Hello again all.  Back with an update on how things have been going since my last post. In the past month, I’ve been diving deep into the world of AI, specifically focusing on AI Agent platforms. The rapid advancements in AI technology have been nothing short of fascinating, so I’ve spent considerable time exploring platforms like Relevance.ai, Google Gemini, BotPress, Zapier AI, and Microsoft Copilot (and I'm keeping an eye on OpenAI's Operator as well).  I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options available. So, rather than falling into the trap of analysis paralysis, I made a conscious decision to go deeper into one platform that stood out: Microsoft Copilot Studio. Why Microsoft Copilot Studio? Given my background with Microsoft Power Automate—a core element of Copilot Studio—I knew this platform could provide a natural extension of my existing skills. Plus, Microsoft is still the go-to productivity solution for many businesses, and masterin...

Hey everyone.  I know, it's been a while.  And a lot has been going on, both personally and professionally.  Having said that, I wanted to make sure I got my thoughts/notes out on "paper" regarding, what could be, a total paradigm shift in how we build and use SaaS (cloud) software.  It stems from a recent interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and aligns directly with where I've been thinking SaaS is heading given the rise of not just AI, but AI Autonomous Agents.   For over a decade, I’ve worked alongside organizations navigating the evolving SaaS landscape, helping them extract value from their investments. This recent prediction by Satya about AI agents replacing traditional applications and SaaS platforms marks a pivotal moment. This shift, fueled by AI’s rapid advancements, challenges the foundation of the SaaS model as we know it. The question isn’t whether this transformation will happen—it’s how businesses and nonprofits can adapt and thrive in thi...

Navigating the rising costs of Software as a Service (SaaS), aka "Cloud" solutions is a significant challenge for small businesses and nonprofit organizations operating on very tight budgets. As these costs continue to climb, these organizations are under increasing pressure to make every dollar count. The financial strain of maintaining multiple subscriptions can be daunting, often leading to a constant struggle to balance necessary technology investments with limited financial resources. This scenario is pushing many to rethink how they can maximize the value of their current SaaS platforms, looking for innovative ways to leverage existing subscriptions more effectively. One approach gaining traction is the deeper exploration of additional applications within existing SaaS collaboration platforms. For example, organizations already subscribed to Microsoft 365 are discovering new uses for tools like Microsoft Loop, Planner, and Teams, which enhances collaboration without add...

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, nonprofit organizations and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face significant challenges in managing the cost of technology, particularly when it comes to cloud software subscriptions. A vivid example of this challenge was recently seen in the experience of a client who was confronted with an 11% price increase for their donor management platform subscription, following a 13% increase the previous year.  These increases were justified by the technology vendor due to additional features that our client had no intention to use now or in the future, but were being forced to pay for as "part of the new package".  This situation underscores a common predicament: technology costs can escalate quickly, eating into the budgets of organizations that can least afford it.  Failing to plan and manage them from a value-focused perspective leaves organizations at the whims of vendors that are tasked to grow their revenues at the unfortu...

The vast majority of cloud technology pricing models are typically based on metrics like the number of users, the number of units consumed, or the different modules required etc.  Why?  Because these are easily quantifiable metrics that fall in line with the cloud technology vendors model to predict revenue over time (i.e. year after year).  This makes sense, but primarily for the provider.  If you (customer) are investing in a solution to achieve a certain set of predefined and, ideally, mutually agreed to key performance indicators (KPI's), the model of pricing proposed may not align with the reason you subscribed to the solution in the first place.   As the focus on value for money increases, alongside the functionality to generate reports that help articulate that value achieved over time, both customers and cloud technology providers need to reconsider how contracts and pricing should be structured to focus on measurable desired outcomes as opposed to just ...

I don’t know a cloud technology Customer Success Manager (aka CSM) and/or Account Executive (aka AE) that hasn’t been part of at least one difficult discussion about the cost of their clients cloud software renewal, and what options exist to bring it down.  It's almost inevitable that these conversations will take place as customers question increasing yearly costs in relation to their achieved (or underachieved) return on investment (aka ROI). In some cases, this can result in a leadership level escalation in which the you (the customer) wants to speak to someone higher up about the product, the pricing, and your overall relationship with your technology partner.  While these requests for escalation in and of themselves are 100% fair, customers need to be mindful of how they talk about that relationship component in terms of their interactions with their assigned CSM. Why?  Well, if the goal is to simply reduce the cost of software which is providing positive value/ROI, ...

In the ever-changing landscape of nonprofit organizations, the development of a comprehensive strategic plan is a cornerstone for success. These plans, often spanning anywhere from three to five years, lay the groundwork for achieving an organization's mission and goals.   However, despite the increase in "Digital Transformation" projects at nonprofits of all sizes, a common oversight in many strategic planning processes is the lack of depth needed to highlight technology's impact on the nonprofit's mission.  This is especially true of smaller nonprofit organizations that may not have the technical expertise needed to help facilitate these discussions.  As technology continues to shape and redefine how nonprofits operate, it is imperative to engage in meaningful conversations about the implications and benefits of technology on the strategic planning process. Nonprofit leaders often craft high-level strategies without diving into the specifics of how technology ca...