Key Takeaway
Weighted vendor scorecards eliminate procurement bias by forcing teams to agree on evaluation criteria before seeing vendor demos.
When to Use This Template
Use this scorecard during any AI vendor evaluation or procurement process. Complete the weighting section before vendor demos to prevent post-hoc rationalization. The scorecard is designed to produce a defensible, documented comparison that can be presented to procurement, legal, and executive stakeholders as justification for the vendor selection.
Evaluation Dimensions
| Dimension | Weight | Key Criteria | Evidence Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability | 25% | Feature coverage, model quality, customization, roadmap | POC results, demo, reference calls |
| Security | 20% | Certifications, data handling, encryption, audit | Security questionnaire, SOC 2 report |
| Support | 15% | SLA tiers, response times, documentation, community | Trial experience, reference calls |
| Pricing | 15% | Transparency, scale economics, contract flexibility | Pricing proposal, TCO analysis |
| Integration | 15% | API quality, SDK maturity, ecosystem fit | POC integration effort, documentation review |
| Strategic Fit | 10% | Vendor stability, market position, lock-in risk | Financial reports, analyst coverage, exit clause review |
How to Use
Adjust the dimension weights to reflect your organization's priorities before beginning the evaluation. Score each vendor from 1 to 5 on each criterion within each dimension, then calculate the weighted total. Require each score to be supported by specific evidence (POC results, reference calls, documentation review, security questionnaire responses). Scores without evidence should be marked as unverified and treated as risk factors.
ai-vendor-scorecard.xlsx
XLSX · 128 KB
AI Vendor Scorecard with weighted scoring and comparison matrix
Always run a proof-of-concept with your actual data and use cases before finalizing a vendor selection. Demo environments are optimized for best-case scenarios. A two-week POC with realistic data reveals integration friction, performance characteristics, and support quality that demos cannot.
Version History
1.0.0 · 2026-03-01
- • Initial AI vendor scorecard template