> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lsports.eu/u/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lsports.eu/u/trade/start-here/evaluation-guide.md).

# Evaluation Guide

Welcome to your TRADE evaluation. This guide walks you through the \~14-day evaluation, helping you get the most out of the process and reach a confident decision. Your Customer Enablement Manager (CEM) is with you every step of the way: reach out anytime on your dedicated Slack channel.

***

## Your first hour

Before anything else, see the data live:

1. Log in with the credentials from your activation email.
2. Open the [Coverage Hub](/u/coverage-hub/coverage-hub.md) and find the sports and leagues you care about.
3. Watch live data move in the [monitoring section](/u/coverage-hub/monitoring.md).

This should get you started. The rest of this guide helps you verify it fits your business.

***

## Scope of the evaluation

The evaluation assesses the data and the platform; it is not an integration project. Evaluating first lets you confirm latency, uptime, and coverage fit before your engineering team commits weeks to a full production integration. A minimal test connection is enough: connect, consume, measure. Anything production-related comes after a Go decision, with your CEM guiding it.

***

## Before you start

Share this with your CEM ahead of kickoff so Day 1 starts moving immediately:

* **Business context:** company background and current betting operations, sports and markets of interest, expected volume and usage patterns, compliance and regulatory requirements.
* **Team and timeline:** technical team contacts and availability, your expected evaluation timeline and decision process, and who needs platform access.
* **Meeting attendance:** a **Business Champion** (owns the Go/No-Go decision) and a **Technical Champion** (owns the integration and data validation) are mandatory for the kickoff, mid-point, and summary meetings.
* **Technical details:** any constraints relevant to your setup, preferred SDK ([.NET](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-.net.md), [Java](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-java.md), or [Node.js](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-nodejs.md)), and existing infrastructure considerations for RabbitMQ consumption.
* **Success KPIs:** the latency, uptime, or other metrics that would make this evaluation a Go for your business.

***

## Key principles for a successful evaluation

* You'll be working with **production-grade data**: no mock or delayed data.
* Complete the phases **in order**: they build on each other.
* If you hit a blocker at any point, share it with your CEM immediately. Don't wait for the next check-in.
* The **mid-point sync (Day 7)** is the moment to raise concerns and recalibrate if needed.
* Coverage on your test account is flexible: contact your account owner to adjust it to your needs.

***

## Evaluation timeline

| Milestone                               | When      | Description                                                                       |
| --------------------------------------- | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Kickoff meeting**                     | Day 1     | Align on goals, setup, and the evaluation plan                                    |
| **Phase 1: Initial service assessment** | Days 1–2  | Explore the platform, confirm coverage against your KPIs                          |
| **Phase 2: Configuration and setup**    | Days 1–2  | Tailor TRADE to your business requirements                                        |
| **Phase 3: Core testing**               | Days 2–13 | Connect to the feed, test with live data, measure against your KPIs               |
| **Mid-point sync**                      | Day 7     | Within Phase 3: review progress with your CEM; confirm you're on track to wrap up |
| **Phase 4: Evaluation summary**         | Day 14    | Go / no-go decision                                                               |

***

## Phase 1: Initial service assessment (Days 1–2)

Get familiar with TRADE and validate that the data meets your needs.

* Log in with the credentials from your activation email, and invite your business and technical team members to the platform.
* Review sports and market coverage in the Coverage Hub ([Markets](/u/coverage-hub/markets.md), [Livescore](/u/coverage-hub/livescore.md), [Settlements](/u/coverage-hub/settlements.md)), alongside the [Settlements Rulebook](/u/trade/settlements-rulebook.md).
* Assess live data accuracy in the [monitoring section](/u/coverage-hub/monitoring.md).
* Read the documentation, starting with [Capabilities](/u/trade/capabilities.md) and [Concepts](/u/trade/concepts.md).

{% hint style="success" %}
**Phase 1 is complete when** coverage is mapped to your business requirements.
{% endhint %}

***

## Phase 2: Configuration and setup (Days 1–2)

Tailor TRADE to match your business requirements.

* Configure the [provider list](/u/trade/user-guide/configuration/provider-list.md) for your package; set minimum thresholds, mandatory providers, and weights, or use LSports' recommended provider configuration.
* Configure odds formats, margin settings, min-max ranges, and out-of-range actions in [Package Configuration](/u/trade/user-guide/configuration/package.md).
* Set up default or custom [templates](/u/trade/user-guide/configuration/templates.md) and test them across hierarchy levels; evaluate template override functionality, or start from LSports' recommended templates.
* Configure [Notifications](/u/trade/user-guide/configuration/notifications.md) to monitor system activity.

{% hint style="warning" %}
InPlay is quota-limited during evaluation: order fixtures individually to make the most of it.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Phase 2 is complete when** your configuration is live and templates are validated across your required hierarchy levels.
{% endhint %}

***

## Phase 3: Core testing (Days 2–13)

Connect to the data feed and test the system with actual data. This is the main phase: keep measuring throughout, not just at the start.

* Connect to **RabbitMQ** and consume live data using one of the SDKs ([.NET](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-.net.md), [Java](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-java.md), [Node.js](/u/trade/integration/sdk/sdk-installation-guide-nodejs.md)). If your stack isn't covered by an SDK, see [Connection Setup](/u/trade/integration/connection-setup.md) for a direct RabbitMQ consumer. Keep your consumer connected throughout the phase to validate ordering, odds behavior, and latency.
* For PreMatch, test fixture ordering at different hierarchy levels (sport, location, competition, fixture).
* For InPlay, test fixture ordering at the fixture level only (quota-limited).
* Monitor the [Trading Floor](/u/trade/trade.md#trading-floor); compare [Fixture Logs](/u/trade/user-guide/operational/fixture-logs.md) with the data you've consumed.
* Compare `timestamp_in_ms` (when the message was placed on your queue, in the RabbitMQ header) against received time in your system.
* Compare the `ServerTimestamp` header field against the last update time on your end to check data freshness.
* Test odds updates, market suspension, and odds settings mid-event.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Phase 3 is complete when** data is flowing correctly, fixture ordering is validated, and latency is measured.
{% endhint %}

***

## What to measure

Bring numbers, not impressions, to the summary meeting. Track these throughout Phase 3. Use this worksheet as your Day-14 material:

| Metric                  | How to measure                                                                                                     | Your target | Observed |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------- | -------- |
| **Consumption latency** | Compare `timestamp_in_ms` against received time, across quiet and busy periods                                     |             |          |
| **Data freshness**      | Compare the `ServerTimestamp` header field against the last update time on your end, across quiet and busy periods |             |          |
| **Uptime**              | Feed availability over the full window; note any gaps and their duration                                           |             |          |

Consumption latency, data freshness, and uptime are what matter for almost every evaluation. If other metrics matter to your business, ask your CEM what's worth tracking for your use case.

***

## Evaluation conclusions

Phase 4 is your **evaluation summary meeting on Day 14**. Come prepared with your findings per KPI, any blockers ranked by severity, and open questions for the team. This is the time to share your formal decision.

{% hint style="success" %}
If your verdict is **Go**, bring your proposed start date. We're rooting for it.
{% endhint %}

***

## After a Go

A Go decision starts your onboarding. Full integration follows the [Integration guide](/u/trade/integration.md): from credentials to go-live, typically a few weeks, with data mapping as the longest phase. All the production-grade work (connection resilience, monitoring, market mapping) is covered there, with your CEM alongside; your CSM schedules the actual go-live date.

***

## Support throughout your evaluation

1. **AI knowledgebase:** tag kapa.ai on your Slack channel for the fastest answers.
2. **Dedicated Slack channel** with your account owner and CEM: tag them directly for anything blocking.
3. **24/7 live chat** with [Support](/u/resources/support.md), available around the clock if your CEM is unavailable.

{% hint style="info" %}
**FYI:** if you don't use Slack, or don't have a paid workspace, LSports will invite you to ours.
{% endhint %}


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