by Centroid
Identifying the appropriate team is a crucial first step in kicking off an EPM project. Client teams typically consist of business process experts, technical administrative resources, and executive sponsorship. Functional experts for each business process workstream and technical resources for interfacing with source systems are the primary client contributors to EPM implementations.
Prior to project kickoff, delivery conducts extensive internal knowledge transfer sessions to ensure alignment on project deliverables. They identify the defined scope, risk mitigation strategies, and staff appropriate resources based on the client’s requirements. On the client side, we encourage our customers to prepare internally by sharing goals and expectations for the project.
Both delivery and client teams align for introductions, to review proposed timelines, blackout dates, and to confirm go-live targets.
Requirements
During the Requirements phase, both teams verify the project’s scope and timeline. Delivery conduct business whiteboard sessions and prioritization exercises to determine high, medium, and low deliverables. The Requirements phase is conducted for the most part outside of the EPM application and lays the foundation for the project as a whole.
As a deliverable, Centroid builds a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM), which outlines in depth the goals for the project. Both teams define metrics for success and understand what the future state will look like. The delivery team partners with the client to assign tasks, responsibilities, and expectations for the entire project lifecycle. Alignment with the RTM ensures the project is delivered on time and on budget.
Design
The key deliverable developed during the Design phase is the Design Document. The Design Document provides direction and transparency into the future state application. The document sets priorities and details how the delivery team will implement the requirements matrix constructed in the previous stage. Moreover, this phase ensures client and delivery alignment prior to the technical build.
Build
During the build phase, the delivery team starts configuring the client’s Oracle Cloud solution. Throughout the build process, delivery conducts internal “application walkthroughs” to familiarize the client with EPM prior to go-live. These walkthroughs allow for client feedback and ensure there are no surprises upon go-live. The client team stays engaged for data validation and to provide feedback based on the Requirements Traceability Matrix.
Testing – SIT & UAT
There are two categories of testing that delivery conducts prior to go-live: SIT (Systems Integration Testing) and UAT (User Acceptance Testing). This is a great opportunity for the client team to interact with their Cloud EPM solution.
During SIT, client and delivery teams will collaborate to ensure that data is integrated correctly from source to target systems. Data validation, historical data volume, and client availability are critical components to signing off on SIT.
UAT, on the other hand, validates that the application design and test scripts function to the client’s expectations.
By conducting extensive testing and training both on source data and application functionality, delivery ensures that there are no surprises when the application is live.
Training
Core User Training, also a part of UAT, enables the client team to be self-sufficient in maintaining their application. We employ a “train the trainer,” methodology, identifying client power users to enable team members without reliance on delivery.
The delivery team builds administrative documentation specific to the client’s environment to ensure successful user adoption. The client also gains access to a library of Zoom training recordings specific to their application. Centroid’s primary pillar of success is to teach clients to own their applications without heavy Centroid involvement.
Support
Our goal is for the client to be self-sufficient with Oracle Cloud upon go-live. However, many of our clients opt to retain a bucket of support hours during high workload periods of the year. During annual close, audit, and reporting periods, having an Centroid resource on call mitigates operational risk. We have a variety of offerings in Managed Services, ranging from customized training, ad-hoc support requests, and full technology assessments/roadmaps.
Is your team searching for Managed Services? Contact Centroid today!