Start with the job
Define the problem before evaluating the product. A tool that is impressive in general can still be a poor fit for the specific workflow.
Write down the input, desired output, acceptable error rate, and consequence of failure.
Test capability with real examples
Use representative tasks rather than vendor demos. Include easy cases, edge cases, incomplete information, and situations where the correct response is uncertainty.
Record failures as carefully as successes.
Evaluate the information boundary
Identify what data the tool receives, what integrations it requests, what is retained, and whether the organization can restrict access.
A capability is not free if it requires information access you are unwilling to grant.
Measure full cost
Include subscription cost, infrastructure, review time, training, migration, error correction, vendor dependency, and the cost of a failure.
Then compare those costs with actual time saved, quality improvement, revenue, or risk reduction.
Check reversibility
Know whether data can be exported, whether the workflow can continue without the vendor, and how difficult it is to change tools later.
The easiest dependency to manage is the one designed to be replaceable from the beginning.
- Evaluate against a real job.
- Measure total cost and total return.
- Check data access and reversibility before committing.