Implementation & go-live
Preparing for Go-Live: The Checklist for the Decisive Day
5 min read
A go-live is not a date but a state: the operation must be ready to work with the new system. This checklist summarizes what has to be in place.
Six weeks out: The substance
Now it must be clear whether the project is actually ready to launch — not whether it should launch.
- All must-have requirements tested and accepted
- Data migration rehearsed and results verified
- All interfaces stable in test operation
- Open defects assessed: what is critical, what can be delivered later?
Three weeks out: The people
Technology is rarely the problem at go-live. People are.
- All users trained, with practice access to the system
- Shift plans checked: who works with the new system in week one?
- Key users named as first points of contact on the floor
- Communication to the team: what changes, what stays?
One week out: The safety net
Now you prepare for the worst case — instead of hoping it will not happen.
- Fallback scenario defined: how do we work if the system fails?
- Vendor support for the first week contractually confirmed
- Final backup of the legacy system verified
- Go/no-go decision made with all responsible parties — based on real criteria, not deadline pressure
The first days after
Treat the first week as a project phase, not normal operations: daily short check-ins, fast escalation paths to the vendor, reduced side tasks for the team. Problems in this week are normal — what matters is how fast they are resolved.
Bottom line
A successful go-live is the result of preparation, not luck. Those who honestly review six weeks ahead instead of hoping until the end launch in a controlled way instead of chaotically.
Printable checklist
Go-live: are you ready to launch?
Check the evidence before approval. Unresolved critical issues do not become completed tasks because a deadline is approaching.
A4 · 1 page
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