Insights for IT Negotiations

SaaS vendors are sliding a nasty detail into SaaS renewal term price protections: taking a “3–5% cap” and multiplying it by the  number of years  in your next term (e.g., 3% × 3-year = 9%). That’s not a cap—that’s compounding pain. Adam shows how to spot it, why it’s spreading, and exactly how to push back. Key takeaways There  needs to be a cap on the increase a SaaS vendor can apply  to your pri...

Most buyers anchor on “$30/user/month” for Microsoft 365 Copilot—but that’s not the real price. The right move is to negotiate the total cost by tying Copilot to your  underlying Microsoft 365 E3/E5  pricing, then secure  renewal protections  so Microsoft can’t claw it back later. Key plays you can use: Treat “M365 E3/E5 + M365 Copilot” as one subscription and price Push back on minimums and volum...

Oracle just named two co-CEOs and doubled down on an AI-first future. Jeff Lazarto explains how OCI’s gigawatt-scale GPU superclusters, Oracle’s vectorized “AI database,” and application-layer AI agents could make Oracle the standard for AI training and—soon—enterprise inferencing. He also highlights what this means for customers evaluating Oracle today: timing, deal leverage, and a practical path...

In this breakdown, Adam Mansfield unpacks Salesforce’s Q2 FY26 results and the bigger story: Agentforce and Data Cloud’s consumption model. He highlights what Salesforce shared—and what they didn’t—so you can be fully prepared as you head into upcoming renewal negotiations and even your Dreamforce attendance. Key Takeaways: Revenue: $10.2B (+10%) Subscription and Support Revenue: $9.7B (+11%) 12.5...

SaaS vendors often push programmatic renewal price increases—whether you used the product’s features (new or existing) or not. Here’s a fairer, customer-focused approach: only permit price hikes at renewal when (1) the SaaS vendor enhanced the production being subscribed to since your last renewal and (2) you’re actually using those enhancements. That aligns spend to delivered value and incentiviz...

In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , UpperEdge’s Adam Mansfield joins to break down Microsoft’s recent announcement to eliminate Enterprise Agreement (EA) volume discounts starting November 1st. Adam explains what this change means for enterprise customers, how executives are reacting, and the strategies organizations can use to prepare. From executive-level conversations to utilizati...

In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Salesforce Practice Leader at UpperEdge and industry expect, explains what the new Pay-As-You-Go and Pre-Commit, and Pre-Purchase pricing models mean for enterprise customers and why Salesforce is providing them. Key takeaways and what will be covered: Breakdown of all three Agentforce pricing options: Pre-Purchase, Pay-As-You-Go, and Pre-Commit What EVP of Corpora...

Effective November 1, 2025, Microsoft will eliminate EA volume-based discounts for online services like Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. Adam Mansfield, Microsoft Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down the impact, why Microsoft is making this change, and how enterprise customers can push back. Learn how this move ties to Microsoft’s motivation to accelerate ARPU growth, increased product adoptio...

Microsoft closed FY25 with strong revenue growth, fueled by Copilot adoption, E5 momentum, and Azure’s breakout 39% growth. Adam Mansfield, Microsoft Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down the key takeaways from the earnings call, including what the numbers mean for enterprise customers with upcoming renewals or considering in-term purchases. Learn how Microsoft’s focus on moving customers to E...

In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , UpperEdge’s Ryan McGhee joins John Belden and Kylie Chisholm to explore how generative AI is influencing SAP S/4HANA brownfield transformations. From productivity claims and risk mitigation to transparency challenges and use case development, the conversation uncovers what IT leaders need to know before engaging their system integrators. Learn how...

Salesforce is making bold changes that every customer needs to pay attention to. In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , UpperEdge’s Adam Mansfield joins Kylie Chisholm to unpack the upcoming 6% price increase, the evolving AgentForce pricing models, and Slack’s shift toward higher-cost enterprise editions. They explore what’s really driving these updates, how they impact your current ag...

Salesforce just announced a 6% price increase effective August 1st   (20% for Slack Business+), alongside new Agentforce and Slack plans. This includes a staggering $125/user/month Agentforce add-on and an Agenforce 1 Edition for $550/user/month. In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Salesforce Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down the real strategy behind these moves and what Salesforce customers...

In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , UpperEdge’s Adam Mansfield joins Kylie Chisholm to unpack the evolving reality of vendor lock-in in the cloud era and how AI is deepening that entrenchment. From the long-standing SaaS model to today’s rapidly spreading AI offerings from Microsoft, Salesforce, and others, organizations are finding themselves more tightly bound to vendors than ever...

Jeff Lazarto, Oracle Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down Oracle’s explosive FY25 earnings, the role of AI in their growth, and strategic guidance for existing and prospective Oracle customers. From cloud infrastructure to database demand and Oracle’s aggressive sales posture, this episode unpacks what buyers need to know now to negotiate smartly and plan for the future. For more innovative I...

Microsoft’s mega deal is raising big questions. A report suggests Microsoft is working on a 1 million-seat Microsoft 365 Copilot deal, but what does that actually mean for customers? In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, dissects the potential Microsoft 365 Copilot mega-deal and raises critical questions about possible and likely “over licensing,” the adequacy of...

There has been speculation that Microsoft is going to one day introduce a Microsoft 365 E7 plan. Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, shares his take on whether Microsoft 365 E7 is coming and why customers shouldn’t wait around for it. He breaks down the math behind M365 E3, M365 E5, and M365 Copilot pricing, the pitfalls of bundling, and why now is the time to focus on getting t...

In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , Jeff Lazarto and Shane Griffin pull back the curtain on a recent Oracle ERP transformation engagement. They share how a client secured over $11 million in savings and achieved long-term pricing protections without turning negotiations adversarial. Tune in to learn how UpperEdge’s relationship-based approach, proven negotiation strategy, and commerc...

In this episode, Jeff Lazarto, Workday Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down Workday’s Q1 FY26 earnings and what they reveal about the company’s direction—and how enterprise customers should respond. With  13% YoY growth , major investments in  AI agents , and the rollout of  Workday Go  for rapid deployments, Workday is pushing innovation and reach across sectors and geographies. But Jeff cau...

Salesforce just released its Q1 FY26 earnings, and it’s clear:  Agentforce  (Salesforce’s AI offering),  and Data Cloud  are at the heart of its future growth strategy. In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, unpacks the financials and the implications for current and future Salesforce customers. From  8000 Agentforce customers  (1/2 paying customers) to  CEO, Marc...

In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, analyzes key messages from ServiceNow’s recent Financial Analyst Day and what has been revealed to ServiceNow customers, including ServiceNow’s clear focus on accelerating AI revenue growth and getting customers to upgrade. He also discusses what that means for customers moving forward. ServiceNow is aiming to grow its AI-rela...

As vendors like Microsoft and Accenture leverage AI to gain an edge in IT negotiations, enterprise buyers risk falling behind. In this episode, UpperEdge CEO David Blake joins hosts John Belden and Kylie Chisholm to discuss the evolving role of the third-party advisor (TPA) and why independence, intelligence, and strategy matter more than ever. Learn why relying solely on benchmarks is no longer e...

Fresh from Knowledge 2025, ServiceNow’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, shares his takeaways from the event, including customer sentiment and concerns, as well as his perspective on ServiceNow’s aggressive pivot toward AI and CRM. While the ServiceNow keynote showcased big ambitions around becoming an AI and CRM leader, drawing comparisons to...

In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Advisory Practice Leader at UpperEdge, unpacks key takeaways from Microsoft’s FY25 Q3 earnings and what they  really  mean for enterprise customers heading into negotiations. From Copilot adoption trends and RPO growth to margin pressure and pricing tactics, Adam explains how Microsoft is positioning itself and why even a small Copilot purchase can be a major win f...

In this episode of Insights for IT Negotiations , UpperEdge’s Adam Mansfield and Kylie Chisholm have a candid conversation on the mounting frustrations enterprise customers face with major SaaS vendors like Microsoft, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. From relentless AI upsells to opaque consumption-based pricing and universal cost increases, Adam breaks down what’s grinding customers’ gears—and more im...

ServiceNow just posted strong Q1 FY25 earnings—and raised its full-year guidance. But what does that mean for customers facing renewals or being pushed into early AI (Pro Plus upgrade) and CRM expansions? Adam Mansfield, ServiceNow Practice Leader at UpperEdge, breaks down the results, what ServiceNow executives had to say during the earnings call, and how customers can proactively prepare for Ser...