Here's what it's like to launch with WorkHands

We get asked all the time what the process is to launch with WorkHands so we figured it'd help to have a more evergreen answer.

Now, here's the thing. Launching any new software can feel daunting. We've designed our process to take away that feeling as much as possible.

At WorkHands, we’ve designed our launch process to be the opposite: clear steps, predictable timelines, and hands-on support from real people. Whether you’re running a regional apprenticeship system or a single training program, here’s exactly what the first few weeks with WorkHands look like.

The Initial Conversation

The first part of launching with your program is actually learning something about your program. So, while you might be assessing WorkHands on an initial call, we're doing the same.

We want to know - how do you track this information now? Do you do anything non-standard that we haven't seen before? Time-based or comptency-based? How do you manage related instruction?

We'll take you through how WorkHands could work for your program from one of our demo accounts, but we find it's hard to relate to someone else's data so the next step is huge for us.

Launch a Sandbox, your sandbox

We don't like buying software we've never used before, and we expect that you feel the same way. After our first call, we want you to see your own occupations and standards on WorkHands as soon as possible. We also want you to get a taste of what it's like working with us.

We have a standard list of items we ask for as part of setting up your sandbox, but mostly, it comes down to importing your Appendix A, work process schedule, or Exhibit A into an account of your own.

We'll then import up your occupations, invite your admins, and set up some fake apprentices for you to play around with. This initial launch can be done in as little as an hour to as much as a day or two depending on our team's availability.

In addition to getting a sandbox tailored to you, this gives you an insight into working with WorkHands support and customer success. You'll get an invite directly from them to get into your account as well as instructions for how to get started.

Training when you want it, as you need it

One of WorkHands core values is being human. It is deeply important to us that you can get a hold of a person, and so we make it so you can schedule training calls on your sandbox account.

This ensures our team can move you closer towards comfortability with launch as well as helps us see how to fine tune the settings of the account according to your needs.

There is no limit to these support calls -- both on your sandbox and after -- because we think it's core to who we are that we take care of you on the platform.

(In addition, it's a great check on ourselves to make sure we're delivering a simple product that doesn't require days on end of training.)

Standard agreement and invoicing

WorkHands uses a standard services agreement that's the same across all of our clients and, aside from a minority of clients that require unique add-ons, bases WorkHands pricing entirely on numbers of active apprentices in your account.

What's that mean in practice? That means we've discussed the agreement hundreds of times with similar organizations to yours and know what works/doesn't so we can wrap this up as fast as possible.

For invoicing, we can handle either monthly or annual subscriptions, automatic or annual payment.

Importing your data

With your sandbox live and your agreement signed, any brand new apprenticeship program is ready to launch with us at this point. However, the bulk of our clients come to us with some existing data.

Much as we hate buying software we haven't tried, we also hate having to import a bunch of data before a new application is useful for us.

At WorkHands, we'll take that over for you, too. It is to our benefit to help you move your super spreadsheet into WorkHands as fast as possible, even if it means we do the heavy lifting on your custom data.

We have standard templates for importing apprentices, employers, and OJT hours, however, you don't have to spend time adapting your data to our template. It's just a guide to make sure your fields are covered. We'll adapat your data to our template if needed.

Also, for anything not on here -- related instruction, wage, etc. -- we'll also adapt your data to one of our templates. This latter bit of data varies widely from program to program so we don't even bother putting out a template. We'll simply just do the work of importing for you.

It all leads to a more successful launch. Your apprentices will immediate gravitate to an application that gives them insights about their progress they've never seen before -- not one that's partially set up.

Integrations and/or SSO

For the majority of clients, you'll now be ready to launch, but a few of you a more technically savvy than the average and want to know if we can support SSO (yes) or integrations (yes and yes).

Funny story -- no one asked about this prior to the pandemic, but clearly you all found a bunch of online tools during that time.

SSO and Integration work widely varies depending on needs, but this can take anywhere from a few days to a few months if it's really unique/custom. Most SSO applications are complete within a day or two, with 90% of SSO clients using Azure.

For integrations, ie, connecting your other software systems to WorkHands, we can either provide a partner API for your team to do the work, or, if you're on a supporting plan, we can do the work for you.

Common integrations on WorkHands are learning management systems (LMSs), state applications, and some HR/payroll systems.

Our team configures everything, tests it with you, and confirms your workflows operate end-to-end.

Launch

At this point, we've set up your sandbox, provided on-demand training, imported your data, and often set up an integration or two.

Now, you're ready to launch and we help you set sail, but, your support isn't over there!

If you have quick questions, you -- or anyone on your account -- can start a chat with WorkHands support anytime. We have FAQs for each role if you're more self directed.

And, those trainings... they never go away. If you, as an admin, determine there's some nuance issues you're dealing with 9 months into launch, you can still dial up our team for a call.

Ongoing improvement post launch

Launching with WorkHands is intentionally structured, collaborative, and hands-on. We combine onboarding best practices with apprenticeship expertise so programs can get up and running quickly — and stay focused on what matters most: helping apprentices succeed.

But our support doesn't end there. WorkHands deploys updates to its applications almost daily to make continuous improvement, and you can schedule training with us at anytime.

So schedule a demo today, and we can get started on this path ASAP. You can be up-and-running in a day or two.