How to choose a technology partner: 10 questions to ask

The right technology partner saves you money, time and stress. The wrong one sells you things you don't need and vanishes when something breaks. These ten questions help you tell them apart before you sign anything.

Before you commit, ask:

1. Who will I actually deal with? You want direct access to the people doing the work, not a call centre or endless handoffs.
2. Can you explain it in plain English? A good partner makes technology simple. If you leave a meeting more confused, that's a warning sign.
3. What's the business reason for this? Every recommendation should tie to saving time, cutting cost or winning customers, not just newer tech.
4. How do you price, and what's not included? Look for clear, upfront costs with no surprises buried in the fine print.
5. Do you work with businesses my size? Enterprise habits and pricing rarely fit a small team. You want someone who tailors to you.
6. What happens if something breaks at 5pm on a Friday? Ask about support, response times and who picks up the phone.
7. Will I be locked in? Good partners design for flexibility so you keep control of your systems and data.
8. How do you keep us secure? Security should be part of everything they do, not an upsell.
9. Can you show how you'd start small? A trustworthy partner is happy to prove value on something small before you scale up.
10. What does success look like in six months? They should be able to describe clear, measurable outcomes, not vague promises.

The short version

You're looking for a partner who is accountable, speaks your language, prices honestly and is measured on your outcomes, not their invoice. If that's the bar, you'll quickly narrow the field.

It's also the bar we hold ourselves to. If you'd like to put us to the test, we're happy to answer every one of these questions on a first call.