Step 1
Write down the required decision
Describe an observable situation: repeated entry, slow approvals or late management information. Choose an owner, scope and baseline. Avoid requests such as “a new ERP with AI” that assume the solution. The first output should establish whether investment is warranted and which criteria rule options out.
Step 2
Compare against the same requirements
A market solution may cover most needs, integration may preserve useful practices and a focused tool may handle a specific rule. Assess each against the same cases, including exceptions. Record data-access limits and available skills. A successful demonstration does not replace acceptance against your business rules.
Step 3
Calculate total cost
Purchase or development price is one line only. Include data migration, interfaces, licences, API consumption, training, supervision and maintenance. State who operates the solution after initial delivery. Compare options using a common period and volume. Published Robinswood prices are entry points, not full budgets for every project.
Step 4
Plan adoption and exit
Identify affected users, coexistence with old systems and support needs. Define exportable data, documentation and contractual rights, taking third-party licences into account. Reversibility must be testable rather than reduced to an ownership promise. A limited pilot reduces the cost of a wrong decision.
Step 5
Decide, including not to build
The €5,000 excluding VAT strategic audit compares expected value, costs, risks and success conditions. It may recommend configuration, integration, tooling, advisory or stopping. Implementation is scoped separately. Tooling starts at €15,000 excluding VAT and advisory at €20,000. Multi-flow engagements and exclusions require a scoped quote.
Method and scope
Original Robinswood editorial guidance for framing a decision. These are proposed methods, not measured client results or legal advice. Adapt them to your systems, data and responsibilities.
Continue with the relevant need, the audit method and the illustrative deliverable. No confidential client document is used in this guide.