What is HEADSTART
HEADSTART is a methodology our technology practice developed to accelerate the speed of ERP and CRM implementations for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce.com. When you choose the HEADSTART approach for your ERP or CRM project, you benefit from years of successful solution implementations, and deep industry expertise so you can achieve a successful project outcome, with a clearly defined scope, that generates the most value in the shortest time possible.
While each business has its own nuances, our pre-configured industry HEADSTART solutions address close to 90 percent of your business requirements with a single set of configurations, ISV products, lightweight extensions and minor process changes, based on best practices. Instead of starting from ground zero, we deliver an almost perfect solution in a fraction of the time, allowing us to focus our energy, and your resources on creating the most value for your business.
A Simple Approach to Deploying Modern ERP and CRM
To streamline business application deployments and shorten clients’ time-to-benefit, Sikich has combined its industry and technology expertise with the new vision of modular, agile solutions in a comprehensive deployment approach called HEADSTART.
The Guiding principles of HEADSTART
When it came to developing a program to speed up deployments, we created a group of core tenants that would allow us to make good on the promise of HEADSTART and meet our high standards for delivery.
Agile Decisions
Projects that are based on agile principles and are adapted to work with pre-built software applications can reduce the risk and cost of deployments. The old way of implementing packaged software, based on a waterfall approach to project management, takes too long and does not consistently result in successful projects.
Operational Focus
Starting implementation projects from a blank slate, beginning with lengthy requirements discovery and documentation, is a well-intended process that nonetheless cannot guarantee the best possible project outcomes. Such efforts result in too much focus on past practices and not nearly enough attention to how the business should operate in the future.
Partnership Fit
Implementation partners and system integrators must increase the speed at which they deploy systems so that clients can realize value faster. At the same time, technology partners and their clients have to expand project scopes to incorporate data analytics and insight solutions as part of the initial deliverable.
Quality Delivery
Clients rightly expect that the quality of the delivery services they receive should reflect their partner’s cumulative, vertical expertise and will not vary greatly with the experience of the individuals on their project team. Every client deserves the vendor’s A team, every time. Clients’ project success should not be at risk because a trusted vendor includes junior professionals in the team.
The Sikich HEADSTART approach provided a preconfigured solution that allowed us to move forward much more quickly than we had been. About 90 days in, we were ready for our first conference room pilot using HEADSTART. People were saying, ‘We could go live with this.’ Out of the box, we had a similar or better product than what we had in our old system.
Jon Fondi, Purchasing Manager
Hamilton
What Headstart Delivers
With HEADSTART, we have preselected modules ready to go for solutions like Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 CRM, or Salesforce.
If you are looking for something specific by industry, we have the expertise to work in the Manufacturing and Distribution, Association, Construction, Insurance and Private Equity industries.
If you curious just how well HEADSTART works, just take a look at the numbers below from our clients.
50%
Reduction in project duration
25%
Reduction in project costs
97%
Customer satisfaction
