10 tips for successful negotiations with Microsoft

September 19, 2023

1. Establish a clear vision for negotiations:

Define your organization’s current and future needs, such as new technologies, cloud adoption, and security requirements. Set goals to determine the direction.

2. Evaluate your existing contracts:

Analyze your ongoing contracts with Microsoft to discover existing agreements and areas for improvement.

3. Thoroughly examine pricing and license terms:

Conduct an in-depth analysis of pricing proposals and license terms to prevent overpayment and unsuitable restrictions.

4. Develop a negotiation strategy:

Base your strategy on your needs, goals, and gathered information.

5. Team preparation is crucial:

Ensure your team is well-prepared and fully understands what’s at stake.

6. Negotiate with confidence:

Approach negotiations with confidence, armed with enough knowledge to effectively defend your position.

7. Document and monitor the process:

Ensure that all agreements and changes are accurately documented and adhered to.

8. Choose independence:

Work with an independent party to ensure your interests always come first.

9. Reflect on experiences:

Take time after negotiations to reflect on the experiences, identify lessons learned, and refine your strategy for future negotiations.

10. Long-term support:

Stay in touch with experts for ongoing guidance and optimization of your Microsoft contracts.

 

How BeSharp Experts can assist you in negotiating with Microsoft:

With BeSharp Experts’ contract negotiation service, you’ll receive support throughout the entire process of negotiating with Microsoft. Our expertise and independent position allow us to guide you towards the most favorable prices and contract terms tailored to your organization.

Step 1: Analysis of existing contracts and environment:

We start with a thorough analysis of your current contracts and IT environment with Microsoft, gaining insight into your current situation and identifying improvement opportunities.

Step 2: Roadmap determination:

We organize hands-on workshops to understand your technology needs and discuss organizational changes that may impact your contract renewal. We share best practices and insights to optimize costs and navigate the Microsoft licensing landscape.

Step 3: Development of optimal license scenarios:

We create various scenarios based on our preliminary research and roadmap workshops. These scenarios enable you to enter into new agreements that align optimally with your current and future needs, including multi-year calculations.

Step 4: Vendor selection and negotiations:

We assess existing reseller relationships, identify suitable partners, and negotiate market-appropriate prices and delivery terms, both for direct and indirect license programs.

Step 5: Development of negotiation strategy:

We collaborate to craft a negotiation strategy that carefully balances your interests and the vendor’s interests.

Step 6: Proven successful negotiation approach:

Our proven approach includes strategic and tactical advice during the negotiation process, benchmarking vendor proposals, and oversight of the final contract set.

Step 7: Documentation and compliance:

We ensure that all documentation is accurate and that compliance is maintained.

Step 8: Ongoing support with StaySharp Service Contract:

Through our StaySharp Service Contract, we provide annual optimization of your Microsoft licenses and cloud subscriptions. We manage your contracts and offer continuous support, including guidance during audits and proactive updates on the latest market developments.

With BeSharp Experts by your side, you are assured of a successful negotiation with Microsoft and will continue to benefit from the best prices and terms, supported by a team of expert professionals.