Vendor Agnostic Platforms: How Becoming Vendor Neutral Changes the Game

Quick Hits: 

• Companies choose to be vendor-agnostic in order to utilize multiple vendors and create flexible technology solutions. 
• Vendor-agnostic platforms create solutions that can be integrated with other platforms to contribute to a larger system. 

Vendor Agnostic Definition 

Vendor-agnostic companies, also known as vendor-neutral companies, utilize multiple vendors in order to find the best solutions. Instead of utilizing one vendor for all their technological needs, they find solutions that can integrate with their existing equipment. Vendor-agnostic companies prioritize flexibility to find the best solutions and avoid dependence on a single vendor.  

Platform Agnostic Meaning 

As more platforms are finding creative ways to upsell and overcharge, vendor-agnostic platforms offer a way out for vendor-neutral companies. 

Platform-agnostic solutions work to provide tools and equipment that can integrate into any system. Instead of creating offerings that only work within their ecosystem, they create solutions that can be integrated with other companies’ tools. Vendor-agnostic companies make a concentrated effort to offer compatibility with all common software and hardware in order to provide flexibility for their customers. 

Vendor Neutral Certification 

Certifications can also be vendor-specific or vendor-neutral. Vendor-neutral industry certifications can be more widely applied and are valuable for individuals looking to build flexible technology systems. Vendor-specific certifications aren’t widely applicable but can be helpful if a vendor’s technology is a core part of the company’s technology. 

Benefits of Vendor Agnostic Providers 

Vendor neutrality allows companies to search for the best, and safest, services available instead of getting stuck with expensive package deals from a single vendor. Here are some of the benefits this level of flexibility creates: 

Meeting Complex Needs 

While some companies can find a vendor that meets all their needs, many companies have needs that cannot be met by a single vendor. Creating vendor-agnostic company systems makes it simpler for companies to find and implement the best solutions.

Cost-Effective 

The ability to pick and choose services, and service providers, allows companies to find the best prices. Not only can companies find cost-effective services, but often they are able to find packages sized to fit their needs exactly. Many vendor-agnostic platforms offer pay-as-you-go services that can save companies money, especially for services that are used infrequently.

Transparent Partnerships 

Vendor-agnostic platforms aren’t trying to do everything. They know the value they can bring to your company, and often won’t try to sell you additional features you don’t need. Vendor agnostic platforms are designed to be used alongside other platforms, and their salespeople won’t hesitate to point you in the right direction. Working with a vendor-agnostic platform operates more like a strategic partnership than a guided transaction.  

Avoid Lock-In 

Vendor-specific platforms profit when their customers are completely tied to their suite of products. Because of this, they will often find ways to limit potential partnerships with other companies. Vendor-specific platforms use anything from complex contracts to incompatible hardware to keep their customers from searching for solutions externally.

For some services, like payment processing, vendors can even lock in customer data in a way that prevents the customer from leaving. Without solutions like tokenization, data can be trapped and prevent companies from moving on, even if prices increase or systems break down. This lack of flexibility could limit your organization’s potential to scale and evolve in the future.  

Vendor-agnostic service providers may not have the same suite of products as larger vendors. However, they are designed to be compatible with most other hardware and software. If you are looking to create a flexible system that delivers on both performance and price, look for vendor-agnostic platforms. 

If you’re looking for a vendor-agnostic security platform, check out our tokenization tools. Made to be integrated with existing security software, tokenization is designed to increase data security while reducing compliance concerns.