Preparing for a successful year-end project rollout requires careful vendor management, especially during the holiday season. As organizations rush to complete tech initiatives, vendor delays and misaligned priorities can cause costly setbacks. This checklist is designed to help you proactively address these risks and ensure a smooth, on-schedule go-live. By answering these five questions, you’ll strengthen your vendor relationships, reduce the likelihood of disruptions, and maximize ROI.
Each question focuses on a critical area—from verifying vendor availability to establishing a post-go-live support plan—so you can finish the year with confidence and set your team up for continued success. Use this guide as you finalize year-end projects and stay prepared for any last-minute challenges.
1. Have We Confirmed Our Vendors’ Year-End Availability?
Many vendors experience holiday staffing shortages or other client priorities, which can delay support, upgrades, or delivery timelines.
Pro Tip: Reach out early to confirm their availability and create contingency plans.
2. Are All Contractual Deliverables and Deadlines Clear?
Ensure that your vendor agreements include precise timelines, SLAs (Service Level Agreements), and penalties for delays.
Tip: Renegotiate timelines if necessary to account for any shifting priorities or holiday disruptions.
3. Do We Have a Clear Escalation Path for Unforeseen Issues?
Late-stage project problems require rapid resolution. Knowing who to contact in case of delays is crucial for avoiding bottlenecks.
Ask: Do we have direct access to key vendor contacts for escalation and rapid resolution as the days to go live are shrinking?
4. Are We Aligned Internally Across All Workstreams and Key Stakeholders?
Vendor delays often happen because internal stakeholders or workstream leads aren’t aligned in scope, resources or critical decisions.
Check: Are all internal teams clear on timelines and responsibilities to avoid last-minute approvals or scope changes?
5. Do We Have a Post-Go-Live Support Plan?
Even with a smooth implementation, post-go-live issues will occur, and deferred scope is common. Ensure vendors are committed to hyper care, as needed, and ongoing support.
Reminder: Confirm vendor readiness to handle any post-launch challenges during the first 30-60 days following go live and agreed upon extensions to close remaining items and stabilize production.
Ready to Secure a Successful Year-End Rollout?
By proactively addressing these questions, you’ll be well-prepared to avoid vendor delays and maximize your project’s impact. For a deeper dive into strategies that can streamline your implementation, schedule a call with our team today and ensure your projects wrap up smoothly and efficiently.
