Evaluating Enterprise Platforms
The phrase “Kicking the Tyres” has two sources of origin;
- You might remember the phrase “kick the tyres and light the fires” from the movie Independence Day. It’s a reference to the habits of fighter pilots doing a pre-flight walk around inspection of the aircraft before climbing into the cockpit and starting the engine
- The second is from the automobile industry where people would physically kick the tyres of a car to check their condition and durability before making a purchase.
In essence the act of “Kicking the Tyres” was a way to determine quality and ensure the vehicle was in good condition. Over time, the phrase has evolved to be used more broadly to mean evaluating or examining something before making a decision.
In my roles working on both Client and Vendor sides of the fence I have been involved in organising, conducting and participating in platform evaluation & selection exercises we referred to as “Kicking the Tyres”.
These evaluation exercises were utilised in three main types of situation;
- Selecting new enterprise platforms
- Evaluating the technology of a prospective M&A target
- Evaluating the current state of an organisations technology landscape
The targeted platforms under assessment have included;
- Core Enterprise Business Platforms (products and homegrown)
- Generic Business Platforms
- Low Code Development Platforms
- Technology Enablement Platforms
These evaluation exercises have spanned numerous business verticals including Insurance, Pensions, Travel & Health, Relocation, Hospitality.
The degree of rigour we put into the evaluation process was extremely valuable in allowing all areas of the organisation to see what the result of a potential selection would be.
The approach has evolved over the years and is geared towards the following objectives;
- Preventing misperception around functional and technical capability of a platform
- Building consensus within the business and technical communities on the final decision
- Avoiding buyers remorse
- Assessing how the RFP finalists performs in a near real-world situation
- Qualifying the RFP responses of finalists
- Building a solid foundation and relationship with the eventual winner
- Assessing how the targeted company’s platforms perform in a near real-world situation
- Qualifying the rationale of the deal from a technology perspective
- In depth Due Diligence from a capability and technology perspective
The “Kicking the Tyres” approach can be used for any platform whether business or technology focused across the three main scenarios I have mentioned above. It has also proven highly adaptable and relevant as platform technologies have evolved. Obviously the details of the “things to be evaluated” will differ, but the fundamental structure and objectives of the approach remain the same.
I have used this approach many times on both business and technology platforms ranging from “old school (aka legacy)” to “modern (low-code)”. I can attest to its success in achieving the intended results.
Engaging the “Kick the Tyres” assessment approach does take time and effort, however in relation to the overall cost of the eventual project it is a very small % of final spend and time. I always advise management to think of it as a risk premium. The benefits far outweigh the costs of making a mistake and suffering buyers remorse.
Going back to the car purchasing analogy, you would walk away from any car dealership who will not facilitate a test drive. The same rule applies to the selection and purchase of critical platform components for you business or assessing M&A opportunities. I personally believe reluctance to engage in this type of process should ring alarm bells.
If you are interested in exploring in further detail the Principles and Steps on how to use this approach please feel free to download the pdf below.
I would be interested to hear your opinions on what you think of “Kicking the Tyres” please feel free to leave comments on the Linked-In post directing to this blog at Linked-In-Post
Brian Maguire 