Who can help with HCL Notes?

BizPerformer helps companies across Europe with HCL Notes and Domino: operations, round the clock monitoring, development, hosting, AI with Domino IQ and migration to Microsoft 365. You can try a consultant for free for three hours.

What must a Notes partner be able to do?

It must know both old and new releases, help with AI and Microsoft 365, monitor servers around the clock, take security and GDPR seriously and document its work.

Can we keep Notes if mail moves to Microsoft 365?

Yes. Notes systems can keep running on Domino while mail lives in Microsoft 365. Then you can move or close the systems one at a time.

How to Choose an HCL Notes Partner

Q: What does a Notes partner cost?

It depends on the task. Operations are often a fixed price per month, while development is hours or a fixed price for a project. Know the price before the work starts.

in Articles / by Christian Gravgaard

Looking for a partner for HCL Notes and Domino? Then look for five things. The partner must know both the old and the new releases. It must be able to help with AI and with Microsoft 365. It must watch your servers around the clock. It must take security and GDPR seriously. And you must be able to try it before you sign. Here you get a checklist and the questions to ask.

Why does the choice of partner matter so much?

Notes often runs the systems a company cannot do without. It may be cases, customers, quality or staff. Many of these systems were built over 20 years. The skills needed are held by fewer and fewer people. That is why you should choose a partner you can rely on for many years.

The checklist: 10 things your Notes partner must be able to do

1. Experience with all releases

Many companies still run IBM Notes 9 or even older. Others are on HCL Notes 14 or 2026. Your partner must know them all. It must be able to read old code in LotusScript and the formula language. And it must know how to move you safely to a new release.

With us: Our consultants each have more than 15 years of experience with Notes and Domino. Christian Gravgaard has worked with the platform for three decades.

2. Up to date on the new releases

HCL now calls the releases Notes 2026 and Domino 2027. A new release comes every year. Your partner must keep up and be able to tell you what it means for you. Read more about Notes 2026 and Domino 2027.

3. AI and Domino IQ

Domino IQ lets Domino run AI on your own server. With RAG the AI can answer from your own Notes data. Ask if the partner has built AI into Notes before. Also ask how it makes sure the AI only sees what the user may see.

With us: We have built ChatGPT into Notes applications and help with Domino IQ.

4. Microsoft 365 and migration

Many want to move mail to Microsoft 365 and keep their Notes systems. That can be done. A good partner can do both. It does not push you to move everything. It helps you choose what should move and what should stay.

With us: We do Lotus Notes migration to Microsoft 365 and can run Notes and Microsoft 365 side by side.

5. Monitoring and support around the clock

A server that goes down at night must be noticed at night. Ask if the partner has server monitoring around the clock. Also ask who answers the phone, and how fast.

With us: We offer monitoring and Notes support around the clock.

6. Security and GDPR

Notes often holds personal data. Your partner must know the ACL, encryption and logging. It must install fixes in time. And it must know what is coming, such as quantum safe encryption.

With us: We have built GDPR Logger, which logs who reads and changes personal data in Notes.

7. Documentation

The worst partner is one who keeps everything in his head. If he disappears, you are on your own. Demand that everything is written down. That goes for servers, code, agreements and changes.

8. Try before you buy

You should not buy a pig in a poke. A good partner lets you try it first.

With us: You can get a consultant for three hours, free and with no obligation. Read how Nilpeter tried us and has used us ever since.

9. References you can call

Ask for names of customers that are like you. Call them. Ask if the partner keeps its promises.

With us: Read about BMS, Telenor, Toyota, Nilpeter and Dansk Revision.

10. A fixed partner to spar with

The best cooperation is with a fixed partner who knows your business. Then you do not have to explain everything from scratch every time. And you get good ideas for what can be done smarter.

Questions to ask

Ask about	A good answer
Which releases of Notes have you worked with?	All of them, from the old ones to Notes 2026. We can upgrade in steps.
What have you done with AI in Notes?	Real examples with Domino IQ or ChatGPT, and control of access.
Can we keep Notes if mail moves to Microsoft 365?	Yes. We can run both side by side.
Who notices when the server goes down at night?	Our monitoring, around the clock. We call you.
How do you document your work?	In writing and as we go, so you own your knowledge.
Can we try you first?	Yes, free and with no obligation.
May we talk to a customer?	Yes. Here is a name and a number.
How do you set the price?	Clearly and up front. Fixed price or hours, as you choose.

Warning signs

The partner only wants to talk about moving everything away from Notes.
There is no written documentation.
Only one person knows your systems.
Nobody can tell you what is new in Notes 2026.
You cannot get a reference.

What does a Notes partner cost?

The price depends on the task. Operations and monitoring are often a fixed price per month. Development and upgrades are often hours or a fixed price for a project. The most important thing is that you know the price before the work starts. Also ask what it costs to get help at night and at weekends.

Get started

We are HCL Notes consultants and help companies across Europe with operations, development, hosting, AI and migration, on site or remote. Contact us and book three free hours with a consultant.