A practical starting point
Work through these checks in order. Use the results to decide what needs to change in your own workflow.
- Choose a small number of meaningful criteria.
- Apply the same criteria to every option.
- Add context below the table for exceptions that cannot fit responsibly in a cell.
Compare hosted and custom software by maintenance responsibility, integration flexibility and data portability.
A mistake to avoid
Do not compress uncertain claims into definitive checkmarks.
How to check progress
Check whether the comparison remains understandable when read one row at a time.
Your action checklist
Use this checklist while reviewing your own setup. Checkmarks are temporary and stay in this open page.
Need the wider workflow?
This quick note covers one decision. For a worked example, decision table and a fuller implementation workflow, read Turning customer questions into an editorial backlog.
Further reading
Official background resources for this topic. The workflow above is general guidance, not a guarantee of a particular result.
AI-assisted editorial content. Examples are illustrative, not client case studies. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.