NPI

If getting rid of SaaS cost waste is a top priority for your organization, join us for a live session on Wednesday, 3/26 (11am ET). Jim Hussey, renowned SaaS optimization expert and Fortune 500 advisor, will share best practices for cutting costs in your largest deployments, including Salesforce, M365, Workday, SuccessFactors, and more. Book your spot! https://lnkd.in/eMSgJQE7

How viable is VMware third-party support for enterprise customers? Lots of customers are asking this question on the heels of Broadcom's changes. It's true that third-party VMware support has emerged as a compelling option for some. In the face of a 2x to 5x renewal cost increase, a 30 to 40% reduction in support costs sounds pretty attractive. But when it comes to enterprise-grade support, the market is still maturing and gaps remain. The good news is maturation is happening quickly - quicker than usual given how frustrated VMware customers are and the market opportunity that has created. Smart IT procurement leaders should keep close watch. Even if you're not ready to jump ship immediately, understanding these alternatives positions you for better decisions ahead. Read our full analysis on the topic here: https://lnkd.in/eKZxE6-W

Cutthroat IT vendor tactics demand a new approach to buy-side negotiations. Join us on Wednesday, 3/26 at 2pm (ET) as we go Inside the Mind of the Vendor to learn: - How to neutralize aggressive vendor tactics - Ways to increase IT and sourcing team alignment to optimize deal outcomes - How to develop Negotiation Playbooks that materially improve leverage Register now: https://lnkd.in/ejaN48tW

There’s power in a post-mortem. Here’s what we mean.    A new client has a major renewal coming up. They want to understand what they could have done differently and carry those lessons forward into the new deal. In this scenario, we go back and look at two things:    1. Did they get a best-in-class price?  2. Did they negotiate the right price protections, discount tiers, contractual business terms, etc.?     And then we look at two more things:    3. What kind of price increase can they expect this renewal cycle?  4. What is motivating that vendor at the deal table right now? How can the client use it to their advantage or neutralize?    These post-mortems are foundational to achieving better renewal outcomes with confidence. 

Enterprise Software Audit Defense Workshop Tuesday, 3/25 at 11 AM (ET) Register: https://lnkd.in/eJvheGmT Hundreds of IT procurement professionals have joined SAM expert Jim Hussey to stay ahead of software audits. Now it’s your turn! Sign up to learn: ✅ Which factors are increasing your organization's audit risk? ✅ Which vendor-specific tactics and behaviors should you be on the lookout for?  ✅ What proven audit defense strategies can you put in place now?

Atlanta, we're just two weeks away from IT Procurement Summit! Join us in Midtown on April 1st at Invesco's global headquarters. This one-day event has been designed specifically to help large enterprise tech buyers tackle their toughest sourcing challenges. Sessions include: Enterprise Software Audits Public Cloud Sourcing Optimization Microsoft Licensing And more... Expect plenty of peer networking and knowledge-sharing throughout. Spots are limited - book now! More details: https://lnkd.in/deQxMb3H

Looking for one thing you can do this week to make you a better enterprise IT buyer? This Microsoft Licensing webinar could be it. Join us on Thursday! 

Words of caution for enterprises that are investing in Salesforce's Agentforce from Jon Winsett: Salesforce Agentforce promises automation, but IT procurement pros, let's be vigilant! While AI agents offer efficiency gains, consider: 1) Contractual implications of data usage and AI decision-making 2) Integration costs and potential vendor lock-in (SFDC is tricky enough) 3) The need for clear SLAs around AI performance and security A client asked if NPI is seeing much Agentforce activity – so I checked. And indeed we are. There are lots of big companies that are taking a bite. It’s always important to not get swept up in the hype; due diligence is key.

Starting May 1, AWS will require Marketplace vendors to run entirely on AWS infrastructure in order to qualify for commitment-based spending discounts. This could have a negative impact on how some customers meet their AWS revenue commitments. Here's Tres Larsen's take ⬇️

If you're buying or renewing with Microsoft in the next 6 months, this webinar is for you. Don't miss our live session on Thursday, 3/20 with NPI Microsoft licensing expert Dan Brewster. He'll share recent changes to Microsoft licensing, what's currently motivating Microsoft sales and account teams, and new ways for customers to rein in their enterprise Microsoft spend in 2025. Book your spot today: https://lnkd.in/eHsxfRHE