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Toolkit > Implementation Preparation

Your Roadmap to Success

Here we guide you through the essential steps of your ELMO implementation journey. From building your team to preparing your data and setting the stage for launch, we'll equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and maximise the value of your ELMO solution.

Whether you're new to HR software or a seasoned professional, this guide will help you navigate the process with confidence and set your organisation up for success.

Building Your Dream Team

The Foundation of Success

A successful ELMO implementation starts with assembling the right team. Below we outline your organisation’s and ELMO’s key roles and responsibilities, ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation process.

Your Implementation Champions

Key Stakeholders Responsibilities
Project Lead
  • Oversee day-to-day implementation
  • Guide your team through each phase
  • Maintain consistency across modules
  • Serve as ELMO’s primary payroll expert and first point of contact, delivering clear guidance and support
  • Manage and track your resources
  • Confirm module and system configuration requirements
  • Manage modules/solution go-live
Subject Matter Expert
  • Confirm module and system configuration requirements
  • Attend Config Class
  • Configure ELMO module
For Payroll:
  • Validate payroll system configuration to meet business needs and compliance standards
  • Complete the Award Summary Template where applicable to ensure accurate entitlements
  • Populate Employee profiles within ELMO Payroll following integration setup, for streamlined data flow
  • Configure all pay rules, allowances, deductions, and reporting criteria to support precise payroll processing
Change Manager
  • Manage internal communications
  • Deliver end-user and manager training
  • Develop a customisable end-user payroll guide using ELMO’s provided help materials to support your internal stakeholders effectively
  • Develop a change management plan
Technical Expert (IT Contact)
  • Lead technical projects
  • Set up system email and whitelisting
  • Serve as SME for SSO or integration
  • Act as the subject matter expert for DKIM setup, ensuring secure email authentication

Pro Tip: Early designation ensures smooth sailing!

Your ELMO Support Squad

Role Responsibilities
Dedicated Implementation Consultant(s)
  • First point of contact during implementation
  • Conduct initial discovery discussion
  • Provides access to learning pathways and key documents
  • Provide essential configuration templates and documentation to streamline your setup process
  • Support your configuration decisions at every stage for a seamless implementation experience
Systems Trainer & Academy
  • Deliver online learning (e-learning modules and short video tutorials)
  • Facilitate training sessions during the implementation phase
  • Provide payroll processing training within ELMO to empower your team
Config Class Facilitator
  • Provide configuration guidance throughout Config Class and guided pilot
Account Manager
  • Manage relationship post go-live of your first HR module
  • Ensure ongoing ROI on ELMO solution
  • Serve as contract point of contact
  • Handle additional module enquiries and demonstration
Support Team
  • Serve as point of contact for technical queries post-implementation

Equip Your Project Team

A successful implementation relies on having a well-prepared team in place. This section will provide practical instructions to assist with establishing your project team, covering role clarity, implementation preparation, and training programs. Follow these professional recommendations to build an effective implementation team ready to deliver accurate, consistent results.

1 Designate a Project Lead
  • ELMO’s first point of contact and Implementation lead on the client side
  • Coordinate and oversee client resources to ensure project progress and success
  • Validate and finalise module and system configuration to ensure alignment with your business needs
  • Oversee the seamless Go-Live of modules and solutions, ensuring a smooth transition and immediate operational readiness
2 Identify your key stakeholders
  • Confirm configuration requirements needed to ensure your setup is accurate and aligned with your goals
  • Configure the ELMO modules to fit your organisation’s needs, processing and smooth integration
    • Decision makers
    • Data preparation experts
    • Change Managers
    • Subject Matter Experts:
      • Payroll
      • Awards (If applicable)
      • Parallel Run testers
      • General Ledger/ Chart of Accounts
      • IT
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Learning and Development
3 Complete ELMO Academy training modules
  • General Admin Essentials Learn the foundational skills for managing your ELMO system effectively.
  • General Admin ePractical Apply your knowledge in a hands-on, simulated environment.
  • User Management Master the creation, modification, and deactivation of user accounts.
  • User Experience Understand how to optimise the platform for different user roles.
  • General Administration: Reports Permission Learn to create and manage reports security profiles and granting access to reports securely.
  • ELMO Payroll Pathway (different offering links for pathway to be included)
    • Courses:
      • Payroll Setting
      • Processing a Pay Run
      • Rostering
      • Employee Set up
      • Manager & Employee Access
      • Employee Payroll Essentials
Note: Access to the ELMO Academy is exclusively available to customers who have been onboarded. Learning experiences may vary based on the specific payroll platform you use.
4 Familiarise with ELMO Resources
  • Explore ELMO Help Centre (The ELMO Help Centre serves as your dedicated portal to navigate our comprehensive Knowledge Base, offering expert articles and step-by-step guides designed to support your HR & Payroll software journey with confidence and ease)
  • Further explore the Implementation Toolkit
  • Manager User Guide
  • Employee User Guide
5 Assign Roles and Responsibilities
  • Define team member roles
  • Clarify implementation responsibilities
  • Conduct Skills Assessment:
    • Evaluate your team’s current skills
    • Identify knowledge gaps for targeted training
6 Gather and Review Relevant Documentation
  • Collect existing templates:
    • Appraisals,
    • Forms,
    • Policies,
    • Course Content,
    • Onboarding Workflows,
    • Interview Guides,
    • Job ads
  • Determine what to migrate to your new ELMO system
  • Start working on the following for the Payroll module:
    • Templates – Payroll Configuration
    • Employee Payroll Data
    • Review Award Requirements (if applicable)
7 Review Existing Processes
  • Document current HR workflows
  • Identify areas for improvement
  • Ensure ELMO alignment with organisational needs
8 Set Clear Objectives
  • Establish implementation goals
  • Align with broader organisational objectives
9 Develop a Change Management Strategy
  • Plan communication for organisational changes
  • Prepare to address potential resistance
10 Prepare and Cleanse your Data
  • Extract and clean your user data
  • Remove duplicates and anomalies
11 Build Your Libraries
  • Job Roles
  • Position
  • Department
  • Location
12 Attend your Kick off Meeting
  • Get your questions ready for the implementation kick-off
13 Map Roll-Out Strategy
  • Plan your business-wide or stakeholder launch
  • Map out training for end-user groups
  • Implement change management activities
  • Leverage ELMO-provided user guides and training content
14 Conduct Thorough Testing
  • Your team reviews configurations with sign-off at every implementation milestone
  • Prepare your team for pilot testing
  • Use this time to develop expertise to support end-users
  • Complete and process at least two parallel test runs for the payroll module
  • Pilot testing and parallel runs validate system readiness, ensuring a seamless go-live experience
  • Ensure the Go-live payroll checklist is thoroughly completed to support a smooth and successful launch

Preparing For System Launch

Craft Your Digital Welcome Mat – Preparing Your Dashboard for use as a Central Communication Hub

Your ELMO dashboards are powerful communication tools that set the tone for your employees’ experience. It’s crucial to prepare these digital spaces before launch to ensure they effectively engage and inform your team from day one.

Employee Dashboard:
Your Organisation’s Central Communication Hub

Transform this dashboard into a dynamic and informative space:

  • Engage & Inform:
    • Plan regular announcements for new starters
    • Schedule key organisational updates
    • Create quick links to essential resources (e.g., HR policies, IT support)
  • Customise for Impact:
    • Design eye-catching banners for important messages
    • Incorporate your company branding for a cohesive look
    • Set up widgets to display relevant, real-time information

Onboarding Dashboard:
Making First Impressions Count

Craft this dashboard to create excitement and set clear expectations:

  • Create Anticipation:
    • Introduce key people with photos and brief bios
    • Showcase company culture with images of facilities and social events
    • Highlight upcoming onboarding activities
  • Communicate Values:
    • Display your company mission and values prominently
    • Create a “What to expect on your first day” guide
    • Include a welcome message from leadership

Pre-Launch Checklist:

  1. Review and update all content for accuracy
  2. Test all links and ensure they lead to the correct resources
  3. Gather feedback from a test group on dashboard usability and appeal
  4. Plan a content update schedule to keep information fresh post-launch

By thoughtfully preparing these dashboards before launch, you create an engaging, informative, and welcoming digital environment that will help drive adoption and enhance the employee experience.

Launch with Confidence

As you approach the final stages of your ELMO implementation, ensure everything is in place for a successful launch:

Empower Your Users

  • Leverage ELMO-provided user guides and training content
  • Conduct targeted training sessions for different user groups
  • Create quick-reference guides for common tasks
  • Set up an internal knowledge base for FAQs and best practices

Final Checks

  • Review your Digital Welcome Mat (Employee and Onboarding Dashboards)
  • Ensure all necessary data has been cleansed and imported correctly
  • Verify that all libraries (Job Roles, Positions, Departments, Locations) are up to date
  • Perform a final round of user acceptance testing

Communication Plan

  • Prepare launch announcements for different stakeholder groups
  • Create a timeline for phased communications leading up to and after launch
  • Develop a FAQ document addressing common user concerns
  • Set up multiple feedback channels for users to report issues or suggest improvements

Go-Live Support

  • Establish a dedicated support team for the initial launch period
  • Create an escalation process for critical issues
  • Schedule daily check-ins with key users and stakeholders during the first week
  • Plan for quick-win enhancements based on initial user feedback

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll ensure a smooth transition and maximise user adoption from day one. Remember, your ELMO support team is here to assist you throughout the launch process.

Preparing For System Launch – Payroll

Final Go-Live Checklist & Sign-Off

  • Verify and confirm the successful migration of all employee data—including personal details, bank information, superannuation, and leave balances—to ensure data integrity and seamless payroll operations.
  • Confirm that ATO and tax office lodgement settings are accurately configured and properly linked to ensure compliant and streamlined reporting processes.
  • Confirm all relevant integrations, such as Accounting, Time and Attendance, and HR Core, are active, tested, and ready to transmit data for seamless HR & Payroll operations.

User Training & Resource Availability
Refresher Training on Core Processes:

  • Conduct targeted review sessions on key tasks for the first live pay run: data entry, finalisation, bank file creation, and compliance reporting—ensuring accuracy and a smooth start.

Documentation Access:

  • Custom process documentation and a defined escalation path, developed during implementation, ensure efficient issue resolution and smooth HR & Payroll operations.

Pre-Launch Checklist:

1. Data Integrity and Final Balances

  • Employee Count Reconciliation: Confirm that the active employee total in ELMO Payroll aligns precisely with the previous system, ensuring data accuracy and seamless transition.
  • Leave Balance Sign-Off: Employee leave balances—annual, personal, long service—are accurately migrated, verified with source documents, and formally approved by the client’s HR/Finance lead, ensuring payroll integrity and compliance.
  • Year-to-Date (YTD) Data (if applicable): For mid-year migrations, confirm all YTD wages, tax withheld, and super contributions are accurately loaded and balanced to ensure reliable reporting.

2. Configuration & Compliance Lock-Down

  • Pay Rate & Penalty Verification: Conduct a final test pay run or detailed report to confirm all pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates in ELMO Payroll align with the agreed rules, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll processing.
  • ATO/Tax Office Connection: Confirm the tax office reporting link (e.g., ATO, HMRC) is established, active, and ready for secure data transmission like Single Touch Payroll.
  • Custom Report Testing: All client-specific reports—such as Cost Centre and GL breakdowns—have been validated and produce accurate results, with reliable insights for your business.

3. Workflow and Access Readiness

  • Manager Access & Training: Confirm all designated managers have logged in, mastered approval workflows (timesheets, leave), and completed formal training sign-off—ensuring smooth, compliant operations.
  • Employee Self-Service (ESS) Adoption: Measure the percentage of employees actively logging into the ESS portal or EH Work app to ensure engagement and maximise self-service benefits.
  • Integration Health Check: Verify seamless data flow between ELMO Payroll and third-party systems (rostering, accounting, HRIS) to ensure accurate, uninterrupted integration.
  • Data Flow Test: Conduct a final data transfer to confirm the connection is active and mapping is precise, ensuring seamless integration.

Launch with Confidence

As you approach the final stages of your ELMO implementation, ensure everything is in place for a successful launch:

Empower Your Users

  • Leverage ELMO-provided user guides and training content
  • Conduct targeted training sessions for different user groups
  • Create quick-reference guides for common tasks
  • Set up an internal knowledge base for FAQs and best practices

Final Checks

  • Ensure all necessary data has been cleansed and imported correctly
  • Perform a final round of user pilot and parallel testing

Communication Plan

  • Prepare launch announcements for different stakeholder groups
  • Create a timeline for phased communications leading up to and after launch
  • Develop a FAQ document addressing common user concerns
  • Set up multiple feedback channels for users to report issues or suggest improvements

Go-Live Support

  • Establish a dedicated support team for the initial launch period
  • Create an escalation process for critical issues
  • Schedule daily check-ins with key users and stakeholders during the first week
  • Plan for quick-win enhancements based on initial user feedback

Focusing on these key areas ensures a smooth transition and maximises user adoption from day one. Your ELMO support team is ready to guide you every step of the way.

Ready to transform your HR and Payroll processes? Let’s embark on your ELMO implementation journey together!