Present competition as an alternative during negotiations. Highlight quotes from competitors and articulate financial requirements that necessitate more favorable pricing. This can illustrate to the supplier that you are considering alternatives and puts pressure on them to offer better terms.
Emphasize the necessity to remove auto-renewal clauses due to internal finance/legal requirements. This approach can create negotiation leverage as it provides flexibility for future negotiations while simultaneously eliminating the risk of being locked into undesirable terms.
Address potential overage fees early in the negotiation process. Clarify expectations regarding growth and how overages do not reflect the current usage trends. Offer to forgo any overage fees in exchange for an early contract renewal or if the service usage is expected to grow.
Use the need to comply with security requirements (like SOC 2, HIPAA) as leverage to demand better pricing or waived fees for added features. If the supplier includes features at a premium that others provide for free, push back and underscore budget constraints.
Document any product issues or service level concerns experienced during the previous term. Present these challenges as a basis for requesting discounts or improved terms moving forward, reinforcing that the experience impacts your willingness to continue the partnership at the current pricing.