Guide: Compare and make an informed choice regarding software providers

Anyone comparing software providers shouldn't base their decision solely on price, presentation, or personal preference. For business-critical applications, a company often works with the same software partner for many years. Therefore, technical expertise is only one aspect of choosing a provider. Industry experience, security, methodology, support, and collaboration are equally important.

Compare software providers based on clear criteria

A structured vendor evaluation creates a common basis for decision-making. Our evaluation model comprises 35 criteria in seven areas: professional competence and industry experience, technical competence, methods and procedures, security and compliance, stability, operation and support, and collaboration and communication.

The weighting should be tailored to the specific project. For example, in a public administration dealing with sensitive data, security and regulatory requirements may carry more weight. For a Swiss SME, industry expertise and close collaboration might be more important.

Therefore, we have compiled a guide that allows you to compare software providers in a structured way and define relevant criteria even before the first meetings with providers.

Recognizing early warning signs in software projects

Problems often surface at the very beginning of a project. A warning sign is workshops where the same questions are repeatedly discussed without any clear decisions being reached. A lack of subject matter experts, differing goals between departments, or unclear interfaces can also slow a project down later on.

It also becomes critical if the effort and the original offer diverge early on and the deviation is not communicated transparently.

From longlist to the right software solution

For larger projects, a longlist of approximately five to eight providers can be created initially. Subsequently, essential criteria are examined, and the selection is narrowed down to a few candidates.

After that, the in-depth evaluation begins, including references, technical concepts, discussions, and a comprehensible assessment.

Quality and price should not be hastily compared. First, it should be determined which providers meet the necessary quality standards. Only then should development, licenses, hosting, maintenance, support, and other aspects be considered. Total Cost of Ownership compared to each other.

The initial consultation also provides valuable insights. Good software partners ask specific questions, openly address uncertainties, and identify technical or organizational risks early on.