First Stratum customer install - fine to kick the tires, a mistake for production; best if CIQ does the installation; keep Chris Wolford in the loop

November 9, 2026 at 4:01 PMoperationalmedium

Situation

With Stratum Pro newly GA, Bjorn and Adam asked about a customer installing it. Peter said yes, keep Chris Wolford in the loop, and warned that no customer has taken Stratum yet so there will be a problem: installing to kick the tires is great, planning production tomorrow would be a mistake, and it would be best if CIQ did the installation so the team can see and resolve problems as they arise.

Reasoning

Confirmed by Peter. Same split as the 11/3 Core42 call - ready to sell is not ready for any deployment - with the gate set by the customer intent (evaluation versus production). A first install is where CIQ learns how the product breaks; if CIQ runs it, that learning happens inside CIQ rather than as a support escalation, and the customer first impression is CIQ resolving issues live. Chris Wolford owns Stratum and needs the first field data.

Additional Context

Customer not named in the thread.

Observed Evidence

Yes; keep Chris Wolford in the loop; no customer has taken Stratum yet so there WILL be a problem; kick the tires fine, production tomorrow a mistake; best if we install.

Confidence Breakdown

32/35
Evidence
15/30
Pattern
16/20
Source
7/15
Corroboration

Reasoning Depth Analysis

Org Signal:GA is not proven; first deployments are learning events CIQ should own.
Who Affected:Chris Wolford org absorbs first-field issues; sales sets expectations accordingly.
Precedent:First installs of a new product are evaluation-grade unless CIQ performs them.
Consequences:Shapes how sales positions the first Stratum customers.
Timing:Stratum Pro GA that same day.

Source

reflection

AI Confidence

70%

Related Context

💬
Bjorn/Adam/Peter group DM

slack

If they are installing it to kick the tires, that is great. If they are planning on production tomorrow - that would be a mistake.

💬
Bjorn/Adam/Peter group DM

slack

Would absolutely be best if WE did the installation for them, so could see and resolve problems as they arise.

Outcome

No outcome recorded yet.

Decision ID: 3edf4542-70a4-4fec-b041-983d1118ffe0