The Impact of Moving to Independent, Third-Party Software Support
When organizations consider the amount of their IT budget that is spent on yearly maintenance, many focus primarily on the annual maintenance fees as a large and already-budgeted expense that must be paid without question.
But looking deeper at the total price of support, it can become apparent that millions of dollars are often unnecessarily wasted each year due to the outdated support model of software vendors.
This executive summary is derived from a Rimini Street impact study that was validated by independent analyst firm Nucleus Research. It confirms the significant savings that a sample of 70 Oracle and SAP licensees have realized by replacing their software vendor support with Rimini Street support.
Rimini Street: What We Do
We don't make ERP or database software like Oracle and SAP. We support and manage that software. Over the past 15 years, we have helped over 3,000 clients save billions of dollars. It's because we are built for support. Built to help clients avoid costly fees and ERP upgrades, so they can innovate and fuel growth. Other companies do software. We do support.
The New CIO Mandate: An Impetus For Change
Forbes published an article by Stephen Salaets, CIO & SVP, Global Security, Quality and Internal Audit at Rimini Street, on how CIOs are being tasked to drive change and innovation within their organization by developing a business-driven IT roadmap. The article discusses that driving innovation to support the business is taking priority over transactional efficiency and standardization, ultimately supporting the business’ vision for competitive advantage and growth.
Valoir Report: Third-Party Support Goes Mainstream
Adoption of third-party support for enterprise software is now mainstream. In a report sponsored by Rimini Street, industry research firm Valoir analyzed the growing acceptance of third-party support, finding that demand is widespread — from cost-cutters to innovators to a variety of companies in-between. Valoir found that in some instances, even ERP vendors reluctantly acknowledge the utility of third-party support as they focus efforts on the cloud.
Third-party support has evolved into a strategic portfolio management tool for enterprise applications, gaining broader strategic acceptance from its origins as a cost containment tactic. Valoir found that its versatility facilitates:
Innovation around the edges of a mature, highly functional ERP system
Maximizing value from existing investments
Taking a measured approach to cloud evolution
Digital transformation
Tactically, independent, third-party software support helps CIOs save resources and keep IT teams engaged with new initiatives rather than routine support. Strategically, it helps CIOs meet business objectives, demonstrate value, and move to a Business-Driven Roadmap from one dictated by an ERP vendor.
In its report, Valoir specifically recognized Rimini Street for its:
Breadth of knowledge and depth of support, featuring a dedicated engineer model
Pure focus on independent, third-party support versus other IT or consulting services
Track record of strong client relationships
Value, service, price