Third-party software support: The effective strategy CIOs are using to fund and accelerate innovation

CIOs are spending a substantial share of their budget each year on software vendor support and maintenance costs just to keep core systems running. Yet they’re often left without the value, flexibility, or responsiveness required to support business priorities.

At a time when new capabilities, including agentic AI, are becoming a top IT investment, most IT budgets remain tied up in “keeping the lights on,” limiting the capacity to fund innovation and drive growth.

Companies using independent providers to service their enterprise software are saving an average of 75% annually in total software maintenance costs while gaining more comprehensive coverage and, critically, reclaiming control of their technology road map.

Download this whitepaper to explore how to reallocate millions from maintenance to innovation, eliminate forced upgrades, and take control of your IT road map with a proven alternative to vendor support.