Connect
PetConnect
Cortex
Choosing veterinary software means deciding who will help manage an important part of your practice's information. Ownership relationships can be relevant to that decision, especially when a supplier or its investors also operate clinics. They are a reason to ask clear questions, not evidence that anyone has misused data.
A useful vendor review examines what the organisation is allowed to do, what people can actually access, and what happens if your practice leaves. Apply the same questions to every supplier, including Vetigen.
Separate an ownership relationship from a proven problem#
A corporate connection does not establish client poaching, unfair pricing or deliberate support delays. Equally, being an independent technology company does not remove the need for access controls and a clear contract. Look for evidence about the specific service rather than assuming good or bad conduct from a company structure alone.
Record the contracting entity, relevant affiliates and services involved in processing your information. If ownership changes, ask how you will be informed and whether the change affects the agreement. Treat unanswered questions as matters to resolve before committing, rather than allegations to publish.
Ask questions that can produce a useful answer#
Topic | Question for the supplier | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
Support access | When can staff open a practice record? | Approval process and access policy |
Affiliated businesses | Can another business use practice information? | Contractual purpose and separation terms |
Analytics | What is used beyond delivering our service? | Data-use description and available choices |
Subprocessors | Which other services handle our data? | Current list and change process |
Continuity | What happens during an outage or ownership change? | Support and continuity arrangements |
Exit | What can we export, including attachments? | Example export and assistance terms |
Bring this table to a software selection discussion with Vetigen. We can discuss your workflow and the information you need to assess a move; a product demonstration is not a substitute for reviewing the agreement.
Review data use by purpose#
“We use data to improve the service” may leave important practical questions unanswered. Ask which data, whether it remains identifiable, who receives it and how long it is kept. Request a separate explanation for AI features when their processing differs from ordinary record storage.
Where GDPR applies, controller and processor roles depend on the relevant processing activities. The European Data Protection Board's guidance explains these concepts. Do not treat a supplier's chosen label as a complete assessment of your practice's obligations; obtain advice appropriate to your jurisdiction when reviewing the agreement.
Test portability with a representative example#
Before changing systems, choose a small, non-sensitive sample that represents your records: a patient, a visit, an attachment and an outstanding task. Establish what can be exported and how the receiving system will interpret it. Check relationships as well as file counts. A folder containing documents is useful only if you can tell which patient and visit they belong to.
Agree who resolves missing or mismatched items, whether assistance has a cost, and how long access continues after cancellation. Retain a record of the acceptance criteria. Our migration page is a starting point for discussing this process, not a promise that every source system has the same export capability.
Evaluate support through a real working scenario#
Ask how an interrupted laboratory connection, an access problem or a correction to a patient record is handled. Compare the support hours and escalation process against your opening hours. A promised response time and a promised resolution time are different commitments.
Keep commercial terms, technical suitability and service quality as separate lines in your decision. A low subscription price cannot answer a question about an export, and a polished demonstration cannot establish how an incident will be handled.
Make the decision traceable#
Write a short decision record: requirements met, conditions still open, supporting documents and the person responsible for each next step. This makes the choice explainable to your team and easier to revisit later.
For the wider workflow evaluation, use the veterinary software comparison guide. If you want to review your questions with our team, choose Request a call on this page. You can explore Connect with a free account while assessing which plan and services fit your practice.
