Digital Retail Advisory
Most technology assessments are run by the people selling the technology or implementing it. This practice provides genuinely independent evaluation — grounded in what the business actually needs, not what the vendor wants to sell.
The Challenge
Technology platform decisions are among the most consequential a business makes — and among the most poorly evaluated. RFP processes get run by teams without the commercial context to know what matters. Vendor comparisons get led by the vendors. Systems integrators recommend the platforms they know how to implement.
The result is technology decisions made for the wrong reasons, locked into contracts that don’t fit the business, and implementations that cost two to three times the original estimate.
Good technology assessment is not about finding the best platform. It is about finding the right platform for your specific business, at your specific stage, with your specific constraints — and making the decision in a way that is transparent, defensible, and genuinely in your commercial interest.
Service Offerings
A structured process for evaluating vendors against the actual requirements of your business — not analyst quadrants or vendor-supplied comparison tables. Covers functional fit, commercial terms, implementation risk, and the long-term cost of the decision.
RFP processes that get useful, comparable responses — not vendor marketing dressed up as proposals. Includes requirements scoping, evaluation criteria, and structured scoring that makes the final decision defensible internally.
A clear-eyed framework for one of the most consequential technology decisions a business makes. Grounded in total cost of ownership, internal capability, strategic differentiation, and the actual pace of your roadmap — not a generic framework.
An independent review of your current technology stack against your commercial requirements and growth trajectory. Identifies where the stack is a strategic asset, where it is creating friction, and where investment or rationalisation is warranted.
What Good Looks Like
Technology selections backed by rigorous evaluation — not vendor relationships or internal politics. Clear rationale that holds up to board and executive scrutiny.
Assessment grounded in your commercial requirements, not a vendor's roadmap or a systems integrator's preferred stack. No platform partnerships. No conflicts of interest.
A full picture of total cost of ownership — licence, implementation, integration, migration, and ongoing support. The number that matters, not the headline price.
Decisions made with eyes open to integration complexity, vendor maturity, and what the implementation actually requires — before you're locked in.
Who This Is For
CDOs, CTOs, and heads of technology facing major platform decisions who need independent validation before committing capital and organisational capacity.
Businesses navigating commerce platform decisions — replatforming, adding capability, or rationalising a stack that has grown without a coherent strategy.
Senior leaders approving significant technology investment who want independent assurance that the decision is grounded in commercial reality, not vendor advocacy.
Get in Touch
Share a bit of context about the technology decision you’re facing. The more specific, the faster Patrick can respond with something useful.
Prefer to email directly? patrick@rechsteiner.io