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HR Technology Vendor Selection

Stop Guessing. Start Selecting.

The SelectionWise method gives you a structured, expert-level approach to HR technology vendor selection — from understanding the problem through to signing the contract. Supported by ready-made templates and AI accelerators that save you time at every stage.

From the author of Buying HR Tech in the Age of AI

SelectionWise book and platform on laptop

Book. Method. Toolkit.

Buying HR Tech in the Age of AI explains why most HR technology selections go wrong and lays out the five-phase SelectionWise Method for getting them right. This platform turns that method into executable practice — structured activities, ready-made templates, AI accelerators, and quality-gate checklists that guide your team from first idea to signed contract.

The Book — the strategy & rationale
The Method — the five-phase process
The Toolkit — the execution tools

What You Get

Six months’ access, for roughly the cost of a single day’s specialist consultancy:

Make the Right Decision

A proven 5-phase methodology with 77 activities to guide your team — from understanding the problem and quantifying the value, through to selecting the right vendor on the right terms.

Save Weeks of Effort

50+ specialist templates, ready to use and fully editable — business cases, RFPs, scoring sheets, negotiation strategies, contract reviews, and recommendation reports.

Move Faster

AI accelerators that turn days of research and drafting into minutes — market scans, benefit calculations, RFPs, and vendor response analysis.

Be Ready to Implement

Structured preparation so you start implementation in the strongest position — with the right vendor, the right partner, and the right commercial terms locked down.

Everything you need to select the right technology, on the right terms, ready to implement.

77
Activities
Every step of the process, in sequence, with inputs, outputs, and supporting artefacts
50+
Templates
Business cases, RFPs, scoring sheets, negotiation strategies, contracts — download and customise
AI
Prompts
Generate first drafts of key deliverables in minutes, not days
5
Phases
From initial discovery through to signed contract and implementation readiness

See Inside the Platform

Here's what you'll see when you log in. Browse the walkthrough, explore the templates, and see the full process from discovery to contract.

Platform Walkthrough

See how the platform guides you through each activity, shows dependencies, and links directly to the templates and AI prompts you need at each stage.

Platform Walkthrough

See how the platform guides you through each activity, shows dependencies, and links directly to the templates you need.

▶ Click to play • 6 min

Every instruction is laid out in sequence. You see what comes before, what comes after, which documents to use, and exactly what to produce before moving on.

Ready-Made Templates

Professional templates covering every stage of vendor selection. Download them, customise them for your organisation, and share with your team. All templates are in MS Office format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

DOCX
T1Project Initiation Document (PID)
Project charter: problem statement, objectives, scope, stakeholders, governance, and key milestones.
PPTX
T2Empathy Maps
Visual tool for capturing user insights, pain points, goals, and emotional drivers.
XLSX
T3Stakeholder Impact Assessment
Analysis of stakeholder influence, impact, and engagement strategies.
DOCX
T4Stakeholder Interview Template
Structured interview guide for gathering stakeholder requirements and perspectives.
XLSX
T5Journey Maps
Visual representation of current-state user processes and experience touchpoints.
PPTX
T6Value-Ease Matrix
Framework for evaluating solution ideas based on business value and implementation ease.
XLSX
T7Requirements-Capabilities Matrix
Capturing and prioritising solution capabilities uncovered during Discovery activities.
DOCX
T8Solution Definition Document
Comprehensive definition of proposed solution including features, architecture, and business goals.
XLSX
T9Value Driver Tree
Hierarchical mapping of business objectives to solution benefits and capabilities.
PPTX
T10Business Case Template
Executive summary of business case with recommendations and approval request.
XLSX
T11Business Case Financial Model
Detailed financial analysis including costs, benefits, ROI, and scenario modelling.
XLSX
T11bBenefit Calculations Template
Quantifying individual benefit drivers with step-by-step calculations and Hard/Soft classification.
XLSX
T12Implementation Plan
High-level project plan with phases, milestones, resources, and timeline.
XLSX
T18Phase 0 Plan Template
Comprehensive project plan covering Phase 0 from problem statement through to implementation kick-off.
XLSX
T13Requirements & Evaluation Sheet
Comprehensive requirements capture with evaluation criteria, scoring, and vendor assessment.
XLSX
T14Market Scan Analysis
Vendor landscape, capabilities, and positioning analysis. Build long list then short lists for RFI and RFP.
DOCX
T15Request for Information (RFI)
Structured vendor information request for initial capability and fit assessment.
PPTX
T16Decision Framework
Defines how the team will assess vendors, score capabilities, and reach a recommendation.
XLSX
T16bScoring Calibration Template
Defines what each score level looks like across requirement types, reducing inter-rater variability.
DOCX
T17Vendor Negotiation Strategy
Negotiation planning including priorities, tactics, and commercial strategy.
XLSX
T20Vendor Pricing Template
Standardised pricing collection format for like-for-like cost comparison across vendors.
DOCX
T37Change Impact & Comms Plan
Stakeholder communication strategy and preliminary organisational change impact assessment.
DOCX
T19Request for Proposal (RFP)
Formal vendor proposal request with requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission guidelines.
DOCX
T21Q&A Workshop Template
Structured agenda and question sets for vendor deep-dive sessions.
XLSX
T22Scripted Demonstration
Standardised demo scenarios ensuring consistent vendor evaluation.
XLSX
T23Vendor Scoring Sheet
Scoring workbook to capture and calculate vendor evaluation results; consolidates RFP, demos, and tests.
XLSX
T24UX Testing Preparation
Checklist and framework for user experience and accessibility testing.
XLSX
T25UX Testing Results
Scoring template for capturing usability findings and user feedback.
XLSX
T26Contract Assessment
Legal and commercial contract review template with risk analysis.
XLSX
T27Vendor Evaluation Summary
Consolidated scoring and assessment summary across all evaluation areas.
DOCX
T28Reference Call Template
Structured reference check with vendors' existing customers.
DOCX
T29Vendor Playback Template
Template for providing vendor feedback and final clarification requests.
DOCX
T30Recommendation Report
Executive recommendation with vendor selection rationale and next steps.
XLSX
T38Data Test Pack
Structured framework for preparing and executing data migration and integration tests.
PPTX
T31SI Decision Framework
Decision framework, evaluation criteria, and commercial model for implementation partners.
XLSX
T32SI Selection Plan
Timeline and deliverables plan for SI selection — a subset of the broader Phase 0 Plan.
DOCX
T33SI RFP Template
RFP template specifically designed for systems integrator selection.
XLSX
T34SI Pricing Template
Standardised SI pricing format covering day rates, fixed fees, milestones, and payment terms.
XLSX
T35SI Assessment Sheet
Assessment framework for SI capabilities, methodology, and commercial terms.

AI Prompts That Do the Heavy Lifting

Each prompt takes your project context and generates a detailed first draft — ready to review and refine. What used to take days takes minutes.

XP1Value Driver Tree

Maps your strategic objectives to measurable benefits and the solution capabilities that deliver them.

XP2KPIs & Success Metrics

Generates suggested KPIs and success metrics tailored to your problem statement and industry.

XP4Market Scan

Produces a structured vendor landscape analysis for your specific HR technology category.

XP5Draft RFP

Generates a comprehensive draft RFP from your requirements, evaluation criteria, and solution definition.

XP6Vendor Response Analysis

Analyses vendor RFP responses against your evaluation framework, highlighting strengths and gaps.

XP3Contract Analysis

Flags key commercial terms, risk areas, and clauses requiring legal review.

XP7Benefit Calculations

Quantified benefit calculations for your business case — efficiency gains, cost savings, and productivity improvements based on your organisation’s context.

7 Quality Gates + Workshop Guide

Before you move to the next phase, these checklists confirm everything is complete. No gaps, no missed steps.

XC1: Discovery Complete

Confirms your discovery outputs are solid before you start selecting vendors.

XC2: Ready to Go to Market

Verifies requirements, market scan, and evaluation criteria are ready before issuing your RFP.

XC3: Negotiation Prepared

Ensures your commercial strategy and contract positions are set before vendor negotiations.

XC4: Pre-Signature Review

Final check that critical clauses and sign-offs are locked down before you commit.

XC5: Proof of Concept Ready

Ensures preparation is thorough before committing to a Proof of Concept.

XC6: SI Selection Ready

Verifies prerequisites before inviting implementation partners to propose.

XC7: Implementation Ready

Pre-contract health check so you can move straight into design and build.

📚

XG1: Design Thinking Workshop Guide

Full facilitation guide for running the discovery workshops that underpin Phase A.

How It Works

1

Subscribe

Get immediate access to the full SelectionWise method, every template, and all AI prompts. Nothing locked behind tiers.

2

Follow the Method

Work through each activity in order — from understanding the problem and building the business case, through vendor evaluation and negotiation, to selecting your implementation partner.

3

Select with Confidence

Present a defensible recommendation backed by rigorous evaluation, optimal commercial terms, and professional documentation — the same quality a specialist consultancy would deliver.

One Price. Everything Included.

No tiers, no add-ons. You get the full process, every template, and all AI prompts from day one.

SelectionWise Toolkit

6 Months Full Access
The complete process • All templates • AI prompts • All checklists
  • 77 structured activities covering the full vendor selection process
  • Professional templates for every stage — download, customise, and share with your team
  • Phase completion checklists that confirm you’re ready before moving on
  • AI prompts that generate first drafts of key deliverables
  • Design Thinking Workshop facilitation guide
  • Access for 2 users
  • Templates in MS Office format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • All updates added during your access period
  • Extensions available if your selection takes longer
Get the Toolkit

🔒 Secure payment via Stripe

Need hands-on support? Our consulting services complement the toolkit for organisations that want expert guidance alongside the tools.

Toolkit Benefits

42% of HR technology projects fail within two years. The seeds of failure are almost always planted before implementation begins. This toolkit changes that.

Selection

Pick the Right Vendor

Cut through vendor sales patter with scripted demos, UX testing, and value-led scoring. Select on evidence, not persuasion.

Commercial

Negotiate Optimal Terms

Negotiation strategy, pricing templates, and contract assessment help you maintain leverage and secure the best deal — not just the first offer.

Time

Save Months of Effort

Ready-made templates, AI accelerators, and a proven sequence. No building from scratch — start executing immediately.

Implementation

Hit the Ground Running

Implementation delays are expensive — the SaaS meter doesn’t wait. Readiness activities and checklists ensure your team, your SI partner, and your plan are in place before you sign.

Stakeholders

Build Buy-In From Day One

Adoption starts before go-live. Design thinking workshops, structured interviews, and cross-functional involvement drive ownership and smoother change management.

Context

Adapt to Your Situation

Suite or point solution, mature or emerging market, vendor-led or third-party implementation. Guidance that reflects real-world complexity.

Questions

What exactly is this? Is it software?

It’s an online platform you log into. It presents a structured vendor selection process as a series of activities, and gives you downloadable templates (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to complete at each stage. There are also built-in AI prompts that generate first drafts of key deliverables. Think of it as a project playbook with all the tools built in.

Is this right for my organisation?

It’s designed for HR leaders, IT professionals, and procurement specialists in mid-to-large organisations selecting HR technology. Whether you’re buying an HCM suite, a point solution, or selecting an implementation partner, the structured process applies.

Who gets access?

Each subscription includes access for 2 users — typically the selection lead and a colleague. You log in, follow the process, and download the templates. You then share them with your wider team as needed.

Do I need the book too?

The book provides the strategic context and rationale behind the methodology. The toolkit gives you the execution tools. They complement each other, but the toolkit is designed to be usable independently — all templates include embedded guidance.

What format are the templates?

All templates are in Microsoft Office format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) — fully editable. Download, customise, and share with your team.

How long does a typical selection take?

A full vendor selection typically takes 3–9 months depending on complexity. Your 6-month access is designed to cover most timelines. Extensions are available if your project runs longer.

Is SelectionWise vendor-agnostic?

Completely. We don’t receive commissions from any HR technology vendor. The process is designed to help you make the best decision for your organisation.

Select Like an Expert. Without Hiring One.

Everything you need to select the right technology, on the right terms, ready to implement.

Get the Toolkit