What are the key criteria for selecting a design control software vendor and plan?

1 Business requirements

The first step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to define your business requirements. What are your goals, challenges, and expectations for design control? What are the features and functions that you need to support your design control process? How many users, projects, and documents do you have or anticipate? How do you want to integrate your design control software with other systems or tools? How much are you willing to spend on a design control software solution? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your choices and prioritize your needs.

2 Vendor credibility

The second step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to assess the vendor's credibility. How long have they been in the market and what is their track record of success? What are their credentials, certifications, and accreditations? How do they ensure the security, reliability, and scalability of their software? How do they handle customer support, training, and updates? How do they address feedback, issues, and complaints? How do they measure customer satisfaction and retention? Checking the vendor's website, reviews, testimonials, case studies, and references will help you gauge their reputation and trustworthiness.

3 Software functionality

The third step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to evaluate the software's functionality. How well does the software meet your business requirements and expectations? How easy is it to use, configure, and customize? How flexible is it to accommodate different workflows, standards, and regulations? How robust is it to handle complex data, documents, and changes? How powerful is it to generate reports, dashboards, and analytics? How compatible is it with other systems or tools that you use or plan to use? Testing the software's features, performance, and usability through demos, trials, or pilots will help you determine its suitability and value.

4 Software pricing

The fourth step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to compare the software's pricing. How much does the software cost and what are the payment options and terms? What are the different plans or packages that the vendor offers and what are the differences and benefits of each? What are the inclusions and exclusions of each plan or package? What are the additional fees or charges that may apply for extra services, features, or users? How transparent and flexible is the vendor's pricing structure and policy? Reviewing the software's pricing details, quotes, and contracts will help you find the best deal and avoid hidden costs or surprises.

5 Software support

The fifth step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to verify the software's support. How reliable, responsive, and accessible is the vendor's customer support team? What are the channels, hours, and languages of their support service? What are the levels, types, and scopes of their support service? How do they handle technical issues, bugs, or glitches? How do they provide training, guidance, and resources for their software? How do they communicate and deliver software updates, upgrades, or enhancements? Asking the vendor's support representatives, customers, or peers will help you assess their quality and availability of their support service.

6 Software feedback

The sixth step in selecting a design control software vendor and plan is to solicit and consider the software's feedback. What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the software? What are the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and challenges of using the software? What are the best practices, tips, and tricks for optimizing the software? What are the common problems, errors, or pitfalls to avoid with the software? How satisfied, loyal, and engaged are the software's users and customers? Collecting and analyzing the software's feedback from various sources, such as surveys, ratings, reviews, forums, or blogs, will help you learn from others' experiences and insights.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?