Frequently asked questions
What type of projects can you help with?
We have years of experience short-listing projects for a wide variety of companies with many different requirements. From a fully integrated business solution, ERP and MRP to a specific business application such as; finance, warehouse management, transport, distribution, field service, accountancy, financial management, business intelligence, customer relationship management (CRM) software, HR or payroll. No matter what you are looking for we would be pleased to help you. To see if we can help with your project click here [can you shortlist my project?] or to talk to a consultant please call 01787 282228.
How much does it cost?
Nothing, it is free of charge for project owners.
How do you make your money?
We charge the software suppliers a small fee to cover our costs. We do not accept any commission or on-going payments.
Why shouldn’t I do this in-house?
There is no reason why you can’t research software companies in-house. However, our up-to-date database of over 5,000 software companies allows us to arrive at a comprehensive shortlist very quickly. This will leave you and your team free to get on with other priorities.
What if I would like to meet a supplier that hasn’t requested to meet me?
Simply let us know and we will do our best to organise the meeting for you.
What if I’ve already considered a solution yet the supplier requests to meet me?
If the meeting was more than 6 months ago, we recommend you meet the supplier, as offerings can change significantly in that time. If you are still considering the solution, the meeting gives you a chance to meet the supplier at the same time as all of the others and will help you to make a like-for-like comparison. There is no pressure to meet a company in this forum that you are already in contact with.
I think my company is too small to use this service…
If your company has a turnover of £1m or more then your company is not too small. IT-shortlist has a database of over 5,000 software suppliers and solutions that are relevant for small and medium size companies.
Do I have any obligations to purchase?
No, once the meetings have taken place you are free to make your own decision as to whether or not you wish to take discussions with any of the suppliers to the next stage.
What are the benefits to me in using this service?
At the end of the process you will have a shortlist of solutions, saving you many weeks of information gathering, evaluation, meeting scheduling and you should be able to accelerate to your final shortlist to help keep your project timetable on track.
Who are the software suppliers?
To ensure we are completely up to date with developments in this fast changing market place we regularly research the market to understand the breadth of systems that are available to SMEs and categorise the suppliers’ solutions according to their area of expertise. The suppliers are mainly authors of the software, however, occasionally we work with resellers too. Our aim is to save you time, therefore, we guarantee you will not see the same product through an author and a reseller.
Is IT-shortlist involved in the selection process?
No. We believe you need to be in control of the selection – we simply organise the meetings. However, if you are looking for a consultant to help you with your selection we would be happy to make some recommendations.
If I use you I’ll get a barrage of sales calls that I haven’t got time to field.
Your requirements are shared anonymously with suppliers whilst we are vetting the suitability of their solution. To put your mind at rest you will receive a copy of the final document that we use to shortlist the suppliers. Your details are only released to the companies on your shortlist after you have approved it.
Understanding your project
Once you have decided that you would like to use the IT-shortlist service, you will be asked for some available dates for the meetings to take place at the location of your choice. This is usually your own office.
You will be e-mailed the only form which needs to be completed (Project Profile). To help you complete the form in the minimum amount of time, we arrange for one of our consultants to call you and talk through the completion of the document. Or you can complete the form yourself, the choice is yours. The Project Profile enables the software suppliers to understand your business, what systems you currently use, your software requirement and an idea of your budget and timescales.
Your profile (excluding your company name and contact details) will be shared with suppliers and if they have a solution which will suit your needs they will request to meet you.
Scheduling the meetings
Once your information has been shared with the suppliers and meeting requests have been made, you will be sent a schedule for your approval following which your details are released to the software companies.
To place your IT project or to have answers to any more questions you have please
call 01787 282228