Evaluating Vendors and Selecting Solutions - More Than an RFP

Even the lowliest of developers will come to a point where they are asked to look into a potential decision.  Their role may only be as an advisor.  However, evaluating vendors to some extent falls into our lap as a task to perform.  There are "big" approaches to these evaluation requests, but proper use of free tools can be as valuable.

The Vendor Is as Important as The Tool

A typical error in evaluating a tool is minimizing the vendor that created it.  Yes, tools are more than just the vendor.  However, an unstable vendor is more likely to build a questionable product than one that is a financial success.  Issues with the vendor often can be harbingers of hidden flaws.  These issues include critical ones like a faulty foundation or design. This may seem like a big overhead for your research.  Nevertheless, it is worthwhile.  Also, this is a task that has become much easier with tools that have been provided on the Internet.  The key is to ask the right questions.  Do not be afraid to be "nosy" about potential vendors.  They are asking you to spend money on their product.  Thus, it is perfectly understandable for you to want to know that vendor on more than a surface level.