Implementation & go-live
Software Implementation: The Seven Typical Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
6 min read
Implementation is the phase where promises become reality — or budgets become problems. These seven mistakes appear again and again in failed and in rescued projects.
Mistakes 1–3: The start
First: kickoff without clarified responsibilities. Who decides in your business, who at the vendor, who tests? Without answers the project starts idling.
Second: no realistic schedule. Go-live dates imposed from outside instead of derived from effort create shortcuts — and shortcuts create errors.
Third: daily business is ignored. Anyone expected to run a project alongside a full workload does both halfway. Plan capacity honestly.
Mistakes 4–5: The middle
Fourth: testing left to the vendor alone. The vendor tests whether the software works. Only you can test whether it fits your workflows. Your own tests with real cases are mandatory, not optional.
Fifth: data migration treated as a side note. If two weeks before go-live it turns out the master data is unusable, things get expensive. Migration is its own sub-project with its own schedule.
Mistakes 6–7: The final stretch
Sixth: training on the last day. Staff who see the system only at go-live create chaos at the front desk and frustration in the team. Training needs lead time and a practice environment.
Seventh: go-live without a fallback. What happens if the system fails on day one? Without an emergency plan the operation stops. Define in advance how you keep working in the worst case.
Bottom line
None of these mistakes is fate. All seven can be avoided with structure: clear roles, realistic dates, your own tests, early migration, timely training, an emergency plan. That is no magic — but someone has to actively manage it.
Printable checklist
Managing software implementation
Establish the foundations before kickoff, then track delivery using evidence rather than status assurances.
A4 · 1 page
Unsure where your project stands?
The free CORBU Project Check shows in twelve questions where your software project stands and which next step is worthwhile.