What to validate first
- Do they ask business questions, not only technical ones?
- Do they provide phased deliverables with acceptance criteria?
- Can they integrate CRM, channels, and current tools?
- Do they define support ownership after go-live?
“Every company is a software company.”
Satya Nadella
Red flags before signing
- No explicit assumptions or scope boundaries
- No clear plan for performance and security
- No operational KPI dashboard tied to business impact
- No realistic maintenance model
“Your margin is my opportunity.”
Jeff Bezos
Execution discipline that matters
Look for 90-day roadmaps, sprint-level demos, measurable KPI review, and transparent tradeoff decisions. This is what turns technology into a durable business asset.
“What gets measured gets managed.”
Peter Drucker