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MetrixData 360 has helped our clients negotiate over $1.5 billion in software contracts. The sheer number of negotiations that we have been involved in, with organizations from every vertical, gives us unparalleled expertise and insight into understanding how to get companies the best deal possible. Time and time again, we see organizations looking at a software contract renewal from only an upfront discount perspective. A bottom-line discount-only strategy when negotiating a new software contract or renewal results in money being left on the table and in many cases can end up costing more over the period of the contract.
MetrixData 360 recommends that you start the renewal process 7-9 months prior to the actual renewal. Assessing your footprint for the software publisher takes time. Understanding consumption rates for software licensing, as well as things like maintenance or software assurance you may have been paying for years, may have you paying much more for software than is required.
In a Software contract renewal, we see many times that the entire negotiation is left up to the procurement team. While many procurement professionals are great at negotiating a bottom-line discount, what is important to them in a renewal negotiation is totally different than what is important to legal, or even IT departments. Having someone that can speak to and ensure that all of the needs of the different divisions in a company are considered when moving into a negotiation is key.
Many times, in software contract negotiations, understanding what you don’t need can be more important than knowing what you do need. Every renewal cycle brings out the sales teams from software companies telling you what your business needs and really can’t do without, and if you don’t jump on board, your organization will be left behind. We’ve all seen it with the push to cloud-based applications. What many organizations fail to do is ask the simple question, what is the return on investment to my business. MetrixData 360 would recommend that you go one step further and ask “do you know what my company actually does?” In almost every case, software sales teams don’t know. They are only trained to sell you the latest offerings. The ones that equal compensation for them. Understanding this and not falling prey to programmatic sales tactics can save your organization a lot of money.
Because these software vendors are strategic partners in your business, many times they have different resources working closely with different parts of your business to explore or implement their technology. When it comes time for a software contract renewal negotiation, that internal contact needs to be limited and if possible shut down entirely for the term of the negotiation. Communication should only happen via the designated point of contact. It should be treated no different than an RFP. Make no mistake, the publisher sales teams are discussing all potential avenues to upsell and tie their renewal proposals to initiatives that they are all working on. We recommend sending an internal memo that spells out a blackout period. Any on-site activities with publisher resources need to be approved through the single point of contact, so as not to compromise your organization’s position in the negotiation.
Hire software publisher specific experts. Here at MetrixData 360, we conducted extensive searches to find the most qualified resources with the deepest knowledge on each vendor. It spans far beyond just the software licensing aspect. In addition to unparalleled knowledge of the software licensing for each vendor, MetrixData 360’s resources also have deep understanding of the culture within the specific vendor as a company. They understand the way that sales teams are compensated and the metrics on which compensation is based. Let’s face it, compensation dictates behavior. Our analysts also understand the right path of escalation for specific requests and how to position those escalations so that they can be accepted and approved. It’s important to remember that while you deal with negotiating a vendor specific contract once every 3 to 5 years, depending on the vendor. This is all we do every day all year long. Bringing skilled experts with the experience of countless negotiations under their belts is a huge step in getting your organization the best deal possible in a software contract renewal negotiation.
Software licensing renewals are the perfect time to perform a self assessment of your organizations’ environment and software needs. Before signing into a massive contract or a licensing agreement that has been specifically tailored to take your money, let the experts at MetrixData 360 strike the best deal for your needs.
We have negotiated over a billion dollars in Software License contracts. We have an intimate knowledge of how Software publishers and auditors approach each negotiation, allowing us to avoid the common tactics and pitfalls that cost companies millions of dollars.
By putting your contract negotiation in our hands, you are ensuring that your company will pay only for the licenses necessary for your business and nothing more.
*It is important to note that MetrixData 360 does not partner with any software publishers. Software resellers, and LAR’s (Large Area Resellers) generally partner with software publishers. We feel that this creates a conflict of interest. What motivation does a reseller have to get your company the best deal, when they profit from selling you the software licensing. MetrixData 360’s only goal in a contract negotiation is to save our clients the most money possible, while getting them what they need both up front and throughout the period of the software contract and to preserve and grow your company’s relationship with the software publisher as a strategic partner to your business.
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