🔍 Core Vendor Selection Criteria
📋 Technical Capabilities
- ✓Transcription accuracy (95%+ for business use)
- ✓Language support & multilingual capabilities
- ✓Real-time vs post-meeting processing
- ✓Speaker identification & diarization
- ✓AI-powered summarization quality
- ✓Action item extraction capabilities
🔐 Security & Compliance
- ✓SOC 2 Type II certification
- ✓GDPR & CCPA compliance
- ✓HIPAA compliance (if applicable)
- ✓Data encryption (at rest & in transit)
- ✓Data residency options
- ✓Access controls & user management
🔗 Integration Ecosystem
- ✓Video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
- ✓CRM system integrations
- ✓Project management tools
- ✓Calendar applications
- ✓API availability & documentation
- ✓Webhook support for automation
💰 Pricing Structure
- ✓Per-user vs per-minute pricing models
- ✓Free tier limitations & restrictions
- ✓Enterprise volume discounts
- ✓Contract terms & flexibility
- ✓Hidden costs & overage fees
- ✓ROI calculation & value demonstration
💡 Pro Tip
Weight these criteria based on your organization's specific needs. Enterprise customers should prioritize security and compliance, while startups might focus on pricing and ease of integration.
📊 Vendor Evaluation Framework
Scoring Matrix (1-5 Scale)
| Evaluation Category | Weight | Score 5 | Score 3 | Score 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcription Accuracy | 25% | 98%+ accuracy | 90-95% accuracy | <85% accuracy |
| Security & Compliance | 20% | SOC2 + GDPR + industry specific | SOC2 + GDPR | Basic encryption only |
| Integration Capabilities | 20% | 50+ integrations + API | 10-20 integrations | <5 integrations |
| Pricing Value | 15% | Best-in-class features at competitive price | Standard pricing for good features | Expensive for limited features |
| Vendor Stability | 10% | Established company, strong financials | Mid-stage company, growing | Early-stage startup |
| Support Quality | 10% | 24/7 support, dedicated CSM | Business hours support | Email support only |
🎯 Scoring Guide
4.0-5.0:Excellent choice, meets all requirements
3.0-3.9:Good option with some trade-offs
Consider alternatives or specific use cases only
✅ Due Diligence Checklist
📋 Pre-Purchase Evaluation
- Request detailed product demo with your use cases
- Test with actual meeting recordings
- Review security documentation & certifications
- Assess integration with existing tech stack
- Calculate total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Verify data export & portability options
🔍 Vendor Assessment
- Research company background & funding
- Check customer references & case studies
- Review service level agreements (SLAs)
- Evaluate roadmap & feature development
- Test customer support responsiveness
- Negotiate contract terms & exit clauses
🎯 Decision-Making Framework
Step-by-Step Decision Process
Define Requirements
Document specific needs: team size, meeting volume, required integrations, budget constraints, and compliance requirements.
Create Vendor Shortlist
Research and identify 3-5 vendors that meet basic requirements. Use industry reports and peer recommendations.
Conduct Detailed Evaluation
Score each vendor using the evaluation framework. Request demos, trial periods, and detailed documentation.
Pilot Testing
Run limited pilots with top 2-3 candidates. Include key stakeholders and gather feedback on user experience.
Final Decision & Negotiation
Select preferred vendor based on scores and pilot results. Negotiate contract terms and implementation timeline.
⚠️ Common Selection Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ What NOT to Do
- • Choosing based on price alone
- • Skipping security evaluation
- • Ignoring integration requirements
- • Not testing with real data
- • Overlooking vendor stability
- • Failing to involve end users
✅ Best Practices
- • Involve IT, Legal, and end users
- • Test with diverse meeting types
- • Verify claimed accuracy rates
- • Plan for data migration
- • Consider long-term scalability
- • Document decision rationale
📚 Vendor Comparison Resources
Helpful Comparison Pages
🏢 Enterprise Meeting AI Tools
Compare enterprise-grade solutions with advanced security and compliance features
🔐 Security & Compliance Tools
Focus on security certifications and compliance requirements
📊 Feature Comparison Matrix
Side-by-side feature comparison across major vendors
💰 Pricing Tier Analysis
Detailed cost analysis and value comparison
🔗 Integration Capabilities
Compare integration ecosystems and API availability
🎯 Accuracy Test Results
Independent testing results for transcription accuracy