Decoding Workday's Flex Credits: AI Boon or Budget Black Hole? Today we’re dissecting Workday's latest play: the Flex Credits model unveiled at Workday Rising 2025 on September 16. Billed as a "smarter, more flexible" way to tap AI agents, it's essentially a consumption-based pricing pivot that's got CIO and HR Leaders buzzing, and procurement teams scrambling. Is this vendor ingenuity unlocking AI value, or just another revenue stream disguised as innovation? Drawing from our Client feedback, fresh announcements, analyst breakdowns, and real-time sentiment, I'll discuss what the potential short and long-term expectations should be and of ...
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Look, I've seen enough gold rushes in tech to know that AI is the latest nugget luring enterprises into a frenzy. But here's the contrarian truth: without a sheriff in town- meaning smart oversight and negotiation muscle, your AI investments could turn into a ghost town of wasted budgets, security holes, and disappointed stakeholders. This post cuts through the hype, spotlighting how unchecked AI spending is leaving companies high and dry, with operational risks piling up faster than bad debts. We'll arm you with battle-tested strategies to control those costs, minimize risks, and squeeze real value out of your AI plays. Drawing from market ...
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We’ve spent years helping CFOs and CIOs navigate the treacherous waters of IT vendor management. Today’s global market is rife with inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, and unpredictable interest rates, so controlling technology costs while driving efficient growth has emerged as the paramount concern for finance and IT executives. According to recent surveys, this issue tops the list for CFOs, who are laser-focused on aligning expenditures with strategic objectives amid shrinking budgets. IT leaders, meanwhile, grapple with the rapid pace of technological change and resource constraints that hinder scaling investments. This isn't ...
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The technology vendor ecosystem has declared economic warfare on enterprise customers. In 2025 alone, organizations have endured a relentless onslaught of cost escalations that would have been unthinkable just years ago: Oracle's "Free" Java Trap: Some discovered that "free" Java came with massive Oracle audit bills reaching eight figures (see our detailed analysis: Breaking the Java Monopoly VMware's Broadcom Betrayal: Others were forced to navigate VMware's post-Broadcom acquisition gauntlet, facing cost increases of up to 800% (reference our blog on VMware strategies) Cloud Cost Hemorrhaging: Meanwhile, runaway cloud consumption costs ...
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Executive Summary: Microsoft's upcoming elimination of volume discounts on subscription agreements, effective November 1, 2025, is masquerading as a push for pricing consistency but is fundamentally a cynical ploy to inflate revenues by eroding enterprise bargaining power and locking in higher margins. Historical precedents, including the 2022 Microsoft 365 hikes of 8.6-25% and 2023's 9-15% cloud surges, demonstrate a consistent pattern where such "updates" drive up customer costs without delivering proportional value, as evidenced by previous subscription model shifts boosting Microsoft's commercial revenue by 31%. Enterprises face ...
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In the cutthroat arena of Managed Services Provider (MSP) contracts, the fine print can make or break your deal. With global IT services spending soaring to $1.3 trillion in 2024, per Gartner, enterprises are betting big on outsourcing—but vague terms, hidden costs, and rigid agreements can turn that bet into a bust. At NET(net), we’ve seen the fallout: clients trapped in inflexible contracts, blindsided by fees, or left hanging during critical outages. This isn’t just about signing a deal; it’s about crafting a contract that maximizes value, slashes risk, and keeps your MSP in check. Here’s our battle-tested Top 10 checklist for MSP ...
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In today's fast-evolving technological landscape, the Infrastructure Managed Services (IMS) industry stands at the forefront, acting as the backbone for global businesses that span diverse regulated markets including finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. With digital transformation becoming a centerpiece of organizational strategy, the integration of advanced technologies is more influential than ever. This blog delves into the profound impact of disruptive technologies reshaping the IMS sector and offers insights into how businesses can leverage these innovations to stay competitive and compliant. Disruptive Technology At the heart ...
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Bottom Line Up Front: The shift from seat-based to consumption pricing at enterprise software giants isn't about "aligning value with usage", it's a calculated move to extract more revenue while making costs less predictable and harder to control. Don't let the marketing mysticism fool you. The Marketing Fairy Tale vs. Reality Let me translate the vendor spin for you. When Salesforce announces "When we look at pricing, it will be on a consumption basis... about $2 per conversation" for their Agentforce AI, they're not being altruistic. They're not "aligning cost with value delivered." They're solving a revenue problem. Here's the ...
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For Tech Leaders, your mandate extends far beyond maintaining current systems; it's about strategically charting a course through the technological landscape of tomorrow. While AI dominates headlines, three other transformative technologies – Quantum Computing, 5G Expansion, and Spatial Computing/Extended Reality (XR) – are rapidly maturing. Each of these are poised to profoundly reshape our enterprises over the long term. Ignoring them is no longer an option, understanding their potential and preparing for their integration is a strategic imperative. Quantum Computing: Unprecedented Processing Power Quantum computing, once a theoretical ...
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Introduction In the fast-evolving dojo of artificial intelligence (AI), OpenAI stands as a formidable sensei, offering unparalleled large language models (LLMs) and generative AI capabilities that promise to transform enterprises. Yet, like wielding a katana, engaging with OpenAI requires precision, discipline, and mastery. An unmanaged acquisition of this technology can be akin to a novice swinging a samurai sword—resulting in catastrophic financial, technical, and legal wounds that can cripple an organization. With NET(net) as your master sensei, you transform from a vulnerable novice into a strategic samurai, staying in the driver’s seat ...
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