Start from your flow
Choose a representative product, with its bill of materials, routing, purchases and checks. A scenario that is too simple flatters every solution; one that is too broad is never played to the end.
- Written criteriaBefore any demonstration
- Common scenarioSame fictitious data
- DemonstrationsSame steps for everyone
- Gap gridStandard, option or development
- Total costSame scope, same date
Write the criteria before the demonstration
For each step, specify the expected result, the data to find and what counts as a failure. Send the same grid to every vendor or integrator.
Run the same steps
Sales order, requirements calculation, manufacturing order, quality check, maintenance, cost price, job tracking and period close: everyone runs the same sequence on the same fictitious data.
Separate standard, option and development
For each step, have the edition, module, extension or development used stated. An announced feature is not always included in the base offer.
Compare the total cost, not the license
Licenses, modules, environments, integration, data migration, training, support, upgrades and operations must be priced on the same scope and at the same date.
Keep the evidence
Keep screenshots, exports, gaps and written answers. They then serve as the basis for acceptance testing, whatever the final choice.