News & Updates | Blackbelt XP

News Update | January 2023

We keep you informed on SaaS licensing and contract optimization with updates, use cases, videos, project announcements, blogs, tips, and more #knowledge!

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Jeroen Kiks is our new CEO

Effective Jan 1, 2023, Jeroen Kiks is the new CEO of Blackbelt XP

Jeroen, former Managing Director of Districon, has extensive experience as an entrepreneur in business strategy, change management, project management, and interim management. At Districon, he led successful projects at SME, Enterprise, and government organizations.

?? Read more about Jeroen

Microsoft stops 24×7 Support Vouchers

In April of last year (2022), Microsoft announced the end of those 24×7 Support Vouchers in February 2023. These vouchers are no longer valid and current tickets will no longer be accepted. Therefore, if your company still has vouchers, you can only use them in January 2023. Of course, the question of “and then what” is far more crucial.

?? Read more

11% Microsoft Price Increase Cloud Products

Microsoft stated that it will take multiple measures to globalize the pricing of its Microsoft Cloud products, ensuring that customers will pay a fixed price that reflects the local currency’s exchange rate with the US dollar (USD). Pricing for Microsoft Cloud products will change as of April 1, 2023.

?? Learn more about your options

Microsoft Azure price increase

Microsoft Azure is also affected by the rise in price. Our Microsoft Licensing Expert: Leendert van Leeuwen has produced an article about this and he will go live (in Dutch) on LinkedIn next Monday.

?? Read some of the topics already in the article

LinkedIn Live Sessions (Dutch)

Microsoft Azure: Monday, 30 January, is our event about AZURE with speaker Leendert van Leeuwen, Microsoft Licensing Expert, focusing on alternatives and possibilities for 2023.

On Monday, January 30, at 10:30 am, he will explain the following:

• Best Price Protection in EA
• Azure in CSP
• The effect of Azure Reserved Instances & Azure Savings Plan

?? Join the session

Microsoft Price Increase (previous session): Watch Patrick van der Meer’s recording (Dutch) from last week about how to react to the Microsoft Price increase. Sorry guys, more English sessions will follow soon. Do you have any suggestions for live sessions? Please let us know!

Knowledge Base Articles ??

Check the newest technology developments and best practices:

? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????????: Learn about the benefits of using Microsoft Azure Hybrid Benefit and how to take advantage of it.

? ???????????????? ????????: ?????? ???????? ???? ????????? Discover the ins and outs of Autodesk Flex, a powerful tool for managing software licenses and subscriptions.

? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????: Stay up-to-date on the latest features and capabilities of SQL Server 2022. (Customers only)

? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????????????? (?????????? ??????????????????????????): Learn about Autodesk's cloud subscription model and how it can benefit your organization.

? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ????????? Understand the benefits of Microsoft's License Mobility for Windows Server and how it can save your organization money. (Customers only)

? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ??????????????????? Compare the features and pricing of Windows Server Standard and Datacenter licensing options to determine which one is right for your organization. (Customers only)

?? Stay informed Read more articles - Don't miss out on these valuable resources!

Recent Blogs & Articles???

Optimize the negotiation process of your Software Contract Renewals. Read article

Articles will be published soon:

• What is Adobe Document Cloud
• Azure Savings Plan
• Mixing licenses for Windows Server physical/virtual
• What is a Microsoft Customer Agreement
• SAP Contract Negotiations
• Next steps to Prepare your Microsoft True-Up

Would you like to speak to an Expert right away? ?? Book a Strategy Call

Exciting News soon

Very soon there will be some more exciting news about Blackbelt XP. Stay tuned and keep checking our LinkedIn page ??.

• A new Customer Case follows!

Finally, be a smart negotiator ??

Some questions for success and to keep challenging your software vendor!

• Request multiple pricing options. What effect does a contract duration of one, three, or five years have on the price?
• Negotiate the price for contract add-ons. Say your team wants to use a software package with a €10 license list price but the vendor agrees to a volume discount of €5 per license. If you need to add more users before the contract expires, will you pay €10 or €5 for each new license?
• Listen to what the vendor isn’t saying. Try to get an idea of how far the vendor will go to keep your business. For instance, having an idea of their pricing floor will let you know how hard you can really push to lower the costs.

Good luck! Our experts are happy to help optimize your software contracts. We strengthen your negotiating position in order to reach the best contract terms for you!