Policies and methodologies
Quadrant methodology
In its quadrant reports, Chartis assigns each vendor a numerical ‘completeness of offering’ set of scores (previous reports used an asterisk key). We believe this provides a clearer assessment of the breadth and scope of each firm’s solution capabilities within the overall vendor landscape.
Chartis’ quadrants serve as a tool to enable an understanding of the relative position of solutions and providers in a particular market segment. We present a comparison that aligns market potential with completeness of offering. Placement in one of the quadrant’s four areas rests on the scope of the offering/solution as well as its business strategy, specifically, its effectiveness with its target buyers.
- Category leaders achieve this distinction because they exhibit strength across the broadest set of capabilities in the segment, showing clear execution of core strategy and innovation.
- Best-of-breed solutions provide class-leading capabilities in specific areas or functions and are often deployed to address a particular need or use case.
- An offering designated a point solution may not have as many capabilities as a ‘category leader’ or ‘best-of-breed’ solution, but its functionality may be a perfect fit for institutions looking for domain-specific capabilities. And given their deep focus on a relatively narrow area, point solution providers are often more able and willing to innovate quickly compared to vendors that offer a broader technology scope.
- Enterprise solutions are established platforms with demonstrated integration and scalability.
Process for Chartis’ research reports
Chartis is keenly aware of the importance of our reports coming to market when promised to our clients and the industry. Research is a complex discipline, and it needs to be well governed throughout the process to provide reliable timeliness. Our shift to five core RFIs and repeat benchmark reports is part of our ongoing commitment to client service, and we will operate as detailed below.
Briefings
Briefings and associated demonstrations of solutions will continue to be a critical part of Chartis’ research and report process. These allow us to directly assess the capabilities detailed in RFIs and gain a strong understanding of the user experience. Briefings also allow vendors to provide updates on new features and functionality.
Each report briefing window is a set period, and all briefings must be conducted inside that window – without exception – to enable Chartis to deliver the report on time.
Inclusion in a report
Prior to the briefing window, Chartis will communicate directly with all clients and vendors that it believes are relevant, based on its tracking process. This communication will outline the report’s focus, assessment criteria and quadrants. This information will also be promoted on our website and social media channels to allow additional vendors to participate.
At this stage, all the vendors with which Chartis has communicated have the right to withdraw from the report. In addition, until the end of the briefing window, a vendor that participates in a briefing also has an opportunity to withdraw. This additional option is only available to vendors that participate in briefings.
Publication
Prior to publication, all vendors that feature in a quadrant will be informed of their quadrant position and related scores. All analyses and positionings are the professional opinion of Chartis’ research staff. At the point of review, Chartis will consider any comments from individual vendors but is under no obligation to amend its opinion unless Chartis, in its sole discretion, concludes that an omission or error has occurred. In the case of an omission or error, the relevant vendor has the option to update Chartis – which will then reassess the vendor scoring – or request that it be removed from the quadrant. This is the only instance where removal will be considered post scoring.
In the final report, Chartis reserves the right to list the included vendors and associated quadrants. It also reserves the right to list those vendors that requested to be excluded from the analysis but which Chartis has considered relevant to the space.