Baty said it's important to involve the vendor in planning cycles.

"Create an opportunity for the vendor to be dependent on you. They love reference sites so volunteer to become one as this is worth gold," he said.

"They are not going to let you down once you're a reference site, they will make sure you are looked after." Dealing successfully with vendors:

1. Allow the vendor to make enough money.

2. Understand the vendor's business model