Questions to ask an implementation partner

Ask how the consultant will understand your business

Bring a real task to the first conversation. Ask what the consultant needs to learn, which staff should participate, how existing software will be checked and which information affects the recommendation.

Pay attention to the questions. If a fixed product is recommended before anyone has reviewed the process, ask why it fits and whether an existing feature or process change could do the work.

Make the first deliverable specific

An assessment, prototype and production release are different pieces of work. The proposal should state what is included, what the client supplies, what will be delivered and who accepts it.

For implementation, establish who connects the systems, runs testing and trains users. If a partner performs technical work, agree delivery and support responsibilities before signing.

Case studies show you what a consultant has delivered. Check the original problem, implementation scope and metric names, then ask which part relates to your process. Information collection, integration and staff use are more useful to compare than an isolated percentage.

Discuss handover before signing

Establish who holds the accounts, what documentation the business receives and which routine maintenance staff can perform. Ask how changes in document formats, user numbers or business software will be handled and charged.

Include testing arrangements in the project. Both sides need to know who supplies examples, checks outputs and records issues, and which acceptance criteria apply before launch.

Compare the complete cost

Alongside the project fee, list subscriptions, model usage, hosting, continuing support and staff involvement. A monthly service should specify its workload and contact arrangements.

By the end of the discussion, you should know the next deliverable. It may be an assessment or a scoped implementation. If information is not ready, agree the preparation needed first.