By Rob Meilen

As a part of the vendor selection process, gathering information and data for analysis is critical to making the correct buying decision.  There are many sources of information including research firms such as Gartner and Forrester as well as other companies that may have evaluated, selected, and implemented the solution set from our vendor finalists.  Seeking input from other companies is an efficient and effective approach. 

Sports Authority is owned by a private equity firm that owns other retailers and quick-service restaurants. We have a community of CIOs and senior IT executives among these affiliates that gives us a unique advantage when it comes to sharing information and best practices.  Because we have a common thread, it’s easy to share openly and honestly. 

We also will reach out and talk to companies outside of our direct community.  It’s common for us to talk to counterparts in retail, but not to our direct competitors because of trade secrets and confidentiality issues.  We might talk to another retailer outside of sporting goods, for example, in consumer electronics.

As a leader, there is tremendous value in developing relationships with your peers in similar businesses.  There are many opportunities to share experiences, strategies and best practices. We learn from each other’s challenges, mis-steps and successes.

Rob Meilen is CIO of Sports Authority, which operates more than 460 stores in 45 states.