30-second buying checklist for API evaluation

Teams that move fast do it because they keep evaluation criteria visible.

Before you approve a pilot, confirm each line below.

1) Core business fit

• The API can calculate deadlines for your target states.
• Output formats align with your current ticket or task system.
• Response timing supports your current closeout cadence.

2) Exception handling confidence

• Unsupported-state behavior is defined.
• Negative or late-date outputs trigger visible escalation.
• Manual-review path is documented, even if small, during pilot.

3) Internal stakeholders can interpret results

• Leadership can explain the difference between notice and lien deadlines.
• Finance and operations know who acts on each signal.
• Legal has access to state context from /api/v1/state-guides.

4) Technical readiness

• Demo proves the same payload shape works in test and staging.
• One or two integrations are tested end-to-end.
• Security asks for key rotation, scope boundaries, and monitoring.

Why this checklist helps prospects

It moves the conversation from feature-by-feature comparison to operational confidence.

Use it before every internal decision meeting to keep the evaluation objective and fast.