IBM Aims to Simplify Cloud Contracts With Standard Agreement

If you or your customers are concerned about the complexity of cloud contracts, then IBM may have a solution. The company has “radically simplified” its cloud computing contracts, boiling them down to a standard two-page agreement that replaces its longer, more complex contracts.

According to Big Blue, its previously-used contracts typically required long negotiations and reviews before deals were signed, but the promise is now it will easy and quick to get cloud contracts signed. Of course, IBM noted that its competitors are still using more complex contracts that generally take up to five times as much time to complete.

“It’s ironic that cloud computing represents a faster and more innovative approach to doing business, yet lengthy and complex cloud business contracts from most vendors remain an obstacle,” said Neil Abrams, vice president and assistant general counsel at IBM, in a prepared statement. “By dramatically simplifying and accelerating how clients contract for cloud services, IBM is making it easier and faster for companies to reap the benefits of cloud.”

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IBM stated that the change was part of a two-month operational improvement initiative. According to the vendor, the cloud services business — and its clients — have already benefited from the “substantially simplified cloud computing procedure.” The new contract was designed to be easy to navigate and understand, which significantly reduces the time required to close a deal and get end-customers up and running on their cloud services.

Whether it will truly be an edge for IBM and its partners is unknown at this point, but it’s a good start towards making it even easier for organizations to get up and running on the cloud.