Quick Tips: Successful Database Management Evaluation

Working in the tech industry, you’ve undoubtedly experienced sitting through a software demonstration that, to be generous, put you to sleep. The problem is that most demos focus solely on product features, and the audience is usually more concerned with their own specific needs. When considering a database management product, demonstrations are a chance to view features, determine a software’s intuitive capability, and garner the best understanding of how the tool will work within the scope of your data and business needs. To get the most from a demo, it is necessary to first identify what business needs you are looking to solve.

Communicating Your Database Management Needs

If a vendor gives a database management system demo and is not previously aware of your business needs and primary product concerns, it may be a fruitless endeavor for both parties. It can all too easily fall into a presentation with saturated or ambiguous information that doesn’t apply to your business. This disconnect can feel especially vast when the demo fails to cover your organization’s needs.

Therefore, it is critical to communicate before the demo and specify the scope of your needs to assess if the demo software aligns with your concerns. Provide the vendor with an outline including your existing operations, projected future growth, and original use cases for the software. This information generates a detailed, informative roadmap so the vendor can showcase relevant features in their demo environment.

Next Steps

Once a successful database management demo takes place, your team can gather the most pertinent product information and make an informed decision.

During this step, look to evaluate the database management system as a whole so the decision will provide the highest value and ROI for your company.

When considering a cloud native database management option (HCL recommended!) and want to pursue the demo further, request a free trial to test the software’s usability, features, and benefits.

Follow-Up Questions

Before a final decision, review the below questions to make the most informed and valuable choice for your business needs.

• Does the database management vendor satisfy all of your identified needs regarding different stakeholders and users? If not all, what percent of your needs are met?
• Were there any red flags raised during the demos or trial period?
• Did you notice any glitches, missing functions, or unreliable features?
• Will you need to be assisted in implementation? Do they have a strong customer success team to onboard and continue product support?
• What kind of security features does the database management system provide?
• Does IT within your business support the new technology?
• Can you justify the product price with the features provided?
• Will the database vendor be an excellent overall fit within your organization?

Final Notes

Selecting the right database management system requires carving out time to plan, assess, and implement the new software. Do you need further support? The team at OneDB can help guide your database management system evaluation process – reach out to us today!