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Implementing Spectrum NG
Understanding Our Timeline and Training Recommendations

TWO IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING FAQS
When we speak with potential customers about Spectrum NG, they frequently ask us the
following questions:

• Why is the implementation timeline so long?

• Why do we need so much training?

While we certainly understand our clients' urgency to deploy Spectrum NG as soon as possible, we continue to recommend a thorough implementation and training process.

The short answer to the questions above? We want our customers to use all purchased Spectrum NG modules at their full potential, and we believe our suggested implementation and training process is the best way to achieve those results. Continue reading for our long answer, which is a detailed overview of the factors that contribute to the length of a Spectrum NG implementation.

THE NATURE OF ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
Spectrum NG is a fully-integrated, single-source enterprise solution designed to manage your entire facility. Spectrum NG is also an extremely flexible software application that enables you to create a customized solution guaranteed to improve business performance across your entire company.

Because of the comprehensive nature of enterprise applications, implementation ideally begins with a thorough audit of your company's workflow and business practices. By approaching implementation in this way, Spectrum NG helps you drive organizational productivity and apply strategies that provide you with a proven upgrade.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
IMPLEMENTATION
By design, enterprise software applications demand extensive periods of planning, configuration, and implementation. In order to successfully transition to enterprise software, companies must make thoughtful decisions about how they will use the software to improve existing business processes.

More specifically, it takes time to orchestrate a full Spectrum NG implementation because of the customization options that CSI Software offers. Since Spectrum NG's custom forms are built from scratch, it can take a long time to design and test them before releasing them in a live environment.

For most clients, CSI Software's programming department must generate a customized
membership contract, a customized web template for the Online Services module that looks just like client's existing website, and an accounts receivable (A/R) to general ledger (G/L) export file that matches the client's accounting software. The following table lists the typical turnaround times for these custom features.

Spectrum NG’s custom settings tremendously affect the way the customer's business will operate and so, must be carefully planned. In some cases, planning for software customizations and selecting modules makes clients aware of ways they would like to change company policies and procedures. Staff from departments across the company often weigh in on these decisions.

Consolidating everyone's ideas and organizing the most pertinent business needs can add
considerable length to the implementation.
“Every implementation is different and has a wide variety of complexities that can affect the length of the process and the amount of training needed,” said Ross Benton, Implementation Manager with CSI Software. Because of these company-specific nuances, CSI Software suggests that clients conduct a test conversion and take at least two to three months before officially going live. This gives the client plenty of time to complete sample transactions and observe how they affect the G/L and the available Spectrum NG reports.

Enterprise software solutions with customizable components inevitably require the client and provider to spend more time during implementation than they would with a pre-configured, outof-the-box option.

TRAINING
The amount of training necessary to create a successful Spectrum NG implementation directly correlates with the complexity of the software. CSI Software wants to ensure that Spectrum NG clients have total control of its feature set by the time they finish training.

"I've seen many clients who converted over from a different club management software that did not use certain parts of their old program because they did not know how. Our goal is to make sure this doesn't happen with any clients switching to Spectrum NG," said Horia Stroe, a Consultant with CSI Software.

Spectrum NG is setup intensive. CSI Software trainers have observed in past sessions that most clients do not remember all steps involved in setting up Spectrum NG's modules after only four days of training. As a result, CSI Software suggests more training days than other software companies might recommend to foster genuine retention of the training material.

Bringing in a new software system affects all of a company's staff. Adequate training of the managers and frontline employees is extremely important so that they become comfortable with their processes and can quickly perform them without disrupting business and upsetting members.

SOLUTION AND GOALS
We've found that our most satisfied Spectrum NG customers are the ones who have carefully considered each implementation step and opted for the recommended amounts of training.

"Almost all customers I have worked with in the past have told me at the end of the project that they wished they had taken more time and had purchased more training," Benton said.

These results are typical because this is a service industry. Proper software implementations and training periods empower companies to provide outstanding customer service to their customers. For example, after role-based training sessions, staff can confidently handle transactions while customers are standing in front of them. Trainers can use Spectrum NG to ensure more accurate scheduling. Sales team members can harness Spectrum NG's technology to track prospective clients and organize marketing efforts. Administrators will be better equipped to use Spectrum NG's reports to analyze trends. And customers will know that your facility is offering them the best service available.

During implementation and training, CSI Software works with you to apply the best business practices to the way you plan to use Spectrum NG. By working closely with CSI Software, you will be in a better position to:

• Build a reliable customer service environment

• Optimize Spectrum NG performance

• Extend and integrate all internal processes and customer interaction

• Track sales, increase efficiency, and reduce costs to increase your profit margin

• Increase productivity by empowering system users

• Learn to analyze reports to evaluate operations and identify trends

• Leverage enterprise technology to combat the costs associated with managing and supporting your critical business operations

• Configure Spectrum NG to include your company's long-term plans

IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING BEST PRACTICES
Spectrum NG clients who employ the following best practices will help CSI Software avoid
preventable implementation holdups.

• Provide all data and needed information to CSI Software in the proper format at the beginning of the implementation project.

• Plan adjustments related to the conversion with bank and merchant service providers well in advance.

• Buy and configure technology related to the conversion (e.g., servers, computers, etc.) at the beginning of the implementation project.

Preparing your facility's data, supporting technology, and related financial services at the
beginning of the project will establish a smooth implementation environment and enable you to completely focus on training your staff before going live with Spectrum NG.