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Business Intelligence
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Companies seeking BI standardization often struggle with vendors. To define an effective BI standardization, an organization should be fully aware of its needs, have a long-term vision, consider the pricing models and know how to negotiate with vendors in order to sign up for a contract that best meets the organization's requirements. In this article we will discuss some tips that could lead to a better deal.
First of all, it's important for any company to define the exact items that need to be included in the purchase. Many organizations have made the mistake of skipping this step. Organizations that don't require this detailed listing often find out later that a feature they thought they had purchased wasn't part of the deal and will be an additional cost to acquire.
Secondly, organizations should consider the vendor's future upgrade plans, assess how a major change could affect the business, and define a clear migration or upgrade path with the vendor. Besides, an organization should consider the rapid technological advancement and the impact this could have on BI licensing costs. Companies are advised to discuss these issues with vendors and spell out exactly what will happen when technology changes.
The third point organizations should be fully aware of is that there are various BI licensing styles. An organization purchasing BI should evaluate the available pricing models from vendors against specific business requirements. Actually, BI standardization is a lot more important than saving a few dollars on a software contract. Organizations should also take care not to fall a prey for the "application-specific licenses" that offer a lower price in return for limited applications.
Moreover, organizations should get the right hardware configuration estimate; work closely with the vendors to ensure that hardware estimates are realistic. This is very crucial because vendors often provide statistics that aren't tested in an organization's specific environment. This may result in needing to buy extra hardware for additional cost.
Finally, it is always recommended that organizations negotiate carefully with the vendors about maintenance agreements. This helps in preventing any future problems about support and maintenance of products.
Posted by ROOT Technologies
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