Choosing a Vendor - Blog Post Assignment

In a blog post, try to answer the 10 questions from AV reading for a potential vendor for your chosen company. Explain why the vendor may be a good or poor fit based on your answers.

Q1: “What is the difference between your tool/solution and free tools from Yahoo! and Google?”

For DELL, know what other competitors situation is important. Some need pay tool can provide information about competitors quickly and accurately that free tools can do.

Q2: “Are you 100 percent ASP, or do you offer a software version? Are you planning a software version? ”

Most tools only provide ASP, but I want DELL have its own software version. If the company which provide tools have the version, they can charge as they wish witch might increase the cost. And also, have the software version is more safe and convenient to use first-party cookies which provide more accurate data and result.

Q3: “What data capture mechanisms do you use?”

I think DELL need to use the one provide the most comprehensive data and analytics. But we still can’t superstition it without thinking. No matter what kind of mechanism, it is just mechanism, we still have to dispose data with real situation and find the best way to solve it.

Q4: “Can you calculate the total cost of ownership for your tool?”

The total cost of ownership is not only for the fee that tool charge you , but also involved page view, professional services, Annual support costs and Cost of administration. We will add them all to estimate the total cost.

Q5: “What kind of support do you offer? What do you include for free, and what costs more? Is it free 24/7?”

Some limited options of a free tool can’t be found immediately. The vendor won’t tell you clearly. Some charges are hide behind free service.  We have to make it clear which one will charge DELL and which one is totally free. Then, we can figure out the total cost.

Q6: “What features in your tool allow me to segment the data?”

I think this tool have to support pressure test that can prove it can dispose huge data from DELL and also provide segment function which allow DELL to analysis customer behaviors.

 Q7: “What options do I have for exporting data from your system into our company’s system?”

We need to own the data, that can make sure there are no limit when we want to dispose the data. And also, if we have some problems with the vendor. It won’t influence our business and  data analysis.

Q8: “What features do you provide for me to integrate data from other sources into your tool?”

If Dell wants to use other analytic tools, this tool need have the function that can gather data together and analysis it. This can make result more accurate.

Q9: “Can you name two new features/tools/acquisitions your company is cooking up to stay ahead of your competition for the next three years?”

This is the best question I think. An advanced system can help us have the fast and the most accurate result which can help us find the best solution when face problems. Especially for knowing the information of competitors.

Q10: “Why did the last two clients you lost cancel their contracts? Who are they using now?

May we call one of these former clients?”

This the directly way to find out what the problems of this tools. Maybe the data is not that new. Maybe the analysis method is too old and slow. Maybe the result is not that accurate. We only need the best and fast tool .