Second, ask which systems they integrate with natively and which require custom work, then compare that list against your stack. Third, review the governance model: where recordings and transcripts live, who can edit agent behavior and how changes are logged.
Fourth, clarify what happens when the agent fails to understand a caller, since escalation paths reveal how mature the design really is. Fifth, confirm the commercial structure, including implementation scope, timeline and ongoing support.
Paloren adds a sixth criterion: training. Software that your team cannot manage after handover creates dependency rather than capability, which is why team AI training is built into every Paloren engagement.
Companies worldwide use this framework to compare platforms on evidence instead of marketing claims, and the same questions apply whether you buy a platform, build custom or combine both.