6 Dimensions of AI Vendor Evaluation That Matter Most

Introduction

Artificial intelligence is moving from pilots to enterprise-wide adoption. The right vendor decision determines whether AI becomes a growth driver or a source of cost, risk, and lock-in.

In practice, the decision comes down to six dimensions: architecture, data, risk, value, operations, and economics. This article gives you the evaluation framework for RFPs, shortlists, and renewals; Pitfalls covers what goes wrong, Hidden Costs covers why rigor matters for the business.

For common traps to watch during selection, see: The Four Classic Pitfalls in AI Vendor Selection. For the business and reputational consequences of getting it wrong, see: The Hidden Costs of Choosing the Wrong AI Vendor.

Dimension 1: Architecture & Technical Fit

Definition: The vendor's ability to deliver robust, enterprise-grade AI beyond prototypes.

Assess:

- Supported modalities (text, vision, speech, structured data).

- Model/tool quality against relevant benchmarks and realistic workloads.

- Extensibility (fine-tuning, RAG, guardrails APIs).

- Observability (drift, accuracy, latency, usage).

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for architecture, extensibility, and observability—ask for evidence like benchmark results, API docs, and production case studies.

Note: For why demos often fail to translate to production, see the Pitfalls article (PoCs that never scale). Keep this section focused on how to evaluate depth rather than recounting failures.

Dimension 2: Data & Integration

Definition: How seamlessly the platform fits your systems, data, and workflows.

Assess:

- Native connectors (ERP/CRM/HR/data platforms) and standards (OpenAPI, REST/GraphQL).

- Identity/networking (OAuth/OIDC/SCIM, VPC, private networking, IP allowlists).

- Deployment options (cloud, on-prem, hybrid) and data residency.

- Lifecycle effort (initial integration, upgrades, change management).

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for data sources, connectors, and data pipelines—ask for evidence like integration docs, data residency guarantees, and migration timelines.

Outcome: Lower lift to adopt and operate; fewer brittle customizations.

Dimension 3: Risk, Security & Compliance

Definition: Controls that protect data and meet regulatory requirements from day one.

Assess:

- Encryption at rest/in transit, key management, tenant isolation.

- Attestations (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and sector controls (e.g., HIPAA), GDPR practices.

- Privacy features (segregation, zero-retention, redaction, DSR/RTBF workflows).

- Regulatory readiness (e.g., EU AI Act alignment) and auditability.

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for security controls, privacy, and regulatory alignment—ask for evidence like certifications, audit reports, and compliance roadmaps.

Tie-in: For consequences of gaps (fines, trust erosion), see Hidden Costs.

Dimension 4: Value & Outcomes

Definition: Consistent performance as usage expands across teams and regions.

Assess:

- Elastic scaling, multi-region HA/DR, capacity planning.

- Enterprise-fit quotas/rate limits and performance SLOs.

- Roadmaps for throughput/latency improvements and cost efficiency.

- Business KPIs (productivity, revenue/efficiency levers).

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for business KPIs, time-to-value, and productivity—ask for evidence like performance SLOs, scaling demos, and ROI case studies.

Result: Predictable service at growth inflection points.

Dimension 5: Operations & Support

Definition: The vendor's commitment to ongoing success beyond a sale.

Assess:

- SLAs (uptime, response, escalation) and named CSM/TAM.

- Enablement (docs, training, sandboxes) and solution engineering.

- Partner ecosystem and professional services.

- Run-book, SLOs, support model, and operational stability.

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for run-book, SLOs, and support model—ask for evidence like SLA docs, enablement resources, and reference accounts.

Signal: A repeatable success model, not one-off heroics.

Dimension 6: Economics & Commercials

Definition: Freedom to adapt and avoid lock-in as the landscape evolves.

Assess (solution-oriented):

- Portability of models, data, prompts/workflows.

- Interoperability and open standards.

- Modular architecture enabling component swaps.

- Contractual protections (export, exit assistance, escrow where relevant).

- Pricing model, TCO, scaling costs, and contractual terms.

In your RFP, turn this into requirements for pricing model, TCO, and contractual terms—ask for evidence like pricing calculators, exit clauses, and portability demos.

Note: The mechanics and risks of lock-in are covered in Pitfalls and Hidden Costs; keep this section focused on how to evaluate flexibility.

Bringing It All Together: Build the Scorecard

Operationalize the six dimensions with a weighted scorecard aligned to business priorities:

1) Define weights by dimension for your context (e.g., risk and compliance heavier in regulated sectors; value and economics for cost-pressured units).

2) Convert each dimension into RFP questions and evidence requests.

3) Run structured pilots tied to KPIs and SLOs.

4) Require transparency (security docs, roadmaps, references).

5) Bake in exit and portability terms at contracting.

Use these six dimensions as the columns in your RFP/scorecard. Score each vendor, then use the Hidden Costs article to stress-test the decision with leadership.

For pitfalls to anticipate during evaluation, see the Pitfalls article. For executive alignment on why the rigor matters, see Hidden Costs.

Conclusion

Use these six dimensions as your backbone for selection, renewal, and governance. Keep pitfalls in view to pressure-test vendors, and use the Hidden Costs narrative to align stakeholders on the business stakes.