Netsmart Technologies offers comprehensive implementation services for its products to ensure they are implemented effectively and they meet your expectations. As part of the implementation process, Netsmart will spend time understanding your requirements and helping you determine how automation and process reengineering can improve your business. With this approach, specifications, cost and timelines can be effectively managed.

A key benefit of working with Netsmart’s implementation team is the proven project management process that is used along with a staff of skilled consultants to reduce risk and manage projects to on-time delivery within budget. 

Netsmart uses the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) process and an Enterprise Project Management (EPM) infrastructure as two cornerstones of the implementation service.   

Use of a Work Breakdown Structure is a good tool for developing accurate project cost estimates, from the bottom up, based upon each of the implementation tasks. The more detailed the WBS, the more accurate the estimate. A WBS task could be as simple as a 10-day conversion process. Or, it could be more detailed, identifying all the deliverables required for installation or conversion.

Developing an accurate, deliverables-oriented WBS involves pulling a starting point from one of several templates and determining whether it is optimal to phase in each implementation component concurrently or sequentially. Netsmart’s project management team and business and system analysts can build out the WBS on a progressive basis until a realistic picture of the project emerges.

A detailed WBS can also be helpful when assigning staff roles and responsibilities for the project. For example, the WBS can be used to calculate the amount of your staff time needed versus what your vendor will provide.

Netsmart also utilizes EPM tools to help assure that the implementation process stays in synch with capabilities and customer requirements.

Netsmart incorporates each key area of their operation (development, project management, business analysis, training, etc.) into an EPM system, enabling us to effectively align projects with available resources and automate project management activities. EPM data repositories can be used for all components for the project plan – the WBS, communication plans, change control documentation, risk plans, issue logs, lessons learned, etc.

These tools significantly improve team collaboration – and through standardized templates and processes created our management office – provide true corporate visibility and memory into each project.

The combination of strong project management processes and a skilled staff are critical to the successful delivery of software development projects.