# 23. What should we ask a scouting supplier before agreeing to a demonstration?


**Ask for evidence that makes the demonstration comparable and purchase-relevant.** Use the following brief instead of an open-ended request to see the platform.

> We are evaluating your service for **[named recruitment task]** across **[competition-season combinations]**. Please confirm the proposed users, entities, datasets, footage and historical scope.
>
> We would like to test the same authorised player sample used for our incumbent baseline. Please provide a coverage inventory, known limitations, sample report or export, relevant documentation and the proposed commercial schedule.
>
> During the trial, please distinguish additional evidence from information available through our existing sources. Demonstrate missing-data handling, corrections and the route from a conclusion to its supporting data or footage.
>
> Please also identify the contractual permissions required for **[database storage, internal modelling, external AI processing, contractor access or group sharing]**. Mark anything not included in the quoted package.

Prepare three work products before the meeting:

1. **Overlap Audit:** what the club already owns and uses.
2. **NWSL Coverage Gap Map or MLS coverage matrix:** the exact evidence that remains missing.
3. **Same-Shortlist Trial Kit:** shared tasks, hard gates and scoring rules.

A useful evaluation should be able to conclude **“retain the current stack”**. If the process cannot reach that outcome, it is not an independent buying test.