After the Merger

What you should do when software suppliers merge:

1. Avoid vendors that are in the process or rumored to be in the process of being acquired, unless you have a solid relationship with the acquiring company
2. Talk with and visit other customers who have used the new company's software, and get experienced evaluations of the product and the company.
3. Thoroughly vet the software—before you sign a contract
4. Before you sign up, make sure you get a detailed project plan and a top-notch project manager. Make sure that manager is going to be around until the product goes live
5. In the contract, establish financial penalties if new functions you need aren't delivered by agreed-on dates
6. Establish metrics going in for measuring progress of all phases of the project; write targets for them into the contract