15 Questions to Ask on Any RA Software Demo
Every demo shows the happy path. These questions get at what happens when something breaks, when you want to leave, or when your practice looks nothing like the vendor's best customer.
A vendor demo is a curated experience by design, that is not a criticism, it is what a demo is for. The questions below are not gotchas, they are the ones that separate a genuinely good fit from a good pitch. Bring this list, or the printable version below, to your next RA software demo.
Free download
15-Question RA Software Demo Checklist
- All 15 questions grouped by compliance, data ownership, pricing, and support
- A blank column to fill in each vendor's answer side by side
- A one-page printable reference for your next demo call
Compliance and audit trail
Data ownership and portability
Pricing structure
Support reality
What the demo did not show
Why the audit-trail question matters most
Of everything on this list, the Regulation 25 questions are the ones with real downside if you get the answer wrong. Pricing and support quality are recoverable, you can switch vendors later. A gap in your audit trail during a SEBI inspection is not something a later vendor switch fixes retroactively. Ask that one first.
FAQ
What is the most important question to ask on an RA software demo?
How the Regulation 25 audit trail is structured and whether you can export it as CSV on demand. Pricing and support can be fixed by switching later; a gap in the audit trail during a SEBI inspection cannot.
What should I ask about data ownership?
What exactly you can export if you leave and in what format, whether there is a fee or notice period to export, and whether the vendor can import your existing client book including KYC and consent history.
What should I ask about pricing?
Whether it is a flat fee, a revenue share or a hybrid and the exact formula, what happens to the price as your client book grows, and whether support, onboarding or migration cost extra.