Vendor Application Software Evaluation & Selection Playbook

Playbook Structure

 Initiation

Prepare your project for success by preparing its mission, organization, milestones, guiding principles, draft scoring methods, and management processes.

 Diligence

Research vendor software. Structure and focus on vital needs. Network with peer organizations and customers of target vendors. Measure their satisfaction. Finalize vendor minimums, evaluation process, question design, and scoring methods.

 Scoring Process

Enter scoring basis and vendor minimums; do not publish questions and weights into a scoring model. Identify three or fewer vendors to engage for the remainder of your project.

 Solution Needs Brief-RFP

Partner with your Procurement team to create a Brief or RFP. Create questionnaires to gather vital vendor information, such as technical, infrastructure, security, company profile, 3rd party profiles, needs, and one-time and recurring solution costs.

 Evaluation & Selection

Prepare and conduct an agile evaluation and negotiation summit for each vendor. Or proceed using a more traditional evaluation process by stage, which includes proposal, interview-demo, customer references, field visits, negotiation, and recommendation.

 Resources

Leverage AI, advanced search criteria, digital assets, and other methods & techniques to accelerate project outcomes.