecting the importance of procedures. 

More on this later but keep in mind that written procedures are an important part of the overall implementation process.  

 

              Training Toolbox

         Listed below are the different training options that ALL ShopWorks customers have access to.

    

                Procedures

Procedures are a very important part of your overall implantation process.  Why?  They are ESSENTIAL to getting the most out of your OnSite system.  Listed below are the ways that procedures can benefit your company:  

●        Less mistakesEmployees are on the “same page”.

●        Your business is more efficientInformation is available as opposed to being in someone's head or on post-it notes.  People know what to do with less asking and guidance from management or owners.

●        Better customer experience.  Your customers will have a more consistent experience no matter which employee they interact with.  

●        Easier guidance and training for new employeesYou don’t have to reinvent the wheel for each new employee.  Your procedures are the backbone of a training program.  

Procedures are the “glue” that holds your company together.  Without them, how your company runs changes from person to person and day to day!    

Procedures are the single best ROI you can make in your company.

 

              Procedure “Rules”

1.     Things in people’s heads do not count as procedures. 
Procedures MUST be documented in some form and employees should have access to them.

2.     Procedures should be short and to the point. 
Don’t make a single procedure too long-winded or cover too much ground. Bite size is the right size!

Good Examples:
·         Payable Entry Procedure
·         Paying Bills Procedure
·         Payroll Procedure

Bad Example: ·         Accounting Procedure

3.     People need to “own” the procedure. 
For a VERY small company this might be the owner.  For all other sized companies it should be the person responsible for each department.  This person is in charge of creating, revising, and training others on a particular procedure.

4.     Procedures are not a “one-time thing”…they need to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

5.     You need to create a culture of positive thought AND actions with regards to procedures.  Procedures are NOT just a “made up” thing for owners or middle managers to feel comfortable about.  Procedures are a “manual” for your company and how it operates.  

 

               Procedure Resources

1.     Snagit - $50 – Procedures do not HAVE to be documents…they can be recordings.  These are easier to create, and employees are more likely to use them!  Snagit does easy screen shots that you can drop into documents AND recording.  ALL ShopWorks employees have this on their computer.  

2.     Available from www.techsmith.com  

3.     Once you have procedures…whether documents or video…you need an easy way to share them with employees.  www.wistia.com is an option for content hosting…this is what www.shopworkscentral.com is built on.  You can also use DropBox, Google Docs, or other cloud sharing tools….most of which are free or at least very inexpensive.