I just came back from a Product Information Management (PIM) event this week had had a lot of discussions about how to evaluate vendors and their solutions.  I also get a lot of inquiries on vendor selection and while a lot of the questions center around the functionality itself, how to evaluate is also a key point of discussion.  What peaked my interest on this subject is that IT and the Business have very different objectives in selecting a solution for MDM, PIM, and data quality.  In fact, it can often get contentious when IT and the Business don't agree on the best solution. 

General steps to purchase a solution seem pretty consistent: create a short list based on the Forrester Wave and research, conduct an RFI, narrow down to 2-3 vendors for an RFP, make a decision.  But, the devil seems to be in the details.  

• Is a proof of concept required?
• How do you make a decision when vendors solutions appear the same? Are they really the same?
• How do you put pricing into context? Is lowest really better?
• What is required to know before engaging with vendors to identify fit and differentiation? 
• When does meeting business objectives win out over fit in IT skills and platform consistency?