I recently published posts on changes to Microsoft’s CSP renewal policies and improvements to our Cloud-iQ platform.
These two topics are brought neatly into focus with this latest post which outlines one of the practical problems arising from the Microsoft policy shift. More importantly, I will also outline how you can use Cloud-iQ to build a simple workflow that will easily tackle this problem ready for the May 4 deadline.
As you will know from my earlier post on Microsoft's updated CSP end-of-term policies, from May 4 the grace period for subscription renewals is going away which means doing nothing at end-of -term will no longer be a safe default. Every subscription that reaches end-of-term will need to go one of three ways: renew, cancel, or enter an Extended Service Term (EST).
The policy itself seems simple enough on paper. What will be complicated is acting on it when you're not dealing with one subscription but hundreds, or even thousands.
In Microsoft’s new world, managing subscription states at scale could quickly become an enormous time suck for your team and a costly headache for your customers.
The Bulk update tool in Cloud-iQ plus its Export feature has you covered for this.
The export feature gives you a list of your subscriptions alongside their current renewal policy. That's your starting point: knowing exactly what you're working with before making any changes. Without that picture, any action you take is risky and potentially expensive guesswork.
From there, the Bulk update tool lets you act with efficiency. Instead of opening and updating subscriptions individually, you can apply the same end-of-term decision across multiple subscriptions in one action.
It’s a simple, seamless workfklow:
Hit export to see what's there →Review the options→ Hit Bulk update
Use this workflow proactively ahead of renewal windows to make sure everything is set where you want it. Or use it reactively if subscriptions have shifted into EST unexpectedly, or you want a regular check to confirm your base is on the right policy.
Whatever the scenario, Cloud-iQ keeps you in control and end-of-term states/ renewals become a non-event rather than a cause for concern for you and your customers.
The practical benefits are compelling. Less time on manual admin means more time for higher-value work, looking after customers rather than working through subscription records. Fewer manual steps means fewer errors. It's easier to keep your estate aligned with what's agreed in your customer contracts when you can see and act on everything at once, rather than piecing it together record by record.
Take a look at this video and see just how simple it can be to avoid big problems after May 4, with Bulk Updates.
To sum up, Microsoft is changing the way renewals work. That’s irrevocable. How much this will affect your day-to-day operations is a different question. With SoftwareOne and Cloud-iQ, the tools are already in place to make sure Microsoft’s policy shift doesn't become your operational problem and that renewal management is just business as usual.
We're Microsoft experts. Ask us about what you want from Cloud-iQ and we'll get right back to you.
We're Microsoft experts. Ask us about what you want from Cloud-iQ and we'll get right back to you.
