Once analyzing, designing, testing, and preparing for going live comes the big moment to any technology project: the rollout. It’s a scary phase of the project, and can often go overlooked without too much thought. But there’s a lot to consider during this stage. 

In his book, The Definitive Guide to Quote-to-Cash, Gilles discusses the various approaches to rollout, including phased, big-bang, or even hybrid strategies. Check out the highlights below or order the complete book here. 

1. A phased rollout varies for each organization

“Phased rollout is a method in which rollout is done in steps. Rather than execute rollout across an entire organization in facets of the final vision, it is done piece by piece. For example, Hitachi Vantara’s business relied primarily on renewals. That is why when they partnered with Salesforce, their first order of business was to roll out a reinvented renewals process before moving on to new products. That may not make sense for your organization, and that’s exactly the point: no two businesses are exactly alike, so don’t look for a one-size-fits-all solution.’” —Gilles Muys 

2. A big-bang rollout is fast but disruptive

“If a phased rollout is like dipping your toes in a pool, a big-bang rollout is like doing a cannonball. The shock of the cold water is immediate, and rather than sending out ripples, you’ve sent out waves that threaten everyone near you. In a big-bang rollout, your organization is forced to drop everything to focus on the changes and get adjusted as quickly as possible.” —Gilles Muys 

3. You can combine big-bang and phased elements

“Consider this: the decision doesn’t have to be “either/or.” You can mix criteria. You can do a phased rollout on one product line in North America alone. You could do a big bang in North America first and then roll out by product line in another region.” —Gilles Muys 

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each rollout strategy and start determining what’s best for your organization with the The Definitive QTC Guide, available on Amazon.