Pilot & Launch Best Practices

Key Takeaways

• A successful digital rollout focuses as much on change management and people as it does on software configuration.
• The recommended approach is to avoid a site-wide launch in favor of a controlled pilot program. By starting with a small group of three to six engaged operators in a high-performing area, facility managers can test forms, schedules, and workflows in a live environment without overwhelming the entire operation.
• Central to this strategy is the identification of an operator leader—an internal champion who takes ownership of the process and facilitates peer-to-peer training.
• This method is statistically more effective for building internal buy-in than traditional top-down instruction.
• The pilot should typically last one week, providing enough time to surface operational issues while allowing for agile adjustments based on direct user feedback regarding form clarity and task accessibility.
• Once the pilot is validated, the program is expanded section-by-section, utilizing the original pilot staff as a training and support resource for new teams.
• Long-term success is sustained by establishing a dedicated routine for triaging process alerts, ensuring that digital data leads to tangible operational follow-through

"How-To" Guide: Executing a Successful Pilot & Launch

Step 1: Assemble Your Pilot Team

• Select 3–6 reliable operators from a high-performing department.
• Identify one Operator Leader to act as the primary owner and trainer for the group.

• Thoroughly train your Operator Leader on the system navigation and form logic.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer training sessions where the leader teaches the rest of the pilot group to build immediate ownership.

• Execute the digital process for approximately one week.
• Schedule daily check-ins to solicit feedback on form clarity, task ease, and any missing elements.
• Invite leadership to walk the floor during the pilot to increase organizational visibility and buy-in.

• Make necessary adjustments to forms and schedules based on pilot feedback.
• Launch to the rest of the facility one section at a time.
• Use your original pilot staff to lead the training for each new section as they come on board