Slow Down, You're Moving Too Fast: The Argument for Phased Rollouts in Tech
(And a framework for how to do it)
In the world of technology, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new idea.
Someone gets inspired, rallies the team, and before you know it, everyone’s shouting, “Go, go, go!”
But it’s exactly at this moment when we urge caution—especially when it comes to implementing new software or apps across your organization.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗚𝗼 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴
Too many businesses adopt the approach of swinging for the fences with a rapid initial rollout, only to crash and burn because they moved too quickly.
Here’s why that strategy often backfires:
1) 𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙢:
When a company goes all-in right away, users often view the new software as just another flavor of the month—something that will fade away as quickly as it appeared.
This skepticism can lead to resistance, making adoption much more challenging.
2) 𝙎𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙨:
Things that work well in a small test environment can break at scale.
A company-wide rollout doesn’t allow time to identify and address these issues, leading to costly disruptions down the line.
3) 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙨. 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
Training and implementation are not the same. And trying to do both simultaneously is a recipe for disaster.
You need a focused period for installation, followed by a separate period for equipping your team with the skills they need.
Rushing this process often leads to suboptimal results.
𝗔 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
So, what’s the solution?
How can you implement new technology in a way that sets your team up for long-term success?
1) 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙡 𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮:
Start small. Expand gradually.
This approach allows you to test the waters, make adjustments, and ensure that the rollout is sustainable.
2) 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠:
Engage your users early and often.
Their feedback is invaluable in detecting issues, identifying areas for improvement, and making the software more intuitive.
3) 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙞𝙭 𝘽𝙪𝙜𝙨 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮:
The early days are crucial for noticing problems.
No software is perfect…
So catch and fix bugs before they become widespread issues.
4) 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙊𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥:
When users feel involved in the process, they’re more likely to take ownership of the new software.
This sense of ownership fosters a positive culture of adoption and innovation.
Software issues are people issues.
If your people feel like stakeholders, they’ll use the software much more enthusiastically.
5) 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙢, 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩-𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙢:
Phased rollouts may take longer upfront.
But they pay off in the long run.
By focusing on sustainable growth and continuous improvement, you set your team up for success—now and in the future.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽
At the end of the day, a rollout that takes 3 months but leads to 3 years of efficiency and productivity…
Beats a rollout that takes 3 weeks and crashes and burns after 6 months.
Every time.
Don’t sacrifice quality for speed.
We can help at Reboot.