vendor/software evaluation process
I am in the process of evaluating a product for our BI needs. It's essentially a suite of packaged analytics applications consisting of a data warehouse, dimensional data models, OLAP cubes, and comes with pre-built reports and dashboards.

It integrates with our ERP system and the vendor did a good job selling the product to upper management during a recent demo.

Our ERP system uses Oracle as the database and we are primarily an Oracle shop with some SQL server skills. Howerver, the BI product uses the Microsoft BI stack - Integration Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services and PerformancePoint services.

As part of the evaluation process, I need to come up with a list of technical questions for the vendor. We will definitely need to customize and "extend" the data warehouse by importing data from systems other than the ERP system. So, some of my questions will focus around the skillset/tools required to customize/extend the data warehouse.  Also, I will ask about recommended server configuration and all 3rd party licenses required.

Beyond these questions, I am not sure what else to ask. I am sure I will need to ask about security, but not sure how to frame the questions. I just started this job and need to make a good impression :-)

I would appreciate feedback from folks who have gone through a similar process.

Thank you.

vendor/software evaluation process
===

I am in the process of evaluating a product for our BI needs. It's essentially a suite of packaged analytics applications consisting of a data warehouse, dimensional data models, OLAP cubes, and comes with pre-built reports and dashboards.

It integrates with our ERP system and the vendor did a good job selling the product to upper management during a recent demo.

Our ERP system uses Oracle as the database and we are primarily an Oracle shop with some SQL server skills. Howerver, the BI product uses the Microsoft BI stack - Integration Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services and PerformancePoint services.

As part of the evaluation process, I need to come up with a list of technical questions for the vendor. We will definitely need to customize and "extend" the data warehouse by importing data from systems other than the ERP system. So, some of my questions will focus around the skillset/tools required to customize/extend the data warehouse.  Also, I will ask about recommended server configuration and all 3rd party licenses required.

Beyond these questions, I am not sure what else to ask. I am sure I will need to ask about security, but not sure how to frame the questions. I just started this job and need to make a good impression :-)

I would appreciate feedback from folks who have gone through a similar process.

Thank you.
