Vet Radar Blog Taking the plunge: Implementing a new software in your Veterinary Clinic

Time for a change?It is natural for our daily lives to fall into a rhythm. Interruptions can throw us off our game, and there are certainly more than enough of these in our veterinary clinic workplaces! The way we adapt to new situations can positively impact the results.In a veterinary clinic, the software we use has become an integral part of how the hospital functions. Accurate charging, recording, and scheduling are essential for the integrity of the business. Moving to a new software is daunting, but can be successful by following these tips:Preparation is keyWhether ground staff are involved in the decision to move to a new software or not, their involvement in preparation for implementation is essential. Managing staff compliance and uptake of a new software is crucial to maximising utilisation. Get your staff comfortable with the look, feel and function of a new software to reduce the risk of any difficulties. To get your staff familiar with the new product, have them attend product demonstrations, watch webinars, or complete any training on the new software before applying it to the clinic.Plan a realistic timelineImplementation is not an overnight process, acquire hardware ahead of time and ensure your staff can use it. Speak with your software specialists for a list of required devices. Learning to use and applying new technology can take weeks to months! Rushing an implementation will risk failure or poor uptake, which means your business will not get optimal return from the product. Create a learning schedule with your staff and take into consideration their current workload, so they master the product without detracting from the day to day clinical tasks.Team effortAs individuals, staff members will have differing levels of technological experience. To improve the chance of individuals adapting at an equal level of success, you could implement a buddy system where members may work together to learn about the product. Staff with better understanding of technology may be able to help those with less. Use the awesome resources you have within the clinic i.e. your team!TrainingDecide how your staff will learn the new software. Will you work with the software company to train all staff at once? Or perhaps select an individual staff member to train with the software company for a longer time and then they can pass that knowledge on to the other staff. Keeping in mind that training must be included within their current volume of work, we do not want to detract from that. Include the whole team in discussions about training to gain a 360-degree perspective form the personnel, then decide on what will work best for the group.What comes next?When your clinic reaches the post implementation stage, keep in touch with the software support team to correct any issues if they arise. Keep your team up to date with new software features to continue utilising the product to the fullest extent. Finally, do not forget to enjoy the benefits of switching to a new software, celebrate with your team once you have successfully completed implementation!