Energy and utility companies buy under the eye of regulators, investors and the public. SmartBuyer gives them specialists who have bought technology, services and capital equipment in the sector, and who can hold cost down without touching safety or security.
A focused 15-minute call. No obligation and no lengthy brief required.
reduction in cybersecurity managed services for a major energy firm, with protection held in place
Specialist support for the technology, services and programmes behind critical infrastructure.
500+
procurement category specialists
250+
specialist spend sub-categories
£1bn+
collective savings delivered
Some of the companies our Specialists have supported
Energy and utilities run long-life assets, safety-critical work and a cyber risk that is a matter of national concern. Cost reduction is welcome, but never at the expense of protection or continuity. Our specialists have worked with major energy firms and understand where spend can move and where the fixed points are.
The task is to challenge scope, service levels and price without weakening protection. That takes a specialist who can tell the difference.
ERP, licensing and managed services set the cost of running the business. Challenge before signature is worth far more than challenge after it.
Efficient spend has to be evidenced to the regulator and to investors. Benchmarks and a clear audit trail matter as much as the saving.
Maintenance, spares and framework agreements run for years. Terms agreed today shape cost for a decade.
Each one is a result delivered in technology spend for a major energy firm or a large enterprise.
40% cost reduction
The managed services had grown into a significant cost, with scope, service levels and pricing set largely by the provider and little challenge applied to what was being paid for. Security cost can be challenged hard when the specialist knows what protection has to stay.
A SmartBuyer IT specialist reviewed and renegotiated the services, taking 40% out of the cost while holding the protection in place.
£2m saved before sign-off
The client was negotiating directly with its systems integrator and software vendor and needed a defensible position on price, licensing and contract terms, while keeping the programme moving. Major systems implementations are a big commitment, and the integrator and vendor terms are where cost is set.
A SmartBuyer ERP and vendor negotiation specialist challenged price, scope and contract terms before sign-off and secured £2 million in savings.
35% reduction
Usage and local terms had drifted apart over successive renewals, and the next renewal needed one commercial position, not 80 separate ones. Global licensing estates drift over renewals, and a single defensible position is what brings cost back.
A SmartBuyer licensing specialist renegotiated the global Enterprise Agreement before renewal and delivered a 35% cost reduction.
Our network’s experience spans far more than the case studies above.
Here are ten examples of work delivered by our technology, energy and capital specialists.
Secured a 40% cost reduction in cybersecurity managed services for a major energy firm.
Delivered £2m of savings on a SAP implementation through strategic vendor negotiation.
Negotiated Microsoft Enterprise Agreements across 80 global territories, achieving a 35% cost reduction.
Delivered power purchase agreements resulting in £10m of savings across energy-intensive organisations.
Delivered cloud technology savings of £22m through structured vendor negotiation and procurement strategy.
Sourced specialist R&D equipment for a renewables client, including hexapods and lidar measurement units.
Led energy reduction initiatives delivering significant cost savings and reduced environmental footprints.
Oversaw £1.5 billion of IT spend for a global energy major across global projects, driving consistent commercial rigour.
Negotiated VMware ELA renewals, delivering significant savings for the wider organisation.
Achieved a £35k saving by challenging software audit claims and negotiating favourable settlement terms.
Client names are withheld unless SmartBuyer has already published them. Results are as delivered by individual Specialists.
Practical starting points from the categories where SmartBuyer specialists support energy and utilities leaders.
