OVERVIEW
Keep the Advantage
While many organizations have purchasing departments to buy commodity and other typically low cost goods, very few subscribe to today's best practices in the sourcing of high technology goods and services. This oversight costs them money. Suppliers expect buyers to negotiate, so they field a team of highly-trained, highly-skilled negotiators that will work hard to keep the advantage on their side. Virtually all suppliers will negotiate both price and terms despite sometimes stating that their first offer is 'best and final'. Organizations without highly-trained, highly-skilled negotiators are subjecting themselves to significant disadvantage, which directly translates to higher cost and less-than-ideal contract terms. This is where Corporate Contracts can help.
SERVICES DEFINED
Steps to Ensure Success
Corporate Contracts' negotiators have the necessary skills and experience to return the advantage to you. We accomplish this by using our proven approach to procurement negotiations.
- First, we help to manage the communication between buyer and seller, which suppliers often try to manipulate to their advantage.
- Second, we work closely with you to create and use the motivating factor in negotiations, leverage. Leverage is increased exponentially as competition is introduced into the buying process, so we work with you to determine if other viable suppliers exist.
- Third, we engage in good-faith negotiations with suppliers on your behalf resulting in an 'exchange' that both parties can benefit from.
- Finally, we ensure that the written agreement exactly matches the deal that you agreed to and doesn't contain any excess risk. Through these steps, Corporate Contracts can ensure that you get the best deal possible.
COMPENSATION MODEL
Performance Based Pricing
Corporate Contracts believes so strongly in the abilities of its negotiators that our primary pricing model is completely risk free to you. Under our "Performance-Based" model, we are compensated only if we save you money on your purchase. Prior to beginning any negotiations, you and your Corporate Contracts negotiator establish a reasonable baseline from which 'savings' will be calculated. If we fail to secure a price lower than the baseline, you do not pay us. You do, however, receive independent verification that you are receiving the best possible price, as well as a fully-negotiated written agreement.
We recognize that our 'performance-based' compensation model is not applicable in all situations. Corporate Contracts can customize an alternate compensation model to suit your needs.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Management
In addition to negotiating the purchase of hardware, software, and services, Corporate Contracts offers services to help your organization save money and/or reduce its exposure to risk. These services include asset management, contract management, RFP/negotiation and rate audits for telecommunications (voice and data), and negotiation of non-technology purchases such as temporary labor, waste disposal, and office supplies. Each of these services can be part of an overall cost savings and risk reduction initiative designed to benefit your organization throughout the life cycle of the assets you purchase.
ASSET MANAGEMENT
Tracking, Redeployment, & Disposal
Gartner Group estimates that typical organizations spend 5 dollars throughout the software lifecycle for every 1 dollar of the software's initial cost*. Complying with the often convoluted obligations imposed on you in software license agreements is becoming increasingly critical as legislation like the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) is taking shape and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and other industry watchdogs perform audits and assess significant noncompliance penalties. Utilizing proven methods of asset tracking, redeployment, and disposal, Corporate Contracts can help design and implement a program for effectively managing your IT assets throughout their lifecycle, which will have a direct, positive impact on your bottom line.
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
The Fine Print
After the purchase agreement is done, Corporate Contracts can help you comply with the fine print contained in that contract and ensure that the supplier does the same. This can include reminders for significant dates like termination or renewal and ensuring that key contract terms, such as a limit on price increases, are being followed to the letter.
NON-IT NEGOTIATIONS
Purchasing Non-Technology Goods
In the same way that Corporate Contracts negotiates the purchase of high technology goods and services like hardware, software, and consulting, so too can we help negotiate the purchase of non-technology goods and services such as waste removal, temporary labor, office equipment and supplies, and travel.
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
Bill & Rate Audits
Corporate Contracts also works closely with a leading provider of telecom-related negotiation services. This enables Corporate Contracts to provide bill and rate audits to determine if you are entitled to a monetary refund, determine if a better rate is possible with your current provider, or assist in the RFP/negotiation process for voice and/or data services.