Your Current System Yes/No Considerations Does your current data system Yes Most COTS systems can export to allow you to export data? standard data types (e.g., comma No delimited or Excel). Does your current data system Yes COTS systems typically have a back up your saved data? backup feature to ensure data No integrity. Does your current data system Yes Internet access is needed for full require an internet connection data access in most COTS systems. to use? No Are you able to run reports from Yes COTS systems usually offer built-in your data system? reporting or connections to add No reporting applications. Can you customize reports in Yes COTS systems typically require your data system? additional resources to customize No reports. Can you customize forms in Yes Most COTS systems only minor your data system? changes to forms (e.g., field names). No Is your database managed by COTS systems do not typically allow Yes you? direct data management or design No changes. Are your data managed or Some COTS systems will allow Yes accessed by an external shared accounts for external data vendor? No access. Do you have a single data Specific data capture does not Yes system that captures all typically come into a COTS necessary grant reporting system, but it can be customized with No information? extra resources. Does your current data system Yes Interoperating and data sharing with interoperate, with any other systems is a feature in some “talk,” No systems? COTS systems. Desired System Features Priority Considerations
Your Current System Yes/No Considerations Does your current data system allow you to export data? Yes No Most COTS systems can export to standard data types (e.g., comma delimited or Excel). Does your current data system back up your saved data? Yes No COTS systems typically have a backup feature to ensure data integrity. Does your current data system require an internet connection to use? Yes No Internet access is needed for full data access in most COTS systems. Are you able to run reports from your data system? Yes No COTS systems usually offer built-in reporting or connections to add reporting applications. Can you customize reports in your data system? Yes No COTS systems typically require additional resources to customize reports. Can you customize forms in your data system? Yes No Most COTS systems only minor changes to forms (e.g., field names). Is your database managed by you? Yes No COTS systems do not typically allow direct data management or design changes. Are your data managed or accessed by an external vendor? Yes No Some COTS systems will allow shared accounts for external data access. Do you have a single data system that captures all necessary grant reporting information? Yes No Specific data capture does not typically come into a COTS system, but it can be customized with extra resources. Does your current data system interoperate, “talk,” with any systems? Yes No Interoperating and data sharing with other systems is a feature in some COTS systems. Desired System Features Priority Considerations
1.1_Decision-Guide-Is-a-COTS-System-Right-for-You_Final.docx