Network Purchasing Guide – part two

A checklist for evaluating your current networking vendor

19 September 2023

Now that we know the typical pain points that make companies and organizations stay in rather ‘unhealthy’ relationships with their status quo networking vendors, eventually there comes a time for them to raise their head, stand firmly on both feet and start asking difficult questions. Let’s take a look at some key considerations before making the hard choice of switching to a different vendor.

In today’s digital world and the constant need for connectivity, modernizing an enterprise network can feel like an insurmountable task. Even more so, if it means replacing the infrastructure with solutions from a new vendor. As we mentioned in the first part of our guide, in some cases the lack of flexibility is so evident, that even what feels like a need for a relatively small upgrade, ends up being either a significant investment or a wrenching ordeal.

With that comes a universal plea for simplicity, automation, and integration – a clear rejection of the present chaos and confusion, and the fear of the so called vendor lock-in. So, how to properly evaluate and make 100% sure whether our current vendor is still the right fit for us? Here are four key points that you might need to consider:

Licensing complexity. Is it becoming increasingly hard to handle your licenses due to the sheer level of their own complexity? If you’re dealing with a variety of licenses for different product lines and you’re finding it more and more difficult to compare subscription-based licenses and permanent licenses, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re in dire need of simplification.
Forced adoption of additional licenses. Have you been actually *forced* to adopt mandatory licenses for additional solutions that previously felt completely unnecessary, just to retain those critical capabilities for your operation? This is a clear sign your vendor is unable to meet your changing needs effectively and it’s probably going to get worse from this point forward.
Vendor neglect. Are you having a difficult time getting enough attention from your vendor? Whether it’s dealing with an endless array of sales reps who don’t understand your account or a lack of ownership from your vendor, it becomes clear that you deserve to be treated better.
Drawn-out delivery times. While the global shipping crisis in recent years took its toll on everyone, some vendors tend to prioritize larger customers, leaving smaller accounts with extended delivery timelines or deluding them with unrealistic promises that can’t possibly be kept. Either way – it’s a sign of an unfair approach.

You’re not alone!

The discussed issues are more than just some minor frustrations – they affect your organizational productivity, efficiency, and even revenue. Do they sound familiar? If you've answered one or more of these questions with a whole-hearted "YES!", then you might want to look beyond the status quo and consider the benefits of alternative network solutions.

Changing the vendor might not be easy. But you’d be surprised how many companies and organizations have been facing similar challenges and how they managed to overcome them with the right approach. For your inspiration, we’d like to share the story of the Swedish Smart City Borås Stad.

Up until 2012, the municipality had been operating on a networking solution from a large, market-leading vendor. At some point, it started to grow too expensive. All the software licenses, support agreements for more than 6,500 core switches started to be simply too much. The IT Team started to look for some alternatives and that’s where Extreme Networks came into play.

Extreme Networks has been a key partner in helping us to build a smart city that meets the current and future Believe this: enterprise networking doesn’t have to be this daunting. A sea change is on the horizon. IT teams, disentangle yourselves from the clutches of the hardware renewal process with your status quo vendor. Unfurl your sails and explore the ocean of other options. Cutting-edge network solutions from innovative vendors are on the horizon, promising to revolutionize network operations, bolster business evolution, and contain costs.

Andrzej Kardas, CTO, Borås Stad

Borås Stad – read the full customer story

A smart city is a cost-efficient city

In 2021 Borås Stad, the seat of Borås municipality in Sweden, turns 400 years old. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the local authorities could probably ask for a better year to celebrate. But every cloud has a silver lining, as many of the city’s departments can c...

In the next part of the ‘Network Purchasing Guide’: