8 steps for a successful technology investment

Pastrikos uses the following eight steps when advising clients on how to make a successful technology purchase.

1. Examine your business needs

A tech purchase often starts from a chronic problem or gap, usually related to the flow of information. Maybe your records are all on paper but you need them on a computer. You might want to automate some processes or reduce errors. Or you might be trying to make different systems in your company talk to each other.

The first step is to meet with your team to discuss whether a tech purchase may be an appropriate answer.

Then, appoint someone to spearhead the search for solutions. It’s important to choose a senior person who has a good sense of your entire organization. Tech purchases often go awry when the project lead is too busy or too junior to understand the needs of the business outside their department.

The next step is to review your current business and where you want to go in the next few years. “Companies often focus on solutions to their immediate needs or buy something for one area of the business, without considering the company’s overall or future needs,” Pastrikos says.

“They may buy something, then later need to scrap it or bolt it together with other systems that don’t work well together.”

2. Perform a functional requirements analysis

With the input of employees, map out your key business processes and then prepare a detailed list of tech needs to support each process and area of the business. The idea is to identify how data flows through your business and locate any problem areas. This is known as a functional requirements analysis. It’s not uncommon to have several hundred different requirements in all.

Make a note of whether each need is critical or just a nice-to-have. Also list problem areas, opportunities for improvement and future needs.

“You want a system to at least cover your critical needs, but the nice-to-haves might add value and be important for your long-term strategy,” Pastrikos says. “You want to make sure those capabilities are available down the road without needing to buy a new system or do a lot of customization.”

For example, you may want an inventory management system to track product attributes such as lot, serial number or location but later be able to add barcode scanning capabilities to create efficiencies in warehouse management.

Be sure to clearly document your requirements in writing. A common mistake is to compile information verbally and then forget key needs.

3. Create a request for proposal (RFP)

Use your requirements list to prepare an RFP. It should ask vendors to explain their solution, how it will meet each need and any required customization. Also ask about their implementation plan, including training, configuration and support.

Request a list of all costs, including for add-on features, professional services and licensing. And ask for a list of other similar businesses they’ve worked with.

4. Develop a vendor list

Research potential vendors who may be able to answer your needs. Include a mix of larger and smaller suppliers.

5. Distribute the RFP

Ask vendors to submit a detailed written response to your RFP.

6. Clarify the responses

Check vendor responses to see if you need clarification about their solution. Vendors are sometimes vague about functions their system doesn’t perform well or hidden costs.

“They may not define how many hours of training they’ll provide or whether training will happen on-site,” Pastrikos says. “Travel time often costs extra, but the amount may not be specified and you end up paying more than expected.”

If the vendor is proposing customized software, find out who would own the source code and how customization would affect the ability to make upgrades.

If you’re exploring cloud solutions, ask whether the vendor would own your data, where it would be stored and how difficult it would be to extract data if you wanted to switch providers.

7. Rate the vendors

Rate each vendor based on how well they meet each requirement. Make sure you understand the vendor’s implementation plan, and flag any proposed customization.

“Vendors will often say their system can do something but only with some customization,” Pastrikos says. “It’s usually best to minimize customization or get a system out of the box. A customized system may break when you need to upgrade or may cause problems if you switch vendors.”

Also determine the total cost of each solution. Don’t be fooled by a low bid. Some vendors offer an attractive base price, but pack a hodgepodge of hidden costs into the implementation process and add-ons.

8. Select the vendor

Make a short list of two to three vendors, and invite them to come in to do a proof-of-concept demonstration. Ask them to show the specific processes that would solve your critical needs. “It’s a common mistake to assume a system will do something when it doesn’t,” Pastrikos says. “Ask to see how their system would work. Don’t take the vendor’s word for it.”

This is the time to compare the user-friendliness of each solution. Also get a sense of the vendor’s cultural fit with your business, knowledge of your industry and the skill level of their people. Do reference checks, then choose the winning vendor. If needed, ask them for an updated proposal and carefully review all contract terms and conditions. Don’t be shy to negotiate any vague or unfavourable clauses. A large contract may be worth reviewing with a legal advisor.