Technology & Supplier Assessment
I compare platforms, tools and supplier proposals against what your organisation actually needs, and tell you plainly what each option means in cost of ownership, risk and effort.
New v6 draft from the service brief, awaiting review
The problem, and what I do about it
You have several proposals that describe the same work in different words and are hard to compare.
I write down your requirements first, so every option is judged against the same list.
You are being asked to choose a platform or tool without knowing what you would be locked into.
I compare the options on fit, ownership, running costs, support, data and exit, not only on features.
You suspect a proposal includes more than you need, or leaves out something you will need later.
I give you a clear recommendation with its reasons, and the questions to put to each supplier.
Draft copy, to confirm
What you get out of it
You choose a platform or supplier on evidence, knowing what you are committing to and what it will take to change course later.
Who it’s for
- You are choosing a website platform, CMS, booking tool, e-commerce system or similar.
- You have received proposals from agencies or developers and want an independent comparison.
- You need to justify a technology choice to a board, partner or funder.
If you have not yet agreed what you are trying to achieve, start with a digital strategy and roadmap. If the question is the health of your current site, see website audits.
What’s included
Requirements
What the organisation needs the platform or supplier to do, now and in the next few years, agreed in writing.
Option comparison
Each option judged against the same requirements, with strengths, gaps and assumptions noted.
Cost of ownership
The running costs, licences, hosting and support each option implies, as far as the suppliers make them known.
Data and exit
Who owns the content and data, how it can be exported, and what leaving would involve.
Questions for suppliers
The specific questions each proposal leaves open, ready for you to send.
Recommendation
A plain-language recommendation with its reasons and its risks.
How it works
Requirements
We agree what the choice must satisfy before looking at any option.
Review
I read the proposals or research the platforms against those requirements.
Compare
I set out the comparison and the open questions, and we go through it together.
Recommend
You receive a written recommendation you can share with the people who decide.
Questions people ask
Draft answers, to confirm
Are you independent of the suppliers?
I tell you before we start if I have any relationship with a supplier or platform being considered, so you can judge the advice with that in mind.
Can you be one of the suppliers being compared?
Not in the same assessment. If you want me to quote for the work, that is a separate conversation after the assessment.
Do you test the platforms?
Where a trial or demo is available and useful, yes. Otherwise I work from the suppliers' documentation and answers, and say so in the report.
Tell me what you need to achieve.
We can work out the right next step before committing to a solution. You can book this on its own. An ongoing partnership is optional, never a requirement.
Need continuing responsibility rather than a defined project? Ongoing partnerships