Choosing the right technology partner is a critical decision that can make or break your product strategy. Whether you're implementing a new SaaS platform, integrating AI capabilities, or modernizing your infrastructure, the process of evaluating technology partners requires a structured and strategic approach.
At Vecteris, we believe in the principle of "Think Big & Start Small." You need a clear product vision, a phased roadmap, and an iterative approach to technology adoption. Here are our four steps to making smarter technology decisions while minimizing risk and maximizing value.
1. Define Success Before Evaluating Vendors
Before you start engaging with vendors, you need to define what success looks like. Too often, organizations jump straight into product demos and sales calls without first aligning on their needs and priorities.
💡 Tip: When creating your evaluation criteria, err on the side of essential outcomes over a checklist of features.
2. Scan the Market & Shortlist Vendors
The technology landscape is vast, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by choices. Instead of evaluating every option in-depth, start with a broad scan and then narrow down to the most promising candidates.
💡 Tip: Don't overlook vendors who are solving the problem in a very different way, especially if their customers look like you.
3. Evaluate with Purpose
Now that you have a shortlist, it's time to dig deeper. This stage involves engaging with vendors, running demos, and conducting pilot tests.
Before the Demo:
✔ Are we a mutual fit?
✔ Do they serve similar customers?
During the Demo:
✔ Does it meet key functional criteria?
✔ Does it meet key non-functional criteria, such as security and performance?
✔ Is the user experience intuitive?
After the Demo:
✔ Is the pricing model aligned with our needs?
✔ Can we start with a trial?
🚩 Red Flag: Vendors that push for long-term contracts without offering trials.
4. Start Small with a Pilot
Even the best-looking solutions can fail in real-world implementation. That’s why we strongly advocate for starting small with a pilot before full-scale adoption. Organizations often overlook the challenge of internal adoption and training. You will need internal advocates to learn and test capabilities before rolling them out more broadly. Those internal early adopters will be the best advocates to train and guide the rest of the organization as you expand.
🔹 Go/No-Go Decision: If the pilot works, expand adoption. If not, pivot.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right tech partner is about strategy, validation, and smart execution. Follow these steps to minimize risk and maximize impact.
✔ Think Big: Have a vision.
✔ Start Small: Test first.
✔ Iterate & Expand: Drive adoption over time.
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