Why Vendor Independence Is a Strategy, Not a Technical Preference

Vendor independence is not anti-vendor. It is pro-optionality. The healthiest vendor relationships are clear about ownership, portability, documentation, and the client capabilities that must remain internal.

Lock-in usually builds slowly. A proprietary workflow here, undocumented configuration there, and a team that can no longer explain how the system actually works.

The strategy is to decide what must remain yours: data, architecture, decision records, operating knowledge, and the ability to change direction without starting over.