A familiar brand and beautifully presented screens make a supplier worth a closer look. They do not yet tell you whether the company can deliver your project. It may have built the whole service or contributed one small part.
Pick one project and ask the supplier to walk through it from beginning to end. This reveals more about how the team works than a tour of a dozen client logos.
Establish who did what
Ask which parts the company handled: research, design, development, content, testing or maintenance. Then find out which people from that project would work with you. The organisation's experience and the proposed team's experience deserve separate answers.
If partners were involved, ask how responsibilities were divided. Several companies working together is not inherently a problem. You need to know whether the capability being presented will be available on your project.
Ask about one difficult decision
“What did you have to simplify?” “What failed in testing?” “What changed during delivery?” These questions move the discussion beyond a success story. Look for a specific problem, the options considered and the reason for the decision.
A documentation extract or a before-and-after example can help. You do not need confidential information to understand the team's reasoning.
Look beyond launch day
If the service is public, try a typical task. Check it on a phone and pay attention to forms and error messages. Keep in mind that its current condition may also reflect later changes by the client.
Finish with three notes: what was demonstrated, what remains a claim and what needs checking through references. Use these alongside the supplier search guide to separate a good presentation from the experience your purchase actually requires.
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