Zebra Pen Draws the Line on an Underperforming EA.
A leadership transition left Zebra Pen without a clear owner of its Microsoft licensing, right as an underperforming Enterprise Agreement came up for renewal. An existing relationship with TrustedTech gave the company somewhere to turn.
Zebra Pen Corporation manufactures writing instruments from its headquarters in Edison, New Jersey, running Microsoft licensing decisions through a 170-person team.
A leadership shakeup left Zebra Pen's Microsoft licensing without an owner.
In the spring of 2025, Zebra Pen went through significant leadership disruption. Key team members left, and they took critical institutional knowledge with them. At the same time, the company's Microsoft Enterprise Agreement was underperforming and failing to deliver the value it should have.
The renewal was approaching fast, and Zebra Pen faced a real choice: renew with a vendor that wasn't delivering, or find out what else was out there. Without the internal knowledge that had just walked out the door, that decision carried real risk.
"TrustedTech can completely wash away any ill will you may have from dealing with the not-so-pretty parts of IT. They're kind of the standard."
An existing relationship gave Zebra Pen real numbers before the renewal deadline.
TrustedTech had already been building a relationship with Zebra Pen ahead of the EA renewal. That meant Zebra Pen wasn't starting from zero when the decision point arrived. They had a dedicated rep who understood the business and real pricing to compare against what the incumbent vendor was offering.
- Actual cost comparisons between the EA renewal and a Cloud Service Provider model
- A dedicated rep who tracked Zebra Pen's business before problems came up
- Guided transition from the underperforming EA to TrustedTech's CSP model
- Renewal timing aligned to Zebra Pen's spring 2025 EA cycle, not a rushed switch
- A partnership built on trust already in place, not a cold pitch during a crunch
If you have personal experience dealing with the not-so-pretty parts of IT as an industry, TrustedTech can completely wash away any ill will you may have from that. They're kind of the standard.
Real savings, and a decision made with confidence instead of guesswork.
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Cost savings
Moving from the EA to TrustedTech's CSP model delivered approximately 20% in savings on Microsoft licensing costs.
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Anticipatory support
TrustedTech's dedicated rep anticipated needs before they surfaced, built through consistent engagement and a real understanding of Zebra Pen's business.
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An easy renewal decision
An existing relationship ahead of the renewal gave Zebra Pen real numbers and real trust when weighing whether to stay with its incumbent vendor.
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A different kind of partnership
Zebra Pen found a partner that could, in Brandon Winter's words, wash away the ill will left over from prior vendor experiences.
Zebra Pen was sitting under an unmanaged EA with a large distributor, without the support or consultation they needed for their licensing and services. That's where I was happy to step in.
Company at a Glance
From an ownerless licensing decision to a renewal made with confidence.
A leadership transition and a vendor that wasn't delivering left Zebra Pen without clear ownership of its Microsoft licensing strategy, right as a renewal deadline closed in. That's a hard spot to make a big decision from.
An existing relationship with John Ho at TrustedTech gave Zebra Pen the confidence to move from its EA to a CSP model instead of renewing out of default. The move delivered immediate cost savings and a support relationship that anticipates problems instead of waiting for them.
Renewing a Microsoft agreement that isn't earning your trust?
Talk to a TrustedTech specialist about what an EA to CSP transition could save you, before your next renewal date locks you in.
