A two-page RFP beats a 40-page theater document. This tutorial supports the Complete Guide to Choosing AI Tools and avoids buying on vibes.
Last updated: 2026-08-02
Goal
Finish with an artifact you can reuse on the next purchase—notes your future self will trust.
Why teams skip this (and pay)
Skipping this step is how duplicate subscriptions and shadow AI appear. Agencies feel it in margin; SMBs feel it in wasted seats—see AI for Marketing and AI for Small Business.
Steps
n- n
- State the job card nn
- Ask for architecture diagrams nn
- Require pricing scenarios nn
- Demand reference customers nn
- Set a decision date n
Worked example
Imagine evaluating assistants for weekly reporting. Write the metric first (minutes to usable draft), then trial two tools on last month’s real reports—not a vendor sample PDF.
Tools involved
While you practice, keep ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity handy as reference products in the AI Tools directory.
Troubleshooting
If stakeholders argue brands instead of metrics, pause and reopen the job card. If privacy questions stall the trial, jump to vendor privacy checks and data residency.
FAQ
How long should this take?
Most teams finish a solid pass in 60–90 minutes once the job is clear.
Do we need a PMO?
No. You need an owner, a metric, and written notes linked from the Complete Guide to Choosing AI Tools.
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