Vendor Selection Without Regret: A Due-Diligence Scorecard
Software decisions outlive the people who make them. A due-diligence scorecard for choosing vendors without regret.
By Owen Hartley, Partner, operations and technology , 1 min read
Software decisions outlive the people who make them. A due-diligence scorecard keeps the choice grounded in your needs, not the demo. Software decisions outlive the people who make them. A due-diligence scorecard for choosing vendors without regret.
Score what matters after go-live
Weight implementation effort, integration with your existing systems, data export and the vendor’s financial health as heavily as features. Ask for references from customers your size who have used the product for at least two years.
Run a paid pilot on real data
A two-week pilot with your own data reveals more than any demo. Agree the success measures in writing before it starts and make the final decision with the people who will use the system every day.
How we apply this with clients
In client work this usually becomes one priority on the quarterly plan, with a named owner and a measure the leadership team reviews every month. Our technology & ai partners start with a short diagnostic of where the business is today, then agree the smallest change that will make a visible difference within ninety days.
Key takeaways
- Weight integration and exit costs as heavily as features.
- Speak to references your size with two years’ use.
- Pilot on real data with agreed success measures.
Want to apply this in your business? Book a discovery call with a Maia Lafortezza partner.
Owen Hartley
Owen Hartley leads the firm's operations and technology practice. An industrial engineer by training, he spent twelve years running distribution and manufacturing operations before moving into advisory work. He redesigns workflows, operating rhythms and supply chains for logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and service businesses, and helps clients choose and implement technology, including practical AI, where it pays back. He is based in Milan.
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