4 strategies and 6 steps to a smooth IT rollout

Constantly changing business needs, technological innovations... every company has to implement new systems or applications in its IT environment at some point.

But when this happens, the challenge lies in ensuring that the process runs smoothly, so as not to disrupt business and encourage users to adopt the new technology.

So how do you go about a proper IT roll-out, you ask? By starting with our advice in this article 😉.

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What is IT deployment?

To start with, let's take a quick look at the definition of IT deployment.

This expression simply refers to the process of implementing and bringing into service software, operating systems or other IT technologies within an organisation.

It is made up of several stages, which need to be perfectly coordinated to ensure the success of the project without impacting business operations or even bringing the company to a standstill:

• planning;
• installation and configuration;
• testing and validation
• training and support;
• follow-up.

💡 Please note: IT deployment also involves other actions relating to your applications, such as updating them, applying security patches or making functional improvements.

The different IT deployment strategies

There are different types of IT deployment, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Here are the best known 👉.

Basic IT deployment

This is the simplest IT deployment to set up, as it is carried out on the entire production environment, in a single operation.

👍 Advantages : simplicity and speed of implementation, but also uniformity because all users have access to the same version of the software (which makes the work of support easier!).

👎 Disadvantage : higher risks, as there is less control over the process.

Progressive IT deployment

As the name suggests, this involves gradually installing the new technology, replacing the old.

👍 Advantage : limited risks due to gradual introduction, enabling anomalies to be detected and corrected as they occur.

👍 D isadvantage: the basic software is not retained if there are any problems.

Blue-green IT deployment

This strategy involves the existence of two identical production environments, one active (blue) and the other inactive (green).

The new version of the software is then deployed in the inactive environment, before the traffic from the active environment is switched to it once everything has been tested and validated.

👍 Advantage: in the event of a malfunction, it is possible to switch back to the old version.

👍 D isadvantage: additional resources required to maintain two production environments.

Canary deployment

In this scenario, implementation is carried out in small batches, with the aim of testing the new application on a restricted group of users, in real-life conditions.

Part of the traffic is then directed to this new version (the 'canary ' 🐥 ), while the rest continues to transit via the initial technology.

👍 Advantages: faster detection of potential difficulties using a real production environment.

👍 D isadvantage: parallel management of several versions that is both complex and demanding.

Example of a 6-step IT deployment plan

Step 1: Choose your deployment method

To set the framework for your IT deployment, start by choosing the most suitable method from among those we have just presented.

❓ To do this, ask yourself a number of questions:

• What are the objectives of this project?
• What is the size and complexity of my IT infrastructure?
• What potential risks could my company face?
• Which strategy seems best suited to my needs in terms of speed, flexibility and control?
• What is my organisation's past experience with each deployment method? Etc.

Step 2: Plan the deployment

Once you know which method to use, you need to lay the foundations for your project. In other words, it's time to plan.

More concretely, this involves determining :

• the objectives to be achieved and the associated performance indicators ;
• the main stages to be followed (with deadlines to be met), subdivided into tasks to be carried out;
• the resources to be mobilised to carry out these tasks.

💡 Note: by "resources " we mean, among other things, " human resources ". As with any project, we advise you to put together a perfectly complementary team with all the necessary skills. Technical skills, of course, but also business skills! This last point implies close collaboration with the various department managers, as they are in the best position to understand the problems faced by end users.

Stage 3: Install and configure the new solution

This phase begins with the actual commissioning of the software or systems on the designated servers or workstations. All in accordance with the chosen methodology.

Then, once everything is installed, move on to the configuration stage. The objective here? To ensure that the new tool perfectly matches :

• user requirements (interface, workflows, integration with other applications, etc.) ;
• the organisation's requirements in terms of security, performance, monitoring, etc.

☝️ Don't forget to inform your employees when you go live, as this can sometimes have an impact on business continuity!

Step 4: Carry out tests throughout the process

This is not a stage in itself, as it is important to carry out various tests throughout the project. In this way, you ensure the stability and performance of the IT deployment in your information system.

This involves creating a test environment at the start of the process, in which the IT team checks that everything is going according to plan.

☝️ This control work also involves testing the solution with end users to confirm that it is in line with their expectations.

Step 5: Train your staff

Once the software has been rolled out and validated by the end-users, training sessions generally follow. And with good reason, the new tool implemented in the organisation can cause a major upheaval in employees, all the more so if they are not familiar with IT.

💡 Good to know: to get your teams on board with the change more quickly, we recommend using platforms that specialise in digital adoption.

Such is the case with Knowmore's K-NOW, which works like an application GPS. With its interactive guides, it takes users step by step through the new application. An editor makes it very easy to create the learning content, adapting it to the characteristics of your organisation and to the employee's profile. Ultimately, assimilation is fast and fluid. Employees become self-sufficient in their business applications without the need for extensive training beforehand, or the need to call on IT support.

Step 6: Monitor deployment performance

Once everything is in place and users are up and running... don't rest on your laurels!

You need to monitor the IT roll-out regularly to :

• protect the company from any technical problems or unexpected bugs ;
• apply the necessary patches if necessary.

💡 Good to know: we recommend that you set up a support service so that technicians can help users with the day-to-day running of the new technology.

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In conclusion, what are the benefits of an IT roll-out plan?

This may all sound like a lot of work, but a roll-out project absolutely requires a well-rehearsed plan. Thanks to good organisation, you :

• reduce the risk of failures or malfunctions during the manoeuvre ;
• maintain the availability of services, thereby reducing the impact of the implementation on business operations;
• Improve deployment efficiency, saving time and resources;
• gain greater control over your costs by avoiding errors and other delays that weigh heavily on your budget;
• demonstrate agility and be able to adapt more easily to unforeseen circumstances.

Of course, as with any project, don't neglect the human dimension! Good communication, whether within the IT team or with other members of the company, remains essential to guarantee the smooth running of the IT roll-out. Not to mention the fact that it promotes the necessary buy-in to change on the part of employees.