Weighted Vendor Scorecard
Demo fatigue makes every vendor look the same. Set your criteria weights first, score each vendor from 1 to 5 after the demos, and let the maths — not the last pitch you heard — pick the winner.
Score each vendor (1–5)
| Criterion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Core functionality | |||
| Ease of use / adoption | |||
| Total cost of ownership | |||
| Integrations & API | |||
| Support & SLAs | |||
| Security & compliance |
Ranked result
- 1Vendor A60%
- 2Vendor B60%
- 3Vendor C60%
Scores are weighted averages normalised to 100. Anything inside five points is effectively a tie — break it on contract terms or reference calls, not on gut feel.
Run the evaluation properly
- Agree the weights with stakeholders before the first demo, not after.
- Score immediately after each demo while impressions are fresh.
- Have at least two evaluators score independently, then compare gaps.
- Record why you scored a 2 or a 5 — that note is your negotiation ammunition.
Next: run the winner through the cost calculator and the 40-question buying checklist.