20 vendors, 50 contracts, no overview – and the next renewal is around the corner
Most companies I work with deal with an impressive number of IT vendors and cloud providers. That alone isn't the problem. The problem is that over the years, a contract landscape has emerged that nobody can see through anymore.
Contracts are signed project by project, responsibilities are split between procurement, IT, and business units, and a consolidated view of costs, risks, and obligations? Nowhere to be found.
This mainly makes one party happy: the vendor.
Typical symptoms
If any of these sound familiar, you're in good company:
Contract landscape has grown over years – no one has the full picture
Renewal deadlines are missed or contracts are extended under time pressure
The vendor knows more about your usage than you do
Negotiations feel like a home game – for the other side
Compliance risks lurk in contracts that nobody has read
What I do
Analyze existing vendor contracts – who has what, at which terms?
Evaluate cost structures and licensing models – and identify the traps
Prepare and support contract negotiations – on equal terms with Microsoft, Oracle, SAP & Co.
Identify cost and compliance risks before the vendor does
Build governance structures so the same chaos doesn't erupt at every renewal
Why independent?
I'm neither a reseller nor a vendor partner. I don't earn money when you buy more licenses. Sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly rare in this industry.
Who this is for
Companies with many software and cloud vendors
Organizations with important contract renewals coming up
CIOs and procurement leaders who want to strengthen their negotiating position
Companies that suspect compliance risks in their contract landscape
Other services
When is the best time?
Ideally, 6 months before the next major renewal. Realistically: most people call 6 weeks before. That works too – it's just more stressful.