Test the Exit Plan Before You Need It

A vendor can be reliable today and still become unavailable tomorrow. Before renewing a service that your team depends on, try a small continuity rehearsal: confirm who owns the relationship, what data or work must be recoverable, and how the team would keep serving people during a transition.

The useful test is practical, not theatrical. Can the team retrieve its records in a usable format? Is there a named owner for the handoff? What essential work would pause, and what temporary alternative is acceptable? Record gaps, then decide whether to repair the arrangement, negotiate clearer terms, or plan a replacement.

This isn’t an argument for leaving a good vendor. It’s a way to make the commitment dependable without confusing familiarity with continuity.