How We Work — Engagement Models & Process
Our Process

How We Work — Senior-Led, Outcome-Aligned, Fully Transparent

We are not a staffing firm. We are not a software reseller. We are pure-play negotiation advisors who sit exclusively on the buyer's side of the table — with a structured, repeatable process that has delivered measurable results across 500+ enterprise engagements.

Our Principles

Three Principles That Never Change

Before we describe our process, it is important to understand the non-negotiables that govern every engagement we take on — regardless of size, vendor, or complexity.

01

Senior Advisors Only

Every engagement is staffed by advisors with 15+ years of enterprise software experience. We do not run a pyramid model where senior partners sell and juniors deliver. The person you meet is the person who does the work.

02

Buyer Side. Always.

We have zero vendor partnerships, accept zero referral fees, and take zero commissions from software publishers. Our only financial incentive is your savings. This independence is the foundation of every recommendation we make.

03

Measurable Outcomes

We do not charge for activity — we charge for results. Every engagement begins with a clear baseline and ends with documented savings, improved contract terms, or a fully defensible audit position. Everything is measured and reported.

Engagement Models

Two Models. One Goal: Maximum Savings.

We offer two commercial structures so you can choose the model that best aligns with your organisation's risk appetite and procurement norms.

Model 1

Fixed-Fee Advisory

A defined scope with a fixed price agreed upfront. You know exactly what you will pay before we begin. Ideal for organisations with clear procurement requirements or where gain-share structures require additional approval cycles.

  • Full transparency — no hidden costs
  • Defined deliverables and timeline
  • Suitable for all engagement sizes
  • Easily budgeted within existing procurement
Discuss Fixed-Fee →
Model 2

Gain-Share Partnership

Our fee is calculated as a percentage of the verified savings we deliver. Zero savings means zero fee. This model aligns our incentives perfectly with yours and removes any upfront budget barrier to accessing world-class negotiation expertise.

  • No savings, no fee — pure risk alignment
  • Savings independently verified
  • Ideal for large, high-value renewals
  • Self-funding — cost comes from what we save
Discuss Gain-Share →
Our Process

The Five-Phase Engagement Model

Every engagement — regardless of vendor, scope, or size — follows the same structured methodology. This consistency is how we deliver reliably superior outcomes.

01

Discovery & Baseline Assessment

We begin with a comprehensive review of your current contract landscape, licensing entitlements, actual usage data, upcoming renewal dates, and vendor relationship history. This baseline establishes what you are paying, what you are entitled to, what you are actually using, and where the leverage points lie. For most organisations, this phase alone surfaces significant rationalisation opportunities that vendors would prefer you never discovered.

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks. Output: Baseline report with savings opportunity map.

02

Market Benchmarking

Using our proprietary database of 500+ completed engagements, we benchmark your current pricing against what peer organisations of comparable size and complexity are actually paying. Not list price — actual contracted price. This intelligence is one of our most powerful tools: vendors cannot negotiate effectively against data they don't know you have.

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks. Output: Benchmark report with price gap analysis.

03

Strategy Development

We build a bespoke negotiation strategy tailored to your specific situation, objectives, and risk tolerance. This covers the sequencing of demands, the alternatives we will develop (including competitive alternatives where applicable), the red lines we will hold, and the concession framework. Critically, we also develop your BATNA — Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement — because leverage without alternatives is theatre.

Typical duration: 1 week. Output: Negotiation strategy brief and talking points.

04

Active Negotiation Support

We work directly alongside your team throughout the negotiation — reviewing vendor proposals in real time, advising on counteroffers, identifying pressure tactics, coaching your executives, and drafting correspondence. For high-stakes engagements, our advisors can join vendor meetings directly. We know how vendor sales teams are incentivised, how their quarter-end pressure creates leverage, and exactly which arguments move the needle.

Duration: Varies by vendor and complexity. Output: Documented negotiation log and revised proposals.

05

Contract Review & Close

Before you sign, we conduct a line-by-line review of the final contract. Enterprise software agreements are deliberately complex — vendors rely on ambiguous language, unfavourable auto-renewal terms, audit rights clauses, and scope creep provisions to recover margin after the headline deal is done. We surface these risks and negotiate improved terms before execution. Once signed, we provide a plain-English contract summary your team can actually use.

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks. Output: Contract review memo, signed agreement, post-close summary.

Scope of Work

What We Negotiate On Your Behalf

Our advisors are fluent in the commercial and contractual language of every major enterprise software vendor. We negotiate across the full spectrum of software commercial terms — not just headline price.

Price & Discount

List price, discount percentages, volume tiers, future year pricing caps, and list price protection. We benchmark every number against real market data.

License Scope & Metrics

Named users vs. concurrent users, processor vs. core metrics, deployment rights, virtualisation rights, and ULA (Unlimited License Agreement) structures and exits.

Support & Maintenance

Support rates, third-party support alternatives, support term alignment, downgrade rights, and the conditions under which you can legitimately reduce your support spend.

Audit Rights & Compliance

Audit frequency limits, notice periods, audit scope restrictions, and the process for disputing audit findings. We ensure you are protected before the auditors arrive.

Contract Duration & Exit

Term length, auto-renewal language, termination for convenience rights, reduction rights, and exit provisions that preserve your future flexibility.

Cloud & SaaS Terms

Committed use discounts, over-consumption protections, data portability, SLAs, penalty structures, and the right to benchmark against market rates mid-term.

Vendor Coverage

11 Vendors. One Advisory Firm.

No other independent advisory firm covers this breadth of enterprise software vendors from a single team. This matters because modern enterprises have multi-vendor estates — and you need advisors who understand the interdependencies.

500+
Engagements Completed
25–40%
Average Savings Delivered
$2.1B+
Contract Value Negotiated
20+
Years Combined Experience
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can you engage?

We can typically begin work within five business days of agreeing scope. For urgent renewals — where your vendor has issued a quote with a deadline — we can mobilise within 48 hours. Contact us as early as possible; the earlier we engage, the more leverage we can build.

Do we need to share sensitive financial data?

We operate under strict confidentiality agreements on every engagement. To benchmark your pricing accurately, we do need to review your current contract and invoice data. This information is used solely for your engagement and never shared. We can structure data sharing to satisfy your security requirements.

Will my vendor know I have hired an advisor?

This is your choice entirely. Some clients prefer full transparency — vendors often respect the professionalism it signals. Others prefer we work behind the scenes, coaching your internal team. We are equally effective in both modes and will follow your lead.

What if we are already mid-negotiation?

We regularly join engagements that have already started. While earlier engagement is always better, experienced negotiators can add significant value even when talks are advanced. Contact us with your current position and timeline and we will give you an honest assessment.

Can you help with a vendor audit response?

Yes. Audit defence is one of our core services. If you have received an audit notice from Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, IBM, or any other major vendor, contact us immediately. The first 30 days are critical and the actions you take — and do not take — in that window materially affect the outcome. See our full services list for more detail.

Next Step

Ready to See What We Can Save You?

Book a free 30-minute consultation. We review your vendor landscape, identify your top three savings opportunities, and give you a clear view of what a structured engagement would deliver — at no cost and with no obligation.

Book Free Consultation → Free Licensing Assessment →