Written by: Sudikshya (Su) Pal (M.A., PMP)
Implementation Project Manager
At Raftr, we understand that implementing a new campus app can feel like a daunting task. With so many moving parts, stakeholders, and potential challenges, it’s easy to see why some Higher Ed leaders approach app rollouts with caution.
However, with the right campus app implementation guide, strategy, team, and tools, the process can be seamless, efficient, and even enjoyable.
As a Client Implementation Manager at Raftr, I’ve guided numerous Higher Ed institutions through successful campus app implementation launches. Let me walk you through our proven process and show you how Raftr’s implementation team can help you achieve success with minimal stress.
PHASE 1: Laying the Groundwork
In this crucial early stage, we focus on defining project scope, objectives, and key stakeholders to form the foundation of your campus app implementation guide.
- Step 1: Define Goals and Assemble Your Team
We work closely with you to identify your institution’s unique goals and align them with Raftr’s platform capabilities. Our pre-kickoff discussions help you understand the campus app implementation process, timeline, and resource requirements. - Step 2: Assess Readiness
We help you evaluate your team’s preparedness for the campus app implementation, ensuring you’re set up for success from the start.
PHASE 2: Strategic Planning
This phase involves creating a detailed implementation plan with key milestones, deadlines, and dependencies that align with your campus app implementation guide.
- Step 3: Determine a Realistic Timeline
We collaborate with you to create a timeline that accounts for your team’s bandwidth, key events, and institutional priorities. Our approach breaks the campus app implementation into manageable phases—planning, configuration, testing, training, and launch—prioritizing critical, high-value milestones.
PHASE 3: Implementation in Action
During this phase, we begin working towards the milestones and deliverables outlined in the campus app implementation guide.
- Step 4: Kick-off and Customization
We start with a formal kick-off meeting and then move on to configuring and customizing the app to reflect your institution’s unique culture and values. - Step 5: Integrations with Existing Systems of Records
Our team leads integration development efforts, partnering with your IT team and functional Subject Matter Experts. - Step 6: Training
We provide comprehensive training on leveraging the campus app based on your specific needs and goals. - Step 7: Promotion Strategy
We offer guidance on strategies for promotion, adoption, and user engagement, setting you up for long-term success with your campus app implementation.
PHASE 4: Preparing for Launch
As we approach the go-live date, our focus shifts to ensuring everything is ready for deployment, as detailed in your campus app implementation guide.
- Step 8: Testing
We conduct robust testing of the campus app integrations to ensure its readiness for deployment. - Step 9: Communication with Stakeholders
We provide resources and templates (flyers, email drafts, etc.) to help you communicate with stakeholders about the upcoming launch. - Step 10: Go-Live Readiness
Our team works closely with yours to complete all key tasks and deliverables prior to launch. - Step 11: Campus App Launch
We work closely with your team to ensure a seamless launch and monitor user adoption and engagement once the app is launched.
PHASE 5: Post-Launch Support
After launch, we continue to support your teams and target users as they actively use the campus app, ensuring the success of your campus app implementation guide.
- Step 12: Ongoing Partnership
Our team sets up ongoing check-ins to ensure user adoption and engagement metrics are on track, refining strategies to meet your goals. - Step 13: Continuous Improvement
Our team provides guidance on best practices to expand and embed the campus app within your institutional culture as well as gathering user feedback to iterate on new features and enhancements.
“We have a wonderful project manager from Raftr: Su Pal. This young lady has a wonderful ability to herd cats – So I let her loose on my campus and she herded all of these individuals. It takes a village to implement software [and] we have not had such a successful implementation with any other application.“
Dr. Damian Clarke
Vice President of Technology
Alabama State University
At Raftr, we’re committed to making your campus app implementation a smooth and successful process.
Our approach minimizes disruptions while maximizing adoption, ensuring a seamless transition for everyone involved. With our expertise and dedicated support, you can confidently embark on this journey to enhance your institution’s digital presence and student engagement. This campus app implementation guide is designed to help you succeed every step of the way.