FNTS Introduces Advocacy Service to Boost Efficiency with Consolidated Software and Simplified ISV Management

OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 14, 2023) – To help businesses that seek to eliminate complexities associated with independent software vendor relationships, managed services provider FNTS announced today that it has launched a new Software Advocacy offering.

With more than 80 years of combined software solutions expertise, FNTS executive leaders will support organizations through Software Advocacy by optimizing software spend, negotiating the best possible terms and adopting new solutions that meet their unique business and budget objectives.

FNTS Director of Software Sales Jim Cannon, who joined the company in August as an expert in software sales, consulting, partner engagement and enterprise contact negotiations, will lead a dedicated team of managed services professionals to deliver results through Software Advocacy.

“Jim is uniquely positioned to ensure FNTS adds value in the managed services marketplace by advocating on behalf of clients to ensure they have the right software capabilities and independent software vendors in place,” said FNTS President Kim Whittaker. “Leveraging his consulting background, Jim understands the value services and partner ecosystems can provide to a client’s technology engagement by reducing software deployment risk, improving speed-to-market and maximizing software investments.”

Cannon spent the past 24 years at IBM and served as an IBM Strategic Dealmaker. He brings proficiency and prowess to FNTS regarding software engagement models, IBM enterprise licensing and how to optimize software spend.

“It requires significant experience and resources to engage in time-consuming negotiations and effectively manage the contract intricacies of your independent software vendor relationships,” said Cannon. “By leveraging FNTS’ purchasing power and tapping into our experts’ wealth of knowledge, FNTS will implement detailed consolidation plans that create value and efficiency within IT departments.”

Software sales and vendor consolidation are areas of strategic growth for FNTS, which provides a variety of strategic mainframe, cloud and managed services to organizations nationwide. According to a recent Gartner survey, 75% of organizations pursued security vendor consolidation in 2022, up from 29% in 2020. As more organizations examine consolidation options to reduce vendor sprawl, minimize vendor overlap, strengthen risk posture and avoid excess expense by improving operational efficiency, Cannon and the FNTS team are industry leaders who can help IT departments identify the right capabilities and cost models. 

The FNTS Software Advocacy offering provides unparalleled service and support, conducting application rationalization assessments of organizations’ software solutions, which prioritize impact and cost. The Software Advocacy offering also streamlines services and delivery by consolidating software solutions and invoices into one master service agreement.

Learn more about FNTS Software Advocacy at https://www.fnts.com/services/software-advocacy. 

About FNTS
As a nationally recognized trusted advisor in managed IT services for close to 30 years, FNTS has a proven history of modernizing mainframe environments, along with a wide range of operating systems including: Windows, Linux, AIX and IBM i. FNTS also has a passion for all things multi-cloud and provides flexible, industry-specific cloud solutions, with a continued focus on orchestrating agility, transparency and IT optimization for our customers, all while keeping cost containment top-of-mind. With an elevated security posture consisting of layered security solutions, FNTS specializes in partnering with customers in highly regulated and compliance-driven industries.

FNTS operates one of the most secure, technically advanced data centers in the United States, where the full scope of its operations is based. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, FNTS is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska (FNNI). FNNI and its affiliates have $30 billion in assets and nearly 5,000 employee associates. For more information, visit www.fnts.com.