6. Evaluate
Once you have identified one or more packages that may meet your needs, ask your local reseller for a demonstration of the product. As with the review and prioritising exercises performed earlier, it is important to invite your staff to the demonstration. If you have several staff who each perform different functions, include at least one person from each of the major functional areas as they will identify strengths and/or weaknesses in the system that others may not notice. Ensure you give sufficient notice and allow enough time for the demonstration, so that all those involved have an opportunity to ask questions and evaluate the software.
During the demonstration, refer to your list of priorities and ask questions about anything that is not clear. You should also take this opportunity to evaluate the reseller’s knowledge of the product, as this can be an indication of the quality of the support provided. If the reseller cannot answer your questions immediately, how quickly can they get an answer from the software house? Make notes of your questions and answers, as well as strengths and weaknesses identified.
After the demonstration, go over your list of priorities again with the notes you made, discussing how the software demonstrated meets your needs, how the strengths of the system could benefit your business, and how you will overcome any identified weaknesses. If you choose to evaluate several products, you should also use this exercise to compare them against each other.
After your evaluation is complete, you should be able to make your purchase secure in the knowledge that you are making the right choice for your business.