Network & IT Deals that Support the Accelerated Pace of Technology Evolution

Register Now!

Join us in New York City as we discuss leading market trends and developments that will affect your company in 2023 and the coming years.

IT and network technologies and services are evolving faster than ever before – services to as-a-service, licenses to subscription, on-prem to cloud, network to NaaS, all wrapped up in bold statements about AI. And of course, there remains relentless demand for cost savings and aggressive network/IT budget reductions. This invitation-only event for large companies will focus on the key strategies that will improve your organization’s ability to effectively source network and IT goods and services in this rapidly changing environment.

In a single day, we will share the leading sourcing and negotiation strategies for these new technologies, services, and contract terms and conditions you need to keep your vendors on the hook for delivering the deal you negotiated.  Our conference sessions will provide deep dives on the issues that present major challenges to large enterprise customers today.

We are limiting the number of attendees at this conference, so register soon!  Clients and friends of TC2 and LB3 will receive a special rate of $299, with a discounted rate of $249 for each organization’s subsequent registrants.  Breakfast, lunch, and network reception are included.  An invoice will be emailed to you upon registration for credit card payment.

If you have questions, please email us at nyconference@lb3law.com. 

We invite you to bring as many colleagues as you like or to forward this invitation to others in your organization who may be interested in attending.  

Our conferences are exclusive to enterprise customers.  

There will be no vendors in attendance.

AGENDA

8:00 – 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:45 Welcome and Introduction

8:45 – 9:15 The Accelerated Pace of Technology Evolution - The pace of technology change today is faster than ever, imposing significant pressure on those responsible for sourcing and deploying IT and network services.  The list of disruptive transformations is long and overwhelming:  MPLS to Internet.  Wireline to wireless.  On-prem to cloud.  License to subscription.  Service to “as-a-service.”  Network to NaaS.  Human intelligence to Artificial Intelligence.  Continual improvement to machine learning.  In this first session, we will discuss the sourcing strategies that enterprises are using to most effectively deal with this rapid pace of transformation to deliver the cutting-edge services and applications that their end-users demand. 

9:20 – 10:00 Outsourcing and Managed Services Deals - Most organizations today have some outsourced or managed services support for their network, software, or IT infrastructure, and many are increasingly relying upon systems integrators and other outside vendors to support rapid technology transformations.  For these arrangements to provide robust service delivery and yield meaningful savings and efficiencies for your organization, they must be sourced through disciplined and structured procurement processes that accurately assess competing vendors’ offerings from a technological and financial perspective and be provided pursuant to robust contract terms that ensure you receive the full value of your vendor’s proposition.

10:05 – 10:45  Successful Procurement and Deployment of Unified Communications -The explosive growth of UC deployments shows no sign of slowing down.  Understanding the key elements of UC, UCaaS, and CCaaS sourcings and contract negotiations will ensure your company maximizes the economic and technology value of the UC proposition.

10:50 – 11:05  Break

11:10 – 11:50  Wireless Services - The surge in remote work has led to a dramatic increase in the use of wireless services to conduct business.  With usage soaring, the deployment of fixed wireless as a real alternative for wireline access, and 5G looming on the horizon (but not yet ready for prime time, regardless of what you’ve heard), wireless services are once again being prioritized in enterprise technology roadmaps.  We will highlight the most important sourcing and contracting trends in enterprise wireless, and then pivot to a quick how-to tutorial on using those services efficiently, economically, and legally. 

11:50 – 12:30  IT Cost Management - Managing IT budgets against the accelerated pace of technology evolution is critical.  This session will provide recommendations and best practices to help ensure that your budget aligns with changing technologies, including business case tracking for major projects, and how to leverage your TEM for improved day-to-day cost and inventory management more effectively.  We’ll break down a list of common IT cost management challenges and the successful solutions we have deployed.   

12:30 – 1:30  Lunch

1:35 – 1:55  News from Washington DC:  Regulatory Briefing - In this quick regulatory update, we will look at two regulatory issues that affect how much you spend on network services and how you operate your network.  Universal Service Fund assessments on transport services continue to rise, hitting nearly 35% this quarter with no end in sight.  And the FCC’s regulations imposing significant 911 obligations on enterprise customers may affect how you deploy new network technologies to support a hybrid workforce.  We’ll discuss both issues and how to manage potential costs associated with each.

2:00 – 2:40  Using Competitive Sourcing to Enable IT Modernization - In this session, we will cover a series of case studies of IT sourcing programs that have been the foundation for delivering IT Modernization.  We’ll share the sourcing approaches and strategies deployed, lessons learned, and key outcomes of each very different sourcing program. 

2:45 – 3:25  Successful Procurement and Contracting with Network Equipment Manufacturers - Network teams face a growing range of options for network hardware and software technologies, and comparing the capabilities, features and TCO between different manufacturers’ solutions is ever more complex.  In this session we’ll present strategies and best practices for engaging manufacturers in competitive sourcing processes, including how to navigate the inevitable need to involve Value Added Resellers (“VARs”) at some point. We’ll provide tips and approaches for accurately comparing competing technologies and solutions, obtaining optimized pricing and avoiding contracting ‘gotchas’.. 

3:30 – 3:45  Break

3:50 – 4:25  Market Developments in Networking - The network services that you are buying, and the service providers that you are buying them from, are evolving faster than ever.  New and non-traditional providers are offering compelling propositions for the latest technologies and services while the traditional incumbent vendors deploy defensive tactics to lock in your business.  In this session, we’ll present our unique point of view of the current network services market, share the different vendor behaviors we’re seeing at the negotiation table and discuss how you should position your company for maximum flexibility.

4:30 – 5:10  Internet Transport – the Power of the Portfolio - Enabled by SD-WAN, enterprises are migrating away from private MPLS solutions to more flexible and cost-effective internet transport technologies.  The Power of the Portfolio considers strategies to maximize the benefits and reduce the risks when sourcing these internet transport services.   We’ll look at the pros and cons of multi-supplier sourcing, approaches for successful execution, and some must-have insights for contracting.  

5:15 – 5:30  The Negotiation Persona Hall of Fame - When you’ve been doing this for a while, you recognize certain vendor personas that regularly sit across from you at the negotiation table.  Some are helpful.  Some are frustrating.  Some are deal closers.  Some make you wonder if they chose the right career.  And some are just downright amusing.  We’ll end the day by sharing our favorite negotiation “types” and will invite attendees to offer up their own. 

5:30  Networking Reception - Join us for a drink, food, and some relaxed conversation.