Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Is one really better? Is it just slightly better? Or does it just seem better? And is “slightly better” worth the cost?

Are you going to be able to live with the decision you are making? And what DOES the fine print say? Do you need to know or care?

When evaluating eCommerce providers and their solutions, you would be ill-advised to make a decision based on a quick look. You need to dig deeper to better understand what you need and to better assess who can provide it. You DO need to read the fine print. There’s a reason they say “the devil is in the details”. Most solutions will give you 80% of what you need. What about that remaining 20%? How important is it, how much is it worth? Are those things must-haves or can you live without them? You cannot answer these questions if you aren’t really “seeing” what these solutions do and how they do it.

Be rigorous in your analysis by first taking the time to define your requirements. Then, research the solutions that seem to map to your requirements. See their presentations, ask questions, understand their timelines and deliverables, contact their clients. Then, narrow your list down to two or three and dig a little deeper, still. Pay attention to what you don’t see — where are the gaps? What aren’t they telling you? Lastly, negotiate and select. Be as certain as you can that what you see IS what you get.