Case Study: Microsoft EA Renewal for a Leading Energy Company in the UAE
Challenge
A major energy company in the UAE, with operations spanning oil exploration, production, and renewable energy initiatives, engaged Redress Compliance to assist in renewing its Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA). The company relied heavily on Microsoft’s technologies for supply chain management, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. With an impending EA renewal, the company aimed to:
- Analyze existing Microsoft deployments and licensing usage.
- Optimize license allocations to eliminate waste.
- Develop a strategic roadmap to support its digital transformation initiatives.
- Benchmark licensing costs and terms against industry standards.
- Negotiate a scalable and cost-effective EA renewal aligned with its business objectives.
The complexity of the company’s IT environment and its focus on sustainability required a customized approach to managing costs, ensuring compliance, and supporting future growth.
The Process
- Comprehensive Deployment Analysis: • Reviewed Microsoft product deployments, including Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365. • Assessed software usage across onshore and offshore facilities to identify underutilized licenses. • Mapped deployments against entitlements to uncover overprovisioned licenses.
- Optimization of Licensing Portfolio: • Recommended consolidating licenses across departments to reduce redundancy. • Transitioned specific teams to role-based licensing to better match operational requirements. • Retired outdated or unused products to streamline the software portfolio.
- Strategic Roadmap Development: • Collaborated with IT and business leadership to define a three-year roadmap for IT modernization. • Prioritized cloud-based solutions to support operational efficiency and sustainability goals. • Ensured scalability to accommodate the company’s expanding renewable energy initiatives.
- Benchmarking: • Compared the company’s licensing terms and costs against regional and global energy industry peers. • Provided insights into market trends to strengthen the company’s negotiation position.
- Negotiation Strategy: • Developed a data-driven negotiation approach using findings from deployment analysis and benchmarking. • Secured discounts on Azure and Dynamics 365 licenses tailored to the company’s future needs. • Negotiated flexible terms allowing for licensing adjustments based on evolving business requirements.
Results
- Cost Savings: • Annual savings from license optimization: AED 12 million. • Additional savings through negotiated discounts: AED 7 million. • Total savings achieved over the three-year term: AED 19 million.
- Operational Improvements: • Reduced overall licensing costs by 25% while maintaining compliance. • Streamlined licensing management across various business units, improving transparency and efficiency. • Enabled adoption of advanced Microsoft tools for data analytics and collaboration.
- Strategic Outcomes: • Secured a flexible EA that supports the company’s growth and sustainability objectives. • Enhanced governance and visibility into licensing usage and costs. • Positioned the company for efficient cloud adoption and operational scalability.
Quote from the CIO:
“Redress Compliance’s expertise in Microsoft EA renewals helped us significantly save costs while aligning our licensing strategy with our business and sustainability goals. Their strategic approach was critical to our success.”
Key Results:
- Savings Achieved: AED 19 million over three years.
- Compliance Enhanced: Fully compliant with Microsoft licensing policies.
- Operational Efficiency: Optimized licensing portfolio with reduced waste.
- Strategic Alignment: Tailored licensing strategy supporting growth and sustainability initiatives.
This case demonstrates Redress Compliance’s ability to deliver tailored solutions for energy companies, ensuring cost optimization, compliance, and strategic alignment in Microsoft EA renewals.
