This document provides 9 questions that organizations should ask when evaluating new vendors and solutions. The questions focus on determining how well a solution fits the organization's long-term vision, whether the vendor can provide proactive insights and deliver on promises, how well the vendor understands the organization, whether a test drive of the solution is possible, references from other customers using the solution, who the primary contact would be, whether additional licenses are needed, and the overall cost. Asking these questions helps an organization thoroughly vet vendors and choose the right solution for their specific needs.

1. Choosing the Right
Solution for Your
Organization
9 Tips from Leading CIOs

2. Everyone stay calm…
• Local outages affecting a
remote office’s network?
• Tornadoes in the Midwest
taking out the company’s data
warehouse?
• Sales teams demanding
greater mobility with 24/7
access?
• General counsel demanding
fewer distracted delivery and
service drivers?

3. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN EVALUATING NEW VENDORS
1. Where does it fit?
Determine if the product or offering will fit into your long-term vision for the
company, or if a disposable, short-term gap filler may be a better option.
2. Do you provide proactive insight?
Company growth, improved customer service or savings for the bottom line –
decision makers need to know how a solution will help, not hinder, operations.
3. Can you deliver on promises?
Purchasing one solution over another is a huge financial investment of money and
time. Determine if the relationship is mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
4. Do you understand our company?
No one likes to be rushed or sold a bill of goods. Qualified buyers rank new vendors
higher when they take the time to understand overall operational function of their
customer – instead of just aiming to meet monthly quotas.

4. 5. Can we take it for a test drive?
Vendors that allow complimentary product demonstrations will always have the
upper hand.
6. Who else is using your solution?
Businesses do business together because of people. CIOs want to know if the
vendor partner will be in the proverbial fox hole with them during a storm.
7. With whom would I work directly?
No puffery permitted here. Maintain the right to approve and reject alternate
staff if a change is required. A consistent team makes for smoother projects.
8. Will I need an additional license(s)?
CIOs say the tool or service must be easily bundled to meet specific needs without
requiring extraneous features or functions that don’t fit the existing business model.
9. How much?
Cost is always important. Though company policy may prevent vendors from naming a
specific price right out of the gate, buyers are more inclined to dance the negotiation
tango when presented with at least a range or scale to gauge purchasing possibility.