Full Sail Partners Blog
The Ultimate Checklist for a Smooth Vision to Vantagepoint Upgrade
Upgrading from Deltek Vision to Vantagepoint is a big step, and it can feel overwhelming. But fear not! With the right preparation, guidance, and tools, the transition can be smooth and set your firm up for long-term success. At Full Sail Partners, we’ve assisted numerous firms in navigating this process, and we’re here to share our expertise.
This checklist will help your firm prepare for the upgrade, ensuring a seamless transition. Let’s dive into the steps you need to take:
1. Explore Upgrade Resources on Full Sail Partners’ Website
Your first stop should be the Vantagepoint Upgrade Assistance Page on the Full Sail Partners’ website. This page consolidates everything needed, including links to resources from both Deltek and Full Sail Partners. It provides:
- Guides and best practices for upgrading
- Links to Deltek resources
- Exclusive tools and services from Full Sail Partners
In addition to Full Sail Partners' resources, Deltek offers several tools to assist with your upgrade, including the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and the Vantagepoint Readiness Portal. The CAP provides access to personalized consulting and technical support, while the Readiness Portal contains videos, training modules, and checklists to help firms navigate the upgrade process. Together, these resources ensure you have comprehensive support at every stage.
Navigating these tools will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and where to start.
2. Schedule a Vantagepoint Upgrade Consultation
Requesting a consultation with the Full Sail Partners’ team is an essential step. Consultants can:
- Assess your firm’s current setup
- Identify potential challenges or customizations
- Provide tailored advice and a clear roadmap for the upgrade process
Ready for a consult today? Request a Vantagepoint Consult by clicking here.
3. Get a Personalized Vantagepoint Readiness Report
The next step is to identify the issues before upgrading. Our Vantagepoint Readiness Report identifies things that need to be cleaned-up prior to obtaining your preview environment and upgrade. The cost includes a consultant that will meet with you to review everything and discuss areas of importance. The report gives you a snapshot of your entire database and the items your firm needs to address.
This is the most critical and helpful step. It starts you down the path of knowing what you need to know. This process includes:
- Reviewing your current database configuration
- Helping you prepare a preview environment for your new solution
- Identifying key areas for clean-up and adjustment
This readiness report ensures your firm is set up for success and ready for the next stages.
4. Review System Requirements and Compatibility
Before diving into the upgrade, verify that your hardware, software, and integrations meet the Vantagepoint requirements. The assistance page includes links to Deltek’s technical specifications. Ensure the following:
- Servers and workstations meet performance requirements
- Third-party integrations are compatible
- Current workflows are reviewed to identify custom configurations
5. Cleanse Your Data, Review Processes & Make Desired Changes
Upgrading is the perfect opportunity to declutter your system and review your firm’s processes. The Vantagepoint Readiness Report is the perfect checklist of where to target your efforts. Some common reviews and updates include:
- Archive old projects
- Update and validate contact information
- Standardize data fields for consistency
- User roles and security settings
Clean data and clear processes will make the transition smoother and your new system more efficient.
6. Backup Your Current Vision System
Creating a full backup of your existing system is critical. A backup ensures you can recover data if any unexpected issues arise. This backup should include:
- Project records
- Contact lists
- Financial data
It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
7. Configure Your Vantagepoint Preview Environment
This step may be handled internally, but many clients may ask for our assistance. Some of those things include technical services, weekly meetings, establishing new processes, training and configuration changes, and programming to automate clean-up. Some firms want to take the lead and only need guidance, while others want a more hands-on approach.
For projects that require more coordination, our firm will assign you a consultant to oversee the project and offer additional resources depending on what is revealed from the Vantagepoint Readiness Report. Should we need any additional custom scripts, that would be handled by one of our developers. Firms might also need assistance from one of our IT consultants for any technical items. It is hard to estimate needs since the readiness report helps to outline what is necessary.
8. Test the System in a Sandbox Environment
Before going live, testing is essential. A sandbox environment allows you to:
- Simulate daily workflows
- Run key processes, like project setups and reporting
- Identify and resolve issues
Involve team members from various departments to get a holistic view of the system’s performance.
9. Train Your Team and Make Adjustments
Your team’s success depends on their understanding of the new system. Full Sail Partners offers comprehensive training resources. To prepare your team:
- Host training workshops
- Provide access to user guides and videos
- Encourage hands-on practice in a sandbox environment
Deltek’s Vantagepoint Readiness Portal is also an excellent resource for team training. It includes interactive modules and videos tailored to various roles, ensuring every team member has the knowledge they need.
10. Make the Shift to Full Production
This step involves moving the preview environment to production. With our Transition Copy Scripts, firms can capture many of the changes in the preview environment and move them to production which eliminates having to redo things. The scripts can be run as many times as you would like at no additional charge.
During the Deltek Vantagepoint transition, firms can save time by capturing the changes made in the test environment. During the Vision upgrade, the upgrade scripts to Deltek Vantagepoint will bring over all of your data and custom fields. However, the field order is not retained, and screen design properties, saved searches, reports, and dashboard/dashparts will reset.
Using Full Sail Partners’ Transition Copy Scripts allows firms to retain their changes and eliminates redundancy and rework between each test upgrade and your final production environment. The execution of the scripts can be customized and/or run independently of each other.
11. Execute the Upgrade with Expert Support
When it’s time to go live, rely on experienced professionals to guide you. The Full Sail Partners’ team provides support to:
- Troubleshoot issues
- Minimize disruption
- Ensure a smooth transition
Key considerations include:
- Scheduling the upgrade during off-peak times
- Having IT and consulting support on standby
- Communicating a clear “go-live” plan to all users
- Using the Deltek Vantagepoint Readiness Portal to confirm upgrade dates provided by Deltek - This portal includes the specific timeline for your firm’s upgrade and ensures that everyone involved is aware of the schedule
12. Follow Post-Upgrade Best Practices
Your upgrade doesn’t end at go-live. Post-upgrade optimization ensures you’re getting the most out of Vantagepoint. Post-upgrade steps include:
- Monitoring system usage and performance
- Scheduling follow-up training sessions
- Staying informed about updates and new features
Scheduling regular check-ins to review system performance and address any user feedback is essential.
See All Vantagepoint Upgrade Resources in Mini-Demo
Upgrading to Vantagepoint is an exciting opportunity to enhance your firm’s operations. To explore all the resources available, including how to access the Vantagepoint Readiness Portal, watch my mini-demo. In it, you’ll find step-by-step guidance and practical tips to ensure your upgrade process is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Click the image below to watch today!
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