Put every offer against the same brief: the result you need, what the provider delivers, what your team still does, and what you own when the engagement ends. Compare those, not the licence price.
Isn’t included engineering support a bonus?
It can be. Find out what it covers, who qualifies and what happens when it stops.
1. Separate the parts.
Licence. What the software costs, and for how long.
Setup. What work is done, by whom, and when it is finished.
Support. What help you get during the engagement, and what you get after it ends.
Practical check: Give each part an owner and an end date.
2. Ask what you keep.
Configuration, documentation, test cases and access. Who can change it later, and what would they need?
3. Get the conditions in writing.
If support is “included for qualifying engagements,” ask what qualifies and how that is decided.
A fictional comparison.
- Offer A
- Licence plus six weeks of setup work. Afterward, support by ticket only.
- Offer B
- Licence only. Your team configures it and keeps everything.
- The question
- Who maintains it in month seven?
Read more: Build, Buy or Configure? Choosing an AI Solution · How to Avoid AI Vendor Lock-In: Keep the Know-How Portable
The example is fictional. This is general guidance, not advice for your situation.