Strategic IT Consulting
Platform & Vendor Selection
Build-or-buy decisions made on evidence, not demos
Choosing a platform on the strength of a polished demo is how organizations end up locked into software that fits nobody. We run structured selections: clear requirements, a fair comparison, hands-on proofs of concept and an honest look at total cost.
- Requirements definition
- Build versus buy analysis
- Market scan
- Structured evaluation
- Proof of concept
- Total cost of ownership
Why it matters
The demo always works. The real test is your data, your users and your edge cases, weighed against what the platform will cost over years, not months.
What this includes
Six parts of the work. Which of them you need depends on where you are starting from, and we agree that before anything is built.
- 01
Requirements definition
Must-haves, nice-to-haves and deal-breakers, agreed with the people who will use the system.
- 02
Build versus buy analysis
Whether a custom build, an off-the-shelf product or a hybrid fits best.
- 03
Market scan
A shortlist of credible options based on your requirements, not on marketing.
- 04
Structured evaluation
Scoring each option against the same criteria, with evidence recorded.
- 05
Proof of concept
Testing the shortlisted options with your real data and scenarios.
- 06
Total cost of ownership
Licensing, implementation, integration and running costs over several years.
Not sure which of these you need?
Tell us where things stand for you today and we will suggest where to start.
How we deliver it
Four stages, agreed with you before the work starts, with a working result at the end of each rather than one reveal at the end.
Define
We gather requirements and agree evaluation criteria with stakeholders.
Shortlist
We scan the market and narrow down to a few credible options.
Evaluate
Demos, scripted scenarios and proofs of concept are scored consistently.
Recommend
We present a recommendation with the evidence and support the negotiation.
The stack
Technologies we work with
The tools we reach for most often in this work. We fit in with what you already run rather than asking you to change it.
3 groups
- 01 / 033
Evaluation
- Weighted scoring matrices
- Scripted demo scenarios
- Proof-of-concept environments
- 02 / 035
Common categories
- CRM
- ERP
- Data platforms
- Cloud providers
- Security tools
- 03 / 032
Documentation
- Microsoft 365
- Confluence
What you receive
Yours to keep when the engagement ends, whether we carry on working together or not.
A requirements document
What the platform must do, agreed with stakeholders.
An evaluation matrix
Each option scored against the same criteria, with evidence.
A cost comparison
Multi-year total cost of ownership for each shortlisted option.
A recommendation report
The preferred option, the reasoning, and the risks to manage.
Common questions
The ones that come up in almost every first conversation about this work.
We recommend based on your requirements and the evidence gathered. The evaluation criteria and scores are shared with you, so the reasoning is transparent.
For significant or long-term decisions it is strongly recommended. For smaller purchases, scripted demos may be enough.
Yes. We can support contract review, implementation planning and the rollout itself.
Let's talk about Platform & Vendor Selection
A short call is usually enough to work out whether we can help and where it makes sense to start. No preparation needed.