When they come to us with a situation like this, below is the process that we typically use.
What I want to emphasize is that clients must do as much research as they can on their own (if possible) but hire an outside consultant (either because they do not have the resources in-house or because an unbiased opinion is a must) at some point. It is a fact that when you talk to a potential customer, you will not get the answer that we will get. Since consultants like me work across industries and technologies, we can bring unique perspectives and insights. In addition, we are trained to look at every observation, conclusion, and comment with a critical eye. The best approach is the one that combines the internal findings of a firm with that of an independent consultant.