Step-by-step instructions

Thanks for using FMX’s Evaluation Matrix! We’re excited that you’re evaluating software for your district. Use the step-by-step instructions below to fully leverage the template.

1. If you’re open the Google Sheets version, click “Use Template” in the upper right hand corner. If you download the Excel version, the file should be ready to edit right away.
2. Once the file opens, you can begin editing the template in the “Evaluation Matrix” tab.
3. Change the vendor column titles (e.g., “Vendor B”, “Vendor C”, etc.) to the names of the software vendors you’ll be evaluating.
4. Use the questions provided in the “Criteria” column during calls/demos with vendors, during free trials, or when you’re conducting online research to determine what each vendor offers and how they compare with other vendors. Feel free to remove questions that don’t apply to your needs or add questions of your own by adding new rows and questions where you see fit.
5. In column “B” or “Importance,” indicate how important that particular criterion is to your district. Assign it a number 1-5, with 1 being not important at all and 5 being very important.
6. In the vendor evaluation columns, score each vendor based on how well they meets your needs for each criterion, with 1 being not important at all and 5 being very important.
7. The spreadsheet will calculate a score for each vendor based on the weight and scores you assign. Leverage these scores when choosing a software vendor. The higher the score, the more likely that vendor is to meet your district’s needs!

The templates available in the FMX Checklist & Template Library have been created by our customers and employees to help get you started using FMX's solutions. The templates are intended to be used as hypothetical examples only and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. You should seek your own professional advice to determine if the use of a template is permissible in your workplace, jurisdiction, and individual circumstances.