Buying enterprise software is only the beginning—successful implementation hinges on choosing and managing the right implementation partner or system integrator. This session walks you through the critical steps before, during, and after the RFP process. What should you include in the RFP? How do you align budgets and lock in rates? What stays in-house vs. outsourced? And how much effort will each internal team need to invest before go-live? From planning your stakeholder involvement and task division to managing vendor relationships and contractual terms, this session shares practical lessons learned and strategies to help you negotiate from a position of strength.In this session you will learn:

• How to define your requirements, scope, and stakeholder involvement before launching an RFP
• How to balance internal vs. external responsibilities and align team competencies with implementation phases
• How to budget realistically by accounting for hidden costs, resource effort, and rate negotiations upfront

• How to define the right requirements and success criteria before launching an RFP
• How to involve the right stakeholders early without slowing down the process
• How to decide what to outsource vs. what to keep in-house during implementation
• How to budget realistically—including internal effort, hidden costs, and rate negotiations
• How to establish strong contractual terms and maintain leverage throughout the project 

Presenting the results of our World Cafés: The moderators summarize the key take-aways of their World Café Round Tables on the main stage and share the main findings with all attendees.