While it is important to keep your operating system, and software, up-to-date, you also need to choose when to upgrade wisely.  The scope of the change is a good guide to use.  Remember to make sure your users are informed of changes and trained on new features, screens, and reports.

Patches and fixes (often called service packs) should be installed when they become available.  They are a collection of fixes, to correct problems that have been found in the current systems.  Installing these will help keep your system running at peak performance, plug any security holes, and correct improper behavior in your software.

Major system upgrades of the operating (i.e. a new Windows version), or your software package, should be approached more cautiously.  Remember that with the introduction of new functionality, you can potentially introduce more bugs, and security holes.

The best practice for major version upgrades of software is to wait until after the first service pack or fixes are released.  Let someone else find the bugs, and the problems, while your system remains stable.

There is an exception , which occasionally occurs.  The major upgrade is in reality a service pack.  Sometimes, primarily software packages, will have a major upgrade release that does not introduce new features,  Instead there is a large collection of fixes to the existing version.  In this case, the upgrade should be installed as soon as possible.

System upgrades require careful planning for Retailers.  Ideally your downtime is zero.  CCS can be instrumental in helping you handle changes smoothly.  Don't wing it and hope for the best.  The instructions that come with changes assume a certain level of knowledge and the ability to read-between-the-lines.  Contact us to help you plan your changes.