Independent Vendor Oversight

The Problem: No One Is Looking Out for You

When you hire a technology vendor, they have their own interests. They want to sell you their solutions, keep their team busy, and grow their contract. That doesn't make them dishonest — it simply means their priorities are not the same as yours.

When a vendor recommends a particular approach, is it the best option for your business? Or is it the easiest option for them? Or the one that generates the most fees? Often, it is a bit of all three.

Without someone independent reviewing these decisions, you have no way to tell the difference between "this is genuinely the right choice for us" and "this is what the vendor wants to sell us." That confusion costs real money.

What Independent Oversight Looks Like

I work as an independent expert — separate from your vendors and their commercial interests. My only concern is whether the technology decisions being made actually serve your business.

Vendor Proposal Review: When a vendor puts forward a plan or recommends a technology direction, I review it against what your business actually needs. I identify gaps, risks, and whether the proposal represents good value or cutting corners. You get a clear, honest view of whether the vendor's recommendation deserves your confidence — before you commit.

Major Decision Reviews: Not every decision needs a formal review. But the big ones — switching platforms, connecting new systems, changing direction — benefit from an experienced second opinion. I document the reasoning behind each decision: what problem we are solving, what options were considered, why this choice makes sense, and what risks remain. This creates a clear record and catches assumptions that should be challenged.

Quality Checkpoints: When vendors are migrating systems, launching new platforms, or building something significant, we set up quality checkpoints — clear standards that must be met before moving to the next stage. Think of it like a building inspection: you want someone independent confirming the work meets the agreed standard, not just the builder telling you it is fine.

Documented Evidence: When things go wrong — "the vendor said this would work but it doesn't" — having proper documentation matters. I record what was agreed, what was promised, and what was actually delivered. If a dispute arises later, you have clear evidence of what happened and why, rather than relying on memory and emails.

When to Bring Me In

Before Signing Off on a Vendor Proposal (1–2 days): Any significant vendor proposal deserves an independent expert review before you commit. A day or two of review can prevent months of expensive problems.

Ongoing Decision Support (half a day to 1 day per month): A regular check-in to review important decisions, document the reasoning, and flag any concerns before they become costly.

During a Major Project (5–15 days total): Large projects — migrations, new platform rollouts, major upgrades — benefit from independent quality checkpoints at key stages. This ensures problems are caught early, not after launch.

After a Major Project (1–2 days): Once a big project wraps up, an independent review uncovers what went well, what went wrong, and why. These lessons are invaluable for making your next project run more smoothly and cost-effectively.

How This Is Different From What Vendors Do

Vendors are responsible for delivering their work. I am responsible for making sure that work actually serves your business. Those are two very different jobs.

You do not need another person agreeing with the vendor. You need someone willing to say "this proposal has real value, but these three risks need to be addressed" or "this will work in the short term, but it will create bigger problems down the road." That honest, independent perspective is what protects your investment.

Flexible Day Rates

Every business is different, so I work on a simple day-rate basis. Some months you might need just one day of review. Other months — during a busy project phase — you might need three or four days. This flexibility means you get independent expert guidance exactly when you need it, without being locked into a fixed contract.