1. What role does a vendor checklist play in EHS software decisions?

A vendor checklist brings structure to the buying process. It ensures every provider is reviewed against the same expectations, reducing guesswork and personal bias while strengthening compliance and safety outcomes.

2. How do we define non-negotiable requirements?

Non-negotiables should reflect your highest-risk needs. These usually include incident reporting workflows, legal compliance coverage, data access, system integrations, customizable reporting, clear rollout ownership, and dependable support channels.

3. Why do some EHS platforms struggle with user adoption?

Tools that are confusing, overly technical, or slow to navigate create friction. When a system feels effortless, teams engage with it faster, submit better information, and follow procedures more consistently, improving data reliability and safety momentum.

4. What’s the smartest way to evaluate vendor costs?

Avoid comparing sticker price alone. Score the full financial impact over time including setup effort, internal training, IT support needs, interoperability, software upgrades, contract flexibility, and the cost of scaling or activating new features later.

5. Who should help review vendors, and when?

Vendor reviews work best when teams partner early. Invite voices from safety, IT, learning and development, human resources, operations, budgeting, and procurement during requirements planning to highlight constraints early and improve alignment with the final decision.