Cloud marketplace explained – from transparency to cutting-edge technology

Have you ever been let down by a PNG file that promised transparency but didn't deliver? 

Picture this: you're finalising a client proposal, and searching around on Google Image Search because you want to place their company logo right next to yours. You find what seems like the perfect high-resolution PNG file with a transparent background, only to discover it's not transparent at all.

What’s that all about? And how do you even remove that annoying checkerboard background?

Transparency can be elusive in software

Similarly, transparency can be elusive within software landscapes. 

Let’s look at some of the numbers. 

An average company uses 314 SaaS applications, 53% of which are not managed by IT (meaning that no one pays close attention to things like renewal dates, licences, app usage, security and compliance). 

And a mind-boggling 97% of decision-makers don’t know exactly what SaaS apps their employees use and how much those apps are costing the company. 

Cloud marketplaces provide transparency

This is where cloud marketplaces step in. Marketplaces provide decision-makers with real transparency, particularly around pricing, procurement, usage and vendor management. 

(Oh, and why couldn’t the PNG file get a decent job? Because it failed the background check… Okay, bad joke but stick around - they’ll get better.)

Marketplaces provide decision-makers with real transparency, particularly around pricing, procurement, usage and vendor management. 

Back to marketplaces. Cloud marketplaces are digital platforms where customers can find, buy and deploy a massive range of pre-configured cloud-native solutions from a long list of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). 

AWS Marketplace, Azure Marketplace and Google Cloud Marketplace are examples of these. They host an extensive catalogue of software, services and data, spanning various categories like security, observability, data, DevOps and more. 

AWS Marketplace, for example, is home to over 4,000 ISVs and over 15,000 software listings. It offers software solutions in over 70 categories. IT research analyst firm Canalys estimates that cloud marketplace revenues will grow to over $45 billion by 2025.

What are the benefits of using cloud marketplaces?

Here are the three main benefits businesses gain from leveraging cloud marketplaces when purchasing software.

Exclusive private offers and discounts

Cloud marketplaces offer exclusive deals and personalised pricing through private offers. This feature allows customers to access bespoke pricing and discounts not available publicly. It's like a behind-the-scenes negotiation that ensures cost-effective solutions tailored to specific budget needs. 

And, as a marketplace partner for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, Nordcloud is well-placed to secure discounts with various ISVs on your behalf.

Burn down hyperscaler spending commitments

Cloud marketplaces provide mechanisms to optimise spending commitments. Customers can strategically leverage their purchases across platforms to effectively reduce overall spend commitments, and unlock additional credits and discounts. 

AWS Marketplace, for instance, enables the burndown of the Enterprise Discount Program (EDP) commit. So, customers can apply up to 100% of Marketplace purchases toward their EDP commitment, albeit capped at 25% of their total commitment.

Vendor insights and management

Cloud marketplaces enable you to streamline and expedite your due diligence and vendor management processes. They offer controls that enable users to curate and monitor software procurement. 

With private marketplace functionalities, these platforms can assist with compliance by ensuring that only approved solutions can run in your cloud environments, significantly reducing risks posed by shadow IT. And cloud marketplaces can integrate seamlessly with internal procurement systems, making billing and invoice processes that little bit easier.

Cutting through and navigating cloud marketplaces with Nordcloud

Have you heard about the company that sells scissors on the cloud marketplace? They claim it's "cutting-edge" technology. (Ok, we promise that’s the last one).

Jokes aside, navigating the multitude of listings in cloud marketplaces can be overwhelming. But, the world’s best technology is already in these marketplaces and Nordcloud can step in to help you make the best choices. 

We go beyond mere licence reselling to guide you along your entire cloud journey, a bit like a cloud sherpa. That means leveraging our super strong commercial and technical partnerships with the cloud providers and ISVs to bring you transparency, saving you time and money.

If you’d like to discuss how this might look for your business, contact me directly or fill in the form below.