AI Vendor Selection: An Executive Guide

Selecting the wrong AI vendor can cost millions. Use this executive checklist to evaluate vendors with confidence.

Executive Vendor Evaluation Checklist

1. Security and Compliance

Ensure vendors meet SOC 2, ISO 27001, and industry-specific compliance requirements.

2. Data Ownership

Confirm you retain ownership of all data and models trained on your data.

3. Integration and Scalability

Evaluate how easily the vendor integrates with your existing stack and whether it can scale enterprise-wide.

4. ROI Transparency

Insist on clear ROI measurement and reporting frameworks.

5. Exit Strategy

Plan for vendor lock-in risk. Confirm portability of data and models.

Next step: Build a vendor scorecard that aligns with your enterprise AI roadmap.