Ensure data portability by choosing vendors who provide standard export formats, complete historical access, reasonable timelines, and comprehensive migration support. Poor data portability creates vendor lock-in, making future software changes expensive and risky while limiting your technology choices.

Data portability requirements:

• Export formats - Standard formats like CSV, Excel, PDF for all critical data
• Full access to historical data - Complete transaction histories and document libraries
• No excessive delays or fees - Reasonable export timelines without punitive costs
• Documented structure and support - Clear data organization and migration assistance
• Migration support - Help transitioning data to new platforms if needed

Why data portability matters:

• Vendor independence - Avoid lock-in that limits future technology choices
• Business continuity - Ensure operations can continue during software transitions
• Investment protection - Preserve years of valuable business data

Costs of poor data portability:

• Vendor lock-in - Forced to stay with inadequate software due to export limitations
• Data loss risk - Incomplete exports may lose critical business information
• High switching costs - Excessive fees and delays make transitions prohibitively expensive
• Business disruption - Poor data exports can disrupt operations during transitions

Red flags to avoid:

• Vendors who make data export difficult or expensive
• Proprietary formats that don't work with other systems
• Unclear data ownership policies
• Limited historical data access

Vantaca ensures your data stays yours with comprehensive export capabilities, standard formats, and no limitations or lock-in restrictions, protecting your investment and maintaining your technology flexibility.