With annual renewals come important changes in your terms. As Microsoft implements its new Unified Support model this year, enterprise support customers can expect a change in their terms, price tag, and more. Microsoft Unified Support is a new way for the company to use its expertise to enable the digital transformation journey for clients. However, like any contract change, background research is crucial. Thoroughly reviewing the changes and terms—and how they affect your unique cloud setup—will help you ask the right questions and focus on the most important issues when it’s time to negotiate your renewal. Below are three tips for negotiating a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and getting an affordable deal that continues to support you and your business.
Renew Earlier
Depending on when you renew your Enterprise Agreement, you can get unique leverage. In the past, Microsoft would offer better deals to clients who held off on renewing their contracts—especially if the end of their contract coincided with the busy ends of a quarter or fiscal year. Now, the opposite is true. A high volume of renewals slows down the system during busy quarterly or year-end renewal periods. To make these times run smoother, Microsoft now offers better deals and discounts to clients who renew earlier in the quarter. By planning ahead and renewing early, you can save money and even adjust your contract dates.
Think Beyond the Price
While the cost of your agreement is a major factor in your renewal, you shouldn’t focus all your energy on it. Lower costs aren’t as effective if the standardized terms of your agreement don’t align with your business requirements. Carefully review the terms of your Enterprise Agreement—especially in the case of cloud offerings. Also, pay attention to the licensing and subscription programs available to you. Find the options that best suit your technology, budget, and overall business needs. When these details coincide with your business requirements, you can create a more cost-effective system that continues to work with your budget throughout the length of your agreement.
It Doesn’t End at the Renewal
When you’ve followed these tips for negotiating a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and signed your renewal, it’s easy to think that the process is behind you. However, renewals are a reoccurring process. Microsoft will already be thinking about your next negotiation period—you should, too. Throughout the life of your contract, you will face true-ups, audits, and other processes that can change your spending and other details of your agreement. Just like with any other contract negotiation, prepare for these events by analyzing your current processes, conducting preliminary research, and asking smart questions about licensing programs, terms and conditions, and more. Put the same amount of effort into negotiating these events as you would any other contract renewal.
Coming to a fair and effective renewal agreement is a key part of optimizing your cloud system. By working with an expert cloud management partner like Atmosera, you gain access to the information and experience you need to make sure your Azure solutions stay effective and efficient throughout the life of your business. Visit our website today to learn more about how Atmosera can help you create, implement, and manage the ideal cloud system for your company.