Introduce competitive alternatives to leverage lower pricing. Highlight any offers you've received from competitors as a direct comparison to current proposals. Use budget constraints to reinforce the need for a more favorable deal.
Emphasize the need to remove any auto-renewal clauses in your agreement. Argue that having this option allows for better negotiating power in future dealings. This tactic can help secure better terms as it demonstrates a commitment to ongoing evaluation.
Use the requirement of upgraded features—such as enhanced security options—as leverage. Negotiate them into the pricing if other suppliers offer similar updates at no cost. This places pressure on the vendor to provide necessary features while keeping costs down.
Offer to serve as a reference or participate in a case study in exchange for a discount. Highlight the marketing value you can provide through this association, incentivizing the vendor to offer better terms in return for enhanced visibility.
If planning to increase user licenses, leverage this expected growth to negotiate for reduced pricing on a per-user basis. Present this as a commitment to continued service while requiring a discount for the volume increase.