An independent review before you commit
An independent technical and commercial view on a data platform, AI investment, supplier proposal or architecture before you commit.
Running an RFP where every bidder is apparently the perfect answer?
A technology proposal asks you to commit money, people and future flexibility. An independent review tests the assumptions behind that commitment against your requirements and the available evidence.
We compare architecture fit, integration, delivery capability, operating cost and exit options. The recommendation explains trade-offs and the conditions that need resolving before a decision.
TechGuidr takes no commissions or resale margins on third-party products. We also provide delivery services and own software products. Any relevant interest is disclosed, and later delivery is a separate decision and engagement.
When to bring us in
Independent senior judgement before more money is committed
Before the next significant sum goes into a plan, find out whether the plan makes sense. The review is independent of every supplier involved, and the answer can be to stop.
- A major supplier proposal
- A large technology investment
- A transformation plan
- An AI programme
- A platform choice
- An architecture decision
- An internal business case
- A plan to rebuild systems and ways of working after fast growth
- An expensive programme senior leadership is no longer sure about
Already working with a supplier?
Is your supplier doing the job properly?
You are paying for the work but cannot see what you are getting: progress reports that never quite answer the question, quality you have no way to check, dates that keep moving. We look at what has been delivered against what was agreed, and tell you in writing where it stands.
Both sides of the table
Our senior team has held head-of, director and executive roles inside large businesses, and has led delivery in technology, consulting and professional services firms. We know what a good supplier should be doing, and what it costs the person accountable when they are not.
What we look at
The code, the architecture, the data, the delivery plan and the evidence behind the progress reports, against the contract and what you were promised.
What you get
A written report on where the work stands, what to ask the supplier for next and whether to carry on, change course or stop. You can share it with them.
Who this is built for
- CIOs and CTOs facing a decision that is difficult to reverse
- CEOs and boards being asked to approve significant technology spend
- Organisations mid-way through a vendor selection that has lost objectivity
- Leadership teams without an independent technology voice in the room
What you receive
- A clear recommendation, with the reasoning and the trade-offs made explicit
- Challenge of the assumptions inside the business case
- Commercial and contractual points worth negotiating before signature
- Direct participation in vendor sessions and board discussions where useful
How the options end up compared
Every recommendation sits on scoring you can interrogate.
| Criterion | Vendor A | Vendor BRecommended | Vendor C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture fit | |||
| Delivery confidence | |||
| Exit and lock-in | |||
| Five-year cost | £1.7m | £1.9m | £2.4m incl. exit |
Vendor BRecommended
- Architecture fit
- Delivery confidence
- Exit and lock-in
- Five-year cost
- £1.9m
Vendor A
- Architecture fit
- Delivery confidence
- Exit and lock-in
- Five-year cost
- £1.7m
Vendor C
- Architecture fit
- Delivery confidence
- Exit and lock-in
- Five-year cost
- £2.4m incl. exit
Typical investment
Fixed scope, fixed price
Know what the answer costs before we start. All figures ex VAT; the final fixed fee is confirmed after scoping.
- Focused decision or vendor review
- from £7,500
- Full RFP / selection support
- typically £10,000 to £30,000
- Retained independent advisory
- from £7,500/month
What we need from you
- The decision deadline, evaluation criteria and business case
- Proposals, indicative contracts, architecture and access to vendor clarification sessions
- A decision owner and relevant commercial, operational and technical stakeholders
Scope and boundaries
- A focused review examines one decision and an agreed set of options. A full procurement process is a larger scope.
- Commercial contract observations are for discussion with your legal advisers.
- The review does not commit you to delivery by TechGuidr. Any later delivery interest is disclosed.
Before you commit
Questions before you commit
What if we have already chosen a supplier?
A review can focus on the assumptions, contract conditions, implementation dependencies and exit provisions that should be resolved before you commit further.
Will you join vendor discussions?
Participation can be included. The scope sets out which sessions and which decision the review supports.
Can you look at the work of a supplier we already use?
Yes. We review what has been delivered against what was agreed: the code, the architecture, the data, the delivery plan and the evidence behind the progress reports. You get a written report on whether the work is being done properly and what to ask for next, which you can share with the supplier.
Can you review an AI supplier’s proposal?
Yes. We test what is promised against the architecture, the data it needs, the cost of running it, the contract terms and the exit, and say in writing what we would change or ask before you sign.
Should we stop or continue a programme that is running late?
The review sets out the options, including stopping, with the cost and risk of each, so the decision rests on evidence about what is left to do.
Databricks or Microsoft Fabric?
It depends on the workloads, the skills in the team, the licences you already hold and what each would cost to run at your volumes. We compare them for your case, and take no commission from either vendor.
The route
Other services
Every engagement sits on the route from an idea to a working system. Start wherever you are.
Show us the decision you’re trying to make
Two or three sentences is enough. We will tell you straight whether and how we can help.