What is the difference between a native feature and an integration?

Ask the question directly in the demo

For each capability shown: is this native, configured, delivered by a partner, or on a roadmap? Record the answer per feature. Demonstrations blend all four seamlessly.

Partner-delivered means a third contract

A capability delivered by a partner usually implies another agreement, another renewal and another support path. Establish whether you contract with the partner directly or through the primary provider.

Roadmap is not a feature

Anything not available today should be scored as absent. If the purchase depends on it, tie it to a dated commitment with a consequence rather than to a slide.

Support boundaries

For every integrated capability, establish which provider owns the fault when the connection fails. Two providers each pointing at the other is the most common integration failure mode.

Reading a feature list

When a proposal lists a feature, ask the vendor to mark it as native, configured, partner-delivered or roadmap and to say which document in the contract covers it. Ask what version is required and whether an extra fee applies. Feature lists often mix categories without saying so, and a capability delivered by a partner may need its own agreement and its own support path.

Testing the boundary

During a demonstration, ask the presenter to trigger a failure or a change in the connected product, then watch what the user sees and who is notified. Native features usually fail in one place with one owner.

Integrated features can fail at either end or in between. That test shows how the support boundary works in practice.

Common mistakes about native features

Assuming a suite feature is native because it uses the same logo, treating roadmap items as available, and not asking who supports the connection are frequent. Another is failing to record the answer. Add the classification of each key capability to the evaluation scorecard, and re-check it when the product or the ownership changes.

Questions to add to a scorecard

Is this capability native, configured, partner-delivered or on the roadmap? Who supports it?

Is there a separate contract or fee? What version is required?

What happens if the partner changes? Record the answers for each key feature, then compare vendors on the number of native versus integrated capabilities in your required workflows.