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    Updated May 2026
    Buyer Methodology

    QHSE Software Vendor Shortlist Template — 10-Dimension Rubric

    Most QHSE buys go sideways for the same reason: too many vendors, too many demos, no shared rubric. The 10-dimension weighted scoring matrix below — refined across 200+ QHSE evaluations — keeps a 5-vendor shortlist on track to a confident decision in under 10 weeks.

    At a Glance

    Dimensions
    10
    Vendors in scope
    5 → 3 → 1
    Scoring
    1–5 weighted
    Timeline
    6–10 weeks

    The 10 evaluation dimensions (weights sum to 100)

    15%

    Industry fit

    Pre-built modules and reference customers for your industry (construction, pharma, F&B, etc.).

    15%

    Module coverage

    Depth across incidents, audits, risk, PTW, documents, training, contractor and ESG vs your top 5 use cases.

    10%

    Mobile / offline UX

    Field-grade iOS/Android apps with offline capture, QR codes and photo evidence.

    10%

    Configurability

    Forms, workflows and dashboards configurable by admins without vendor services.

    10%

    Integrations

    SAP, MES, HRIS, SSO (SAML/OIDC), telematics, IoT and webhooks / REST API quality.

    8%

    Implementation timeline

    Vendor's typical time-to-value and the rollout playbook they provide.

    10%

    Security & compliance

    SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, regional data residency and SSO/SCIM support.

    8%

    Reporting / BI

    Native dashboards, scheduled exports and BI connectors (Power BI, Looker, Snowflake).

    7%

    Customer success

    Onboarding model, named CSM, training assets and user community.

    7%

    Total cost of ownership

    All-in 3-year TCO: licences, implementation, training, integrations, premium support.

    How to run the evaluation

    1. Weeks 1–2 — Shortlist: Use this site to filter by industry, size and modules. Land on 5 vendors with proven references in your sector.
    2. Weeks 3–4 — Scripted demos: Send each vendor the same 5 use-case scenarios. Score against the 10 dimensions live during the demo, not after.
    3. Weeks 5–6 — References + security: Two reference calls per finalist (one happy, one churned), and SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / DPA review. Drop to 3 finalists.
    4. Weeks 7–10 — Pilot scoping & commercials: Negotiate a paid 6–12 week pilot with the top 1–2 vendors. Lock TCO and exit terms before signing the main contract.

    Copyable scoring matrix

    Paste into Sheets or Excel. Score each vendor 1–5 per dimension, then multiply by weight for a weighted total out of 500.

    DimensionWeightVendor AVendor BVendor C
    Industry fit15______
    Module coverage15______
    Mobile / offline UX10______
    Configurability10______
    Integrations10______
    Implementation timeline8______
    Security & compliance10______
    Reporting / BI8______
    Customer success7______
    Total cost of ownership7______

    Related buyer resources

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many vendors should be on a shortlist?
    Five vendors for the initial demo round, narrowed to three for deep-dive scoring and one for the pilot. Going wider than five typically slows the decision without improving fit.
    What scoring scale should I use?
    A 1–5 scale per dimension keeps scoring fast and forces differentiation. Multiply by the dimension weight (which sums to 100) for a weighted total per vendor.
    Should I share the scoring rubric with vendors?
    Share the dimensions and use cases, not the weights or scores. This focuses demos on what matters without anchoring vendors on a target score.
    How long should the evaluation take?
    A disciplined evaluation runs in 6–10 weeks: 2 weeks shortlist, 2 weeks demos, 2 weeks scoring + references, 2–4 weeks pilot scoping.
    Do I need an RFP?
    For purchases above $50k/year, yes — a tight 20–30 question RFP focused on your top 5 use cases beats a 200-question template that nobody reads carefully.