Three tips for choosing the right mass communication vendor

How will you know which mass communication vendor is right for your organization? There are many factors to consider: Is the vendor’s system easy to use? What mobile capabilities does the system support? How does the system minimize the impact of business interruptions? To evaluate a mass communication vendor, you need to know what questions to ask, and ensure that the provider you choose can support your organization during power failures, severe weather events, and other critical situations.

In many cases, people who purchase notification systems do not have information technology or telephony backgrounds, which can make it difficult for them to understand how a mass communication system will benefit their organizations. But an educated buyer knows what questions to ask, and can cut through the sales pitches and marketing noise quickly.

Here are three questions you should ask a mass communication vendor:

Are you an industry thought leader and expert?

Find a mass communication provider that is a proven thought leader and expert in your industry. A thought leader shapes an industry by participating in forums with industry analysts, and engaging in public discussions across a wide variety of media. In addition, as an expert in your industry, this vendor should provide informational webinars, participate in trade shows, and host user conferences and public forums to help educate the market.

How does your system perform?

When the stakes are high, how does a mass communication provider perform? Evaluate how a mass communication vendor has responded to a recent crisis, such as Hurricane Sandy. A mass communication system vendor should also demonstrate the levels of security, performance, and availability with their system, along with the costs of maintaining and scaling the system as your organization grows.

Are you the right provider now…and in the future?

A mass communication vendor’s answer to this question is unlikely to be simple, but it’s crucial that a vendor fulfills your organization’s communication needs. Ensure that their system helps your organization engage in real-time, two-way communication with its constituents in emergencies, and will be able to do so for years to come.

To learn more about what questions you should ask a mass communication vendor, check out this white paper.