5. Develop a short-list
Now that you have done your homework, you are ready to contact some software resellers for more detailed information on their systems. This will help you to develop a short-list of options to evaluate more thoroughly. While your prioritised list and budget will be key factors in narrowing down your choices, you should also compare the following aspects of each system:
- Support
What support is available for the system (e.g. manuals, online help, telephone or email)?
Is the support provided locally (i.e., in New Zealand)?
What hours is the support available? (This is especially important if the support is not local.)
What is the cost of the support?
- Training
What training is available?
Who provides the training and where is it held?
What is the cost of the training?
- Integration
How easily can the system be integrated with other systems that you use (e.g., MS Office, email programs)?
- The future
How up-to-date is the technology?
How will the software be kept up-to-date in the future?
Does the supplier guarantee the availability of upgrades, support and training for a minimum time period?
Is there a maintenance or upgrade contract available?
If not, why not - has development on the software ceased?
- Extra costs
What will it cost you if the system breaks down?
Under what conditions will you be responsible for any losses incurred due to system failure? (Your choice of operating system, hardware and/or power supply may affect this.)
Are there any additional one-off or ongoing costs that you should know about (e.g., running additional companies on the system)?