Using new platforms or tooling can certainly lead to extra workload, especially in the beginning. During the initial phase, there is talk about the benefits and how efficient everything will be. However, in order to reach that stage, new users must first master the new tool, and there needs to be careful consideration of its implementation and how the desired information will be incorporated into the new tool. It is rare for a new platform to be implemented exactly when a new project starts, so it is important for environmental management to take this into account as well.
At Dialog, we are happy to assist you with this. In order to achieve the right insights in your stakeholder management as quickly as possible, we promise you the following:
Quick start
In consultation with our users, the Dialog environment goes live. It just takes a few minutes to set up a project in Dialog. From that point on, we ensure that Dialog is available 99.9% of the time between 07:00 and 19:00 local time. Outside of those hours, we perform maintenance on the application. Unless there is an immediate problem, we get to work right away. At the start of the project, we assist with the platform setup as needed.
Knowledge Base
We have explained various aspects of Dialog in text and video formats in the online Dialog Support Center. This environment covers all aspects of our platform, including setup settings, integration possibilities, and all releases since 2019.
Basic Training
One of our goals is to make Dialog as user-friendly as possible. However, with the understanding that new stakeholder managers should be able to easily get started, we also offer training for our new users. Depending on the group, a separate schedule is created for this purpose. Because no one remembers everything, improvement comes from the power of repetition and exposure to different forms of knowledge in using Dialog.
Migration
Getting information into Dialog may take more time than initially anticipated, especially in the beginning. However, we are happy to assist our new users in this process. Here's how:
1) Import Sheets
Firstly, we provide various import sheets available on our knowledge base. Whether it's stakeholder lists, contacts, issues, or requirements, we are here to help you get these lists into our platform. The advantage of these lists is that they are prepared in Excel, making it easy to rearrange columns and rows into the correct format.
2) Integrations
There are also different integrations that allow you to transfer data from other tools to Dialog. With Dialog, we can be fully integrated into project information management, including integrations with ArcGis Online, ArcGis Enterprise, and Relatics. The benefit of these integrations is that they often save you time in transferring information.
So, how does this information get into Dialog? This is a question we frequently hear. It's true that it always takes some time to have a new tool implementation fully in order, but once you have the information, you can quickly start using Dialog to generate the right analyses. Analyses that are characteristic of the work of an stakeholder manager, going beyond a mere collection of recorded information.
Support
Our support team is accessible through the Dialog application. Support inquiries are typically responded to within 48 hours on business days, excluding Dutch holidays. However, we strive to respond immediately, so if you encounter any difficulties, we are here for you.
A good start is half the battle
We believe in a good start, and despite developing features to be as user-friendly as possible, we also believe in providing guidance in training, information management, and implementation. A good start is indeed half the battle.