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powercoms.co.nz

Vendor Evaluation Checklist

Questions to Ask Before
Any Technology Install

Use this checklist in vendor meetings to cut through the noise, expose assumptions and make better decisions before you commit to anything.

Vendor / Company

Project Name

Date

How to use this checklist: Work through each section with your vendor — either in a meeting or when reviewing their proposal. Tick questions they answer clearly. Use the notes space to capture their responses. Any question that gets a vague or evasive answer is worth pressing on.

Project Objectives

What business problem are we actually solving with this installation?

What assumptions have been made in this design or proposal?

How will we measure whether this project has succeeded?

Notes

Infrastructure

Can our existing network reliably support this system?

Is our existing cabling adequate, or will it need upgrading?

Have power requirements been fully identified and confirmed?

What site investigations have been completed to confirm these assumptions?

Notes

Scope & Pricing

What is specifically included in this quote?

What is specifically excluded — and why?

What circumstances could generate variations or additional costs during the project?

Does this quote include commissioning, training and documentation?

Notes

Reliability & Security

What are the most likely failure points in this system?

Are there any single points of failure, and how are they mitigated?

Are there any coverage gaps in the proposed design?

How long will footage be retained, and is that appropriate for our needs?

How are access permissions managed, audited and updated over time?

Notes

User Experience

How straightforward is this system for non-technical staff to operate day-to-day?

How much training will be required, and who provides it?

Has input been gathered from the people who will actually use this system?

Notes

Future Growth

Can this system scale as our organisation grows or changes?

What limitations should we be aware of now that could affect us later?

What will be expensive or difficult to change once this is installed?

Notes

Ongoing Support

What documentation will be handed over at project completion?

Who is responsible for supporting this system after handover — and how do we reach them?

What are the guaranteed response times when something fails?

Is preventative maintenance included, or is it billed separately?

Notes

Overall Assessment

Use this section to capture your overall impression of the vendor and proposal after working through the checklist.

Questions answered clearly

Key concerns identified

Next step

Overall vendor confidence:

Final notes

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Questions to Ask BeforeAny Technology Install

Project Objectives

Infrastructure

Scope & Pricing

Reliability & Security

User Experience

Future Growth

Ongoing Support

Overall Assessment

Questions to Ask Before
Any Technology Install