(OT)software evaluation

Yahoo Archive
1
Question # 1:

What does annual maintenance cost? Is it a percentage? Of "List" price or
price paid?

I always go for a reduced percentage of price paid and a cap on annual
increases - in writing.

As in, a company that normally charges 18% for annual maintenance for a
product that sells for $ 30,000. However they are willing to quote you a
sale price of $ 22,000. 18% x $ 30,000 = $ 5,400. 18% of $ 22,000 = $
3,960 Better yet, talk them down to 12% of price paid and only offer $
20,000 for the software.

The software market is VERY soft at the moment. Most vendors will be
willing to deal if you squeeze them.

Rule # 1: ALWAYS have 2 different software products that you are looking
at. NOTHING reduces pricing faster then competition. Even if you REALLY
REALLY like one package you still need to put on a poker face and tell them
that competitor B's product will do the job just fine. Just keep going back
and forth to see who is willing to DEAL.

Question # 2:

When does the software company consider a problem with the software a "BUG"
vs a customer suggestion for a change in functionality and what is the
procedure for getting bugs fixed in a timely fashion. ( Hint, you shouldn't
have to get 500 other customers to call in saying that they agree with your
view that 2 + 2 does not = 3 on a specific screen )

------------------------

Without knowing what the software is it's hard to suggest other questions
although I would second Pat Winter's comments about getting to know the tech
support staff before the sale.

Todd Anderson





-----Original Message-----
From: WENDY BOWEN [mailto:WENDY.BOWEN@...]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 1:26 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] (OT)software evaluation



Hi again everyone!

I have been asked to grill a vendor that is coming in tomorrow on their
software. Does anyone have a nice procedural list on evaluating
software? Such as, asking specific software, hardware, and network spec
questions?

Does anyone have something like that?

Thanks!

~Wendy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2
Hi again everyone!

I have been asked to grill a vendor that is coming in tomorrow on their
software. Does anyone have a nice procedural list on evaluating
software? Such as, asking specific software, hardware, and network spec
questions?

Does anyone have something like that?

Thanks!

~Wendy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
3
My best advice would be to talk to 3 to 5 references in your market vertial,
in your region, on the same platform, who are using the software the exact
same way you are going to. Focos your relationship on the tech suport person
they bring or ask to talk and meet with their tech support manager. After
the sale is made the support people will be the contact and relationship to
build not with the sales person. If just the sales person shows with no
references and no tech background or support person, enjoy the free lunch.

Patrick Winter


-----Original Message-----
From: WENDY BOWEN [mailto:WENDY.BOWEN@...]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 1:26 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] (OT)software evaluation


Hi again everyone!

I have been asked to grill a vendor that is coming in tomorrow on their
software. Does anyone have a nice procedural list on evaluating software?
Such as, asking specific software, hardware, and network spec questions?

Does anyone have something like that?

Thanks!

~Wendy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
4
Patrick,

Actually, the free lunch happened just 2 weeks ago! A vendor came in
and wasn't able to answer a lot of technical questions. I spent 4 hours
staring at a presenation of the software, but no technical specs.
Granted......the pizza was really good, but it was almost a waste of my
time. heehee!

I like your advice of asking for references of other companies using
the software in our same market. Even though the salesperson will
probably only give me very happy companies, it wouldn't hurt. I also
found a nice list from http://www.techrepublic.com that breaks down some
of the questions I should ask.

Thanks!

~Wendy



>>> pjw@... 06/30/03 02:37PM >>>
My best advice would be to talk to 3 to 5 references in your market
vertial,
in your region, on the same platform, who are using the software the
exact
same way you are going to. Focos your relationship on the tech suport
person
they bring or ask to talk and meet with their tech support manager.
After
the sale is made the support people will be the contact and
relationship to
build not with the sales person. If just the sales person shows with
no
references and no tech background or support person, enjoy the free
lunch.

Patrick Winter


-----Original Message-----
From: WENDY BOWEN [mailto:WENDY.BOWEN@...]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 1:26 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] (OT)software evaluation


Hi again everyone!

I have been asked to grill a vendor that is coming in tomorrow on
their
software. Does anyone have a nice procedural list on evaluating
software?
Such as, asking specific software, hardware, and network spec
questions?

Does anyone have something like that?

Thanks!

~Wendy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
5
Pizza! That should be the signal right there. If you can't order from a
menu, then get desert and at least take home to your spouse a slice of pie
with one bite taken out, look for a new vendor, life is to short.

Patrick
-----Original Message-----
From: WENDY BOWEN [mailto:WENDY.BOWEN@...]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 2:20 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] (OT)software evaluation


Patrick,

Actually, the free lunch happened just 2 weeks ago! A vendor came in and
wasn't able to answer a lot of technical questions. I spent 4 hours staring
at a presenation of the software, but no technical specs. Granted......the
pizza was really good, but it was almost a waste of my time. heehee!

I like your advice of asking for references of other companies using the
software in our same market. Even though the salesperson will probably only
give me very happy companies, it wouldn't hurt. I also found a nice list
from http://www.techrepublic.com that breaks down some of the questions I
should ask.

Thanks!

~Wendy



>>> pjw@... 06/30/03 02:37PM >>>
My best advice would be to talk to 3 to 5 references in your market vertial,
in your region, on the same platform, who are using the software the exact
same way you are going to. Focos your relationship on the tech suport person
they bring or ask to talk and meet with their tech support manager. After
the sale is made the support people will be the contact and relationship to
build not with the sales person. If just the sales person shows with no
references and no tech background or support person, enjoy the free lunch.

Patrick Winter


-----Original Message-----
From: WENDY BOWEN [mailto:WENDY.BOWEN@...]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 1:26 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] (OT)software evaluation


Hi again everyone!

I have been asked to grill a vendor that is coming in tomorrow on their
software. Does anyone have a nice procedural list on evaluating software?
Such as, asking specific software, hardware, and network spec questions?

Does anyone have something like that?

Thanks!

~Wendy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/