The VendorRate charter

• Transparency must protect identity – VendorRate balances the need for truthful and open information with the risks associated with disclosing the identity of the Enterprise rater. Raters are validated by their business email address, but the rater’s identity and organization are never disclosed.
• Sources must be trustworthy — VendorRate is vendor neutral. To ensure an independent relationship with all IT vendors, VendorRate accepts no corporate advertising, and we partner only with independent trade associations and user groups. All rating scores are posted regardless of the potential for a positive or negative impact on a vendor.
• Rating Information must be standard and quantifiable — VendorRate numerical scores provide vendor comparison and industry “best of class” rankings. VendorRate’s Key Performance Indicator (KPI) measurements help the Enterprise customer leverage contract negotiations by providing hard data about vendor strengths and weaknesses as evaluated by existing customers.
• Make online summary information free; charge for more advanced use — VendorRate permits businesses of all sizes to rate vendors and view scores. The annual subscription service is affordable, yet provides comprehensive data analytics for those organizations who require more detail for their due diligence efforts.

VendorRate gives a voice to IT professionals, user groups and associations by providing reliable user-generated measurements to reduce risk and enhance marketing, sales, purchasing and operations programs.

A wave of new Internet technologies is transforming the methods Enterprise companies use to do business with other businesses. While the media hoopla continues to focus on unique ways people communicate with friends, share music, and track areas of interest, business is now quietly adopting Web 2.0 strategies that reduce risk when considering IT purchases.

Web 2.0 Adapted for Business Use

According to Wikipedia, “Web 2.0 is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users.” Although there are many parallels in “new Internet” use between the consumer and corporate worlds, Web 2.0 for business must play by a slightly different set of rules that takes into account the risks and responsibilities found in the Enterprise while continuing to provide open, accurate and reliable information.

Power shifts from vendors to users
Some of the most transformative aspects of Web 2.0 for business are new decision making tools now available to the IT community. Business users sharing hands-on experience can be found in blogs, discussion groups, and forums. Feedback from peers and colleagues provides trusted information about vendors, products, and services. When reliable, these resources help the Enterprise significantly reduce risk prior to making technology and/or financial commitments.

VendorRate adapts the Web 2.0 philosophies of collaboration and transparency with special rules required for use by the Enterprise.

Come the revolution

The “collective voice of the customer” is also a powerful information supplement to reviews provided by analysts and media. New data resources like VendorRate diminish the selective information or deliberate spin often delivered by corporate marketing departments. (When is the last time a vendor published case study or white paper that demonstrated it was not the best in class?)