Our_DPS industry_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT0 resilient_AJ0 one_PNI ._SENT We_PNP have_VHB managed_VVN to_TO0 bounce_VVI back_AVP from_PRP a_AT0 multitude_NN1 of_PRF financial_AJ0 and_CJC health-related_AJ0 catastrophes_NN2 over_PRP the_AT0 past_AJ0 century_NN1 ._SENT However_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 latest_AJS crisis_NN1 brought_VVD a_AT0 huge_AJ0 push_NN1 forward_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 adoption_NN1 of_PRF new_AJ0 (_PUL or_CJC new_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 hotel_NN1 industry_NN1 )_PUR technology_NN1 ._SENT Some_DT0 of_PRF this_DT0 was_VBD for_PRP the_AT0 safety_NN1 of_PRF guests_NN2 and_CJC some_DT0 was_VBD for_PRP the_AT0 cost-cutting_AJ0 initiatives_NN2 made_VVD necessary_AJ0 by_PRP the_AT0 pandemic_AJ0 ._SENT 
With_PRP each_DT0 of_PRF these_DT0 investments_NN2 ,_PUN brands_NN2 ,_PUN owners_NN2 and_CJC management_NN1 companies_NN2 likely_AJ0 went_VVD through_PRP a_AT0 relatively_AV0 thorough_AJ0 evaluation_NN1 process_NN1 ._SENT Once_CJS the_AT0 decision_NN1 was_VBD made_VVN ,_PUN an_AT0 implementation_NN1 process_NN1 was_VBD created_VVN followed_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 training_NN1 process_NN1 ._SENT Some_DT0 savvy_AJ0 hoteliers_NN2 may_VM0 have_VHI put_VVN in_PRP some_DT0 type_NN1 of_PRF monitoring_NN1 program_NN1 to_TO0 track_VVI usage_NN1 but_CJC the_AT0 ones_NN2 that_CJT added_VVD a_AT0 return-on-investment_NN1 tracking_NN1 process_NN1 will_VM0 be_VBI the_AT0 ones_NN2 to_TO0 come_VVI out_AVP ahead_AV0 ._SENT 
For_PRP many_DT0 ,_PUN this_DT0 is_VBZ where_AVQ things_NN2 stopped_VVD ._SENT Very_AV0 few_DT0 (_PUL if_CJS any_DT0 )_PUR companies_NN2 invest_VVB in_PRP ongoing_AJ0 support_NN1 beyond_PRP the_AT0 basics_NN2 of_PRF keeping_VVG the_AT0 software_NN1 up_AVP and_CJC running_VVG ._SENT Many_DT0 individual_AJ0 hotels_NN2 and_CJC their_DPS staff_NN0 were_VBD left_VVN to_TO0 wander_VVI the_AT0 path_NN1 of_PRF ongoing_AJ0 usage_NN1 ,_PUN thinking_VVG they_PNP knew_VVD the_AT0 full_AJ0 extent_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 software_NN1 's_POS capabilities_NN2 ._SENT 
If_CJS you_PNP doubt_VVB this_DT0 ,_PUN look_VVB at_PRP your_DPS existing_AJ0 technology_NN1 ,_PUN then_AV0 ask_VVB yourself_PNX ,_PUN "_PUQ Who_PNQ is_VBZ the_AT0 expert_NN1 in_PRP it_PNP ?_SENT "_PUQ or_CJC "_PUQ Who_PNQ in_PRP your_DPS organization_NN1 is_VBZ responsible_AJ0 for_PRP keeping_VVG up_AVP with_PRP new_AJ0 releases_NN2 ,_PUN enhancements_NN2 ,_PUN training_NN1 ,_PUN ongoing_AJ0 usage_NN1 ?_SENT "_PUQ Chances_NN2 are_VBB there_EX0 is_VBZ no_AT0 one_PNI ._SENT 
The_AT0 fact_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT0 farther_AV0 removed_VVN from_PRP implementation_NN1 the_AT0 more_AV0 diluted_AJ0 usage_NN1 becomes_VVZ ._SENT The_AT0 initial_AJ0 users_NN2 after_PRP implementation_NN1 are_VBB typically_AV0 trained_VVN on_PRP all_DT0 aspects_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 product_NN1 ._SENT Then_AV0 as_CJS new_AJ0 users_NN2 are_VBB brought_VVN onboard_NN1 ,_PUN they_PNP are_VBB taught_VVN the_AT0 pieces_NN2 the_AT0 original_AJ0 user_NN1 used_VVN ,_PUN while_CJS the_AT0 unused_AJ0 features_NN2 (_PUL even_AV0 though_CJS they_PNP might_VM0 be_VBI quite_AV0 valuable_AJ0 )_PUR are_VBB ignored_VVN or_CJC forgotten_VVN ._SENT 
Run_VVB this_DT0 through_PRP multiple_AJ0 generations_NN2 of_PRF user_NN1 training_NN1 (_PUL think_VVB about_PRP the_AT0 turnover_NN1 rate_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 hospitality_NN1 industry_NN1 )_PUR and_CJC by_PRP generation_NN1 three_CRD or_CJC four_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 typical_AJ0 user_NN1 knows_VVZ just_AV0 enough_AV0 to_TO0 do_VDI his_DPS or_CJC her_DPS job_NN1 and_CJC nothing_PNI more_AV0 ._SENT Now_AV0 add_VVB in_PRP the_AT0 enhancements_NN2 and_CJC new_AJ0 features_NN2 the_AT0 typical_AJ0 software-as-a-service_NN1 vendor_NN1 adds_VVZ in_PRP a_AT0 year_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC you_PNP get_VVB a_AT0 system_NN1 where_AVQ users_NN2 utilize_VVB a_AT0 small_AJ0 percentage_NN1 of_PRF its_DPS actual_AJ0 functionality_NN1 ._SENT 
This_DT0 means_VVZ the_AT0 next_ORD salesperson_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 slick_AJ0 sales_NN0 pitch_NN1 can_VM0 unseat_VVI an_AT0 existing_AJ0 vendor_NN1 easily_AV0 because_CJS no_AT0 one_PNI knows_VVZ what_DTQ their_DPS actual_AJ0 technology_NN1 can_VM0 do_VDI for_PRP them_PNP ._SENT "_PUQ Can_VM0 "_PUQ is_VBZ the_AT0 important_AJ0 word_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 sentence_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 reality_NN1 is_VBZ that_CJT while_CJS you_PNP may_VM0 think_VVI you_PNP know_VVI what_DTQ your_DPS technology_NN1 is_VBZ doing_VDG for_PRP your_DPS current_AJ0 users_NN2 ,_PUN you_PNP likely_AV0 do_VDB n't_XX0 know_VVI what_DTQ it_PNP could_VM0 do_VDI if_CJS only_AV0 you_PNP had_VHD kept_VVN up_AVP with_PRP the_AT0 technology_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 vendor_NN1 ._SENT 
This_DT0 begs_VVZ the_AT0 question_NN1 :_PUN Who_PNQ is_VBZ responsible_AJ0 for_PRP this_DT0 process_NN1 ?_SENT Should_VM0 the_AT0 purchasing_AJ0 company_NN1 be_VBI responsible_AJ0 ?_SENT Should_VM0 the_AT0 vendor_NN1 be_VBI responsible_AJ0 ?_SENT The_AT0 answer_NN1 lies_VVZ somewhere_AV0 in_AVP between_PRP ._SENT 
What_DTQ 's_VBZ Missing_VVG from_PRP Your_DPS Evaluation_NN1 Process_NN1 ?_SENT 
Let_VVB 's_POS start_NN1 with_PRP how_AVQ most_DT0 companies_NN2 evaluate_VVB a_AT0 new_AJ0 technology_NN1 ._SENT A_AT0 quick_AJ0 Google_NN1 search_NN1 will_VM0 result_VVI in_PRP 10_CRD to_PRP 15_CRD checklists_NN2 on_PRP how_AVQ to_TO0 evaluate_VVI most_DT0 technology_NN1 ._SENT Additionally_AV0 ,_PUN depending_VVG on_PRP the_AT0 sophistication_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 company_NN1 writing_VVG the_AT0 check_NN1 ,_PUN there_EX0 may_VM0 be_VBI someone_PNI in-house_AJ0 who_PNQ has_VHZ a_AT0 checklist_NN1 specific_AJ0 to_PRP his_DPS or_CJC her_DPS previous_AJ0 experiences_NN2 ._SENT Typically_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 following_AJ0 things_NN2 are_VBB evaluated_VVN at_PRP varying_AJ0 degrees_NN2 of_PRF complexity_NN1 :_PUN 
Disaster_NN1 recovery_NN1 :_PUN Testing_NN1 ,_PUN frequency_NN1 of_PRF testing_NN1 ,_PUN recovery_NN1 time_NN1 and_CJC geo-redundancy_NN1 are_VBB a_AT0 few_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 categories_NN2 in_PRP these_DT0 ._SENT This_DT0 makes_VVZ sense_NN1 because_CJS everyone_PNI wants_VVZ to_TO0 make_VVI sure_AJ0 their_DPS data_NN0 wo_VM0 n't_XX0 be_VBI lost_VVN because_CJS of_PRF vendor_NN1 errors_NN2 ._SENT 
Security_NN1 :_PUN PCI_NP0 compliance_NN1 ,_PUN audits_NN2 ,_PUN firewalls_NN2 ,_PUN log_NN1 file_NN1 management_NN1 ,_PUN identity_NN1 management_NN1 and_CJC visibility_NN1 into_PRP emerging_AJ0 threats_NN2 are_VBB all_AV0 reviewed_VVN to_PRP exhaustion_NN1 ._SENT Again_AV0 ,_PUN this_DT0 makes_VVZ sense_NN1 because_CJS the_AT0 protection_NN1 of_PRF personal_AJ0 data_NN0 is_VBZ paramount_AJ0 ._SENT 
Flexibility_NN1 of_PRF service_NN1 ecosystem_NN1 :_PUN Typically_AV0 this_DT0 is_VBZ limited_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 system_NN1 's_POS ability_NN1 to_TO0 integrate_VVI with_PRP other_AJ0 systems_NN2 ._SENT No_AT0 one_PNI wants_VVZ a_AT0 rigid_AJ0 system_NN1 where_AVQ they_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 cross-pollinate_NN1 data_NN0 ._SENT 
Service-level_AJ0 agreements_NN2 :_PUN This_DT0 is_VBZ almost_AV0 always_AV0 focused_VVN on_PRP uptime_NN1 ._SENT Uptime_NN1 is_VBZ important_AJ0 but_CJC SLAs_NN2 should_VM0 cover_VVI much_AV0 more_AV0 ._SENT 
Global_AJ0 reach_NN1 :_PUN This_DT0 is_VBZ the_AT0 one_PNI often_AV0 dropped_VVN when_CJS the_AT0 company_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX0 have_VHI (_PUL or_CJC does_VDZ n't_XX0 believe_VVI it_PNP has_VHZ )_PUR global_AJ0 reach_NN1 ._SENT 
Costs_NN2 :_PUN Setup_NN1 ,_PUN maintenance_NN1 ,_PUN license_NN1 ,_PUN replaced-dns_NP0 ._SENT are_VBB included_VVN for_PRP obvious_AJ0 reasons_NN2 ._SENT 
Features_NN2 :_PUN Do_VDB the_AT0 existing_AJ0 features_NN2 answer_VVB the_AT0 pain_NN1 points_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 organization_NN1 ?_SENT This_DT0 should_VM0 be_VBI done_VDN but_CJC does_VDZ the_AT0 evaluator_NN1 have_VHB a_AT0 clear_AJ0 understanding_NN1 of_PRF new_AJ0 pain_NN1 points_NN2 that_CJT may_VM0 occur_VVI if_CJS current_AJ0 users_NN2 are_VBB n't_XX0 utilizing_VVG all_DT0 the_AT0 functionality_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 existing_AJ0 product_NN1 ?_SENT 
Word_NN1 of_PRF mouth_NN1 :_PUN Typically_AV0 this_DT0 is_VBZ limited_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ references_NN2 "_PUQ provided_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 vendor_NN1 ._SENT 
This_DT0 is_VBZ by_PRP no_AT0 means_NN0 a_AT0 complete_AJ0 list_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC it_PNP highlights_VVZ the_AT0 top_AJ0 items_NN2 evaluated_VVN ._SENT Do_VDB you_PNP notice_VVI anything_PNI missing_AJ0 from_PRP this_DT0 list_NN1 ?_SENT The_AT0 one_CRD thing_NN1 rarely_AV0 evaluated_VVN is_VBZ the_AT0 training_NN1 partnership_NN1 component_NN1 ._SENT How_AVQ does_VDZ the_AT0 vendor_NN1 partner_NN1 with_PRP your_DPS company_NN1 to_TO0 facilitate_VVI ongoing_AJ0 learning_NN1 ?_SENT What_DTQ about_PRP ongoing_AJ0 updates_NN2 ?_SENT Is_VBZ your_DPS staff_NN0 up_AVP to_TO0 speed_VVI on_PRP the_AT0 latest_AJS ,_PUN perhaps_AV0 essential_AJ0 ,_PUN changes_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 software_NN1 ?_SENT 
Most_DT0 software_NN1 vendors_NN2 have_VHB some_DT0 version_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 learning-management_AJ0 system_NN1 that_CJT houses_VVZ all_DT0 their_DPS intellectual_AJ0 knowledge_NN1 about_PRP the_AT0 product_NN1 ._SENT 
