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 skyrocketing expenses, diminished negotiation leverage, and hidden operational burdens, but by adopting data-driven countermeasures—like usage audits, competitive benchmarking against AWS, and professional negotiation tactics, savvy buyers can reclaim control, minimize risks, and secure 10-30% savings through NET(net)'s proven optimization strategies.
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 Audit Java Trap
Broadcom's VMware Betrayal
Cloud Cost Explosion
Consumption Based Revenue Models
AI's Hidden Cost Bomb
and more....
Read out Top 20 battle tested ways to combat these aggressive supplier tactics with links to articles and resources for each...
