Communication is key. At Intrinsiq, we are firm believers in this, and it is for this reason that we always stress on the importance of consistent communication between us and our client; not just at the beginning, but throughout the whole process - from when the client engages with us, right until the moment of launch; and even post-launch. In today’s article we are going to walk you through this process to see how we are and will always be there.

Your team is as important to us as it is to you

Whether you are already working with another School Management provider, or whether you are looking to start out with us, we always ensure that you are never alone.  Moving to any new system poses challenges to members of staff; which generally means that we have to offer our support in change management as well as training. Our experience shows that the benefits of bringing your team on board is crucial to the success of any software change. If you plan for the inclusion of your key  staff in the process of specification and roll out, it will allow them to have a say in the design of the workflow, which will naturally bring success and efficiency.

The process

Step 1: Consult - The first step is to identify the goals and needs of the project. This way, we will gain a full understanding of your needs and requirements before moving forward. At this stage we will try to gather and analyse as much information as possible, in order to start preparing for stage two. It is important to meet all the stakeholders and define the client departments. This step generally involves multiple meetings to ensure that we fully understand what you need.

Step 2: Specification - Using the data collected from the consultation phase we write a detailed specification for the client, as well as for our use. The document will be clear to both the client as well as the relevant development team. The document will be sent to the client for sign-off before proceeding to Step 3.

Step 3: Contract - The specification document is sent to the client for approval and feedback. Once this is approved, a Work Statement outlining what we will build, when we will build it, as well as the agreed price and payment plan is produced by us and sent to the client. Once the client approves and signs, the work will start. We will also provide delivery dates for milestones achieved in line with stage payments.

Step 4: Build - A senior developer will be assigned to the client’s system build. One or more developers will assist with internal building and testing. The build/coding procedure will meet or exceed milestone dates as per Work Statement.

Step 5: Test - Testing on completed modules will be done by our internal team. The client will also have access to a test version of the test sites. That way there will be an opportunity for feedback and the client will also be able to request minor changes as necessary. Relevant training is also provided by our team to the client at this stage.

Step 6: Roll Out - Due to the bespoke nature of our software, a “soft launch” is preferable to allow the client and us to spot and resolve any remaining  issues, provide training and generally communicate with the client to ensure both our and their expectations are met, or exceeded. A final “sign off” is the aim of this phase which completes the development process and moves to the next phase.

Step 7: Host and Maintain - The client’s system is now live. That doesn’t mean that communication stops there. On the contrary, we remain in touch with the client to assist with any difficulties or questions that they might have along the way.

Step 8: Care - This is the most important word for us. We want you to be happy and we take pride in happy clients because to us that means that we are doing our job well. It is our job to keep in regular contact with our clients to ensure their expectations are met or exceeded. We do this by scheduling in a quarterly call or email to advise of new features or improvements - features which we feel would benefit our clients. Regular communication will keep the client up to date as well as allow us to ensure we are listening to them.

Contact us today

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss any issues that you may have with your current school management system, do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to hear from you and to assist you in any way we can. Drop us a line on [email protected] to schedule a call with us.