- January 20, 2018
- Posted by: Jim Kromer
- Category: IT Consulting
Management of Change (MOC) software helps companies ensure organizational and operational changes go smoothly. This kind of software helps organizations reduce the risks associated with major changes, ensuring all employees stay safe in the workplace. Here are a few key things to look for in management of change software to ensure it fits your needs.
Customer Support
It’s important to know what kind of customer support is available for MOC software. Is there a phone number to call when technical problems arise, or is support limited to email? How long does it usually take to get a response from a customer support agent? To find out about the quality of the customer support a particular MOC software vendor can provide, it’s a good idea to read reviews and testimonials from existing customers and check the service levels offered by the vendor.
Integration With Other Applications
Management of change software should easily integrate with other types of software used in the organization. Before selecting MOC software, it pays to find out which options can seamlessly integrate with systems that are already in use in the company, such as the learning management system and incident tracking applications. How long will it take to set up the software so that it can receive data from other systems and automatically pass on key information to them?
Mobile Functionality
Today, mobile devices are integral to the success of most companies. Employees use mobile devices to access company systems and collaborate with their co-workers while they are out of the office. Modern MOC software should support mobile devices, improving accessibility to its functions. Companies should check the software supports the operating systems (such as iOS, Android or Windows) used on mobile devices in their organization.
User-Friendliness
Sophisticated MOC software is only useful if people can work out how to use it effectively. Therefore, user-friendliness should be a major factor when deciding which MOC software to buy. Keep the following questions in mind when assessing user-friendliness:
- Is the interface intuitive and easy to use?
- How easy is it for a user to create an MOC?
- How easy is it to run reports?
- Is it easy to add, modify or deactivate user accounts?
Customizability
The best MOC software can be customized to suit the particular needs of an individual organization. Customizability features may include the ability to create custom forms or checklists, such as Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) forms and environmental review forms. Some MOC software allows users to create MOC templates, which make it easier to create new MOCs. For example, these templates can contain predefined sets of approvals and other tasks. The best MOC software also allows users to create temporary and emergency MOCs, ensuring all possible situations are covered.
Notifications
Management of change software should ensure everyone in the organization knows about upcoming changes and provide appropriate training. Before purchasing MOC software, it pays to find out how the software notifies people who need to know about changes. What kind of training does the application provide to help people cope with changes? Ideally, the software will automatically send users emails when their action is required on an MOC, which can help to prevent delays. Finally, if an employee has to go on leave, it should be easy to transfer that employee’s responsibilities to another user to ensure the worker’s absence doesn’t cause serious disruption to the MOC process.
At PARC Consulting, we value every company’s uniqueness and work to find creative solutions to IT infrastructure needs without any biases. To learn more about our successful results with other clients when it comes to vendor selection, please contact us.
