At The Network Singularity we are asked to examine and review a lot of new enterprise software offerings. Some are updates of existing products from giant software companies. Others are from the tiniest startups. We also see everything in between.

Here is our criteria for furnishing honest, valuable and actionable feedback: 

•Relative advantage : what value does it bring?

The business value of a new software offering must be immediately apparent and obvious. If you have to think very hard it’s a problem. The product must scream VALUE. If it doesn’t, stop there and maybe revisit the offering in 3-6 months, once the interpreters have had a chance to put value first. 

•Compatibility : how much effort to transition to this innovation? 

Let’s face it, acquiring and updating software is a pain. A lot of what is going on today in technology is to ease the pain of software updates, data migration and compatibility. The new solution must fit your existing infrastructure like your favorite jeans. No matter how sexy it looks, if it is a complicated garment requiring tons of alterations, try back latter when they have the prêt-à-porter version. 

•Complexity : how much learning is required to apply it?

How much thinking and learning is required? Do you need to take a course, Webinar, read a book, to learn how to use the new software offering? Do you need to hire a consultant to show you how to use it? Remember, there is a ton of software in every new automobile. Chances are you could jump in the latest model and drive away in seconds. Same must hold for new business software. If not, try some that does.

•Triability : How easy is it to try the innovation?

So you read the trade rag and attended an action/research cluster. Now it is time to give the new software innovation a try, a test drive. Does the new software offering offer the capability to get a feel for its features? Is their a Freemium? Can the product be used until you have time to make a go/no-go decision? Are the benefits of a pay version clear?    

•Observability : How visible are the results?

Ok everyone, if the boss asks what you are doing in the evaluation can you immediately show her the benefits? Will she give you a big promotion for solving a major problem or integrating x and y? The new software innovation must make you the new office hero. You must be able to show others how cool it is. If not, move along and revisit in a few months when the suppliers can better show what they created.

These are Network Singularity criteria for software innovation. Of course a lot of features and functions can be stubbed out, dormant or planned, but the minimum viable product (MVP) must have these canonical properties to move forward.