Cloudnation Case: Proactive cost optimisation and billing insights

CloudBilling enables CloudNation to analyze billing data, optimize costs, and provide valuable advice to its customers. This led to increased customer satisfaction and long-term partnerships.  

Summary

Challenges: Manage the constant changes and additions to the AWS catalog, billing engine scalability, and pricing arrangements. 

Solutions: Billing platform, AWS Connector, and Customer Portals

Use case: Automation of the billing process for AWS and Microsoft CSP. Delivering an accurate, concise, and easy-to-understand invoice. Providing insightful and easy-to-use portals that empower the end customer.

Benefits

• Increased accuracy and reliability month-end closing
• Reduced errors
• Improved speed and effectiveness of the billing process
• Enhancement of project execution and success

Company profile

CloudNation does everything possible to empower people and organizations by harnessing the full potential of the public cloud to realize transformation, growth and impact. 
CloudNation is committed to facilitating IT transformations and expediting the journey to and through the public cloud. CloudNation approaches cloud solutions with a holistic perspective, considering both the technical aspects and the impact on people and processes cloud solutions with dedication, technical know-how and experience, with an eye for people and process. With the aim: to empower you.  CloudNation does so with: End-to-end projects, Consultancy & advice, Managed services, DevOps via a Cloud Competence Centre, Training and Development.
From vision to implementation and further development, CloudNation is ready to help you digitally transform.

Challenges 

CloudNation mainly focuses on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. As a valued Direct bill partner for Microsoft, CloudNation takes pride in automating their Microsoft billing, streamlining the process for their customers. AWS requires CloudNation to arrange its own reporting toward customers, filtering out discounts and kickbacks.

They offer to handle the billing of AWS on their customer's behalf. Managing the billing of both the AWS and Microsoft clouds means that CloudNation would have to manage the constant changes and additions to AWS & Microsoft catalogs themselves. CloudNation’s commitment to resolving challenges proactively, based on previous experiences, showcases its dedication to delivering exceptional services. 

Solution

CloudBilling has automated CloudNations billing and invoicing for both AWS and Microsoft’s cloud offerings. CloudNation is able to create customized pricing plans and bundles based on their customers' needs, enabling them to offer tailored solutions and increase customer satisfaction.

By leveraging CloudBilling and analyzing billing data, CloudNation excels at identifying optimization opportunities for customers, enabling them to proactively offer valuable advice.

I find it incredibly unique that certain specific reports can have their own dedicated portals, offering my customers valuable insights and information tailored to their needs. CloudBilling actively engages with me, generating ideas that are then incorporated into their roadmap. - Bart Boonen, CTO, Co-Owner and Founder

Additionally, CloudNation delivers its customers comprehensive reporting and real-time insights using the CloudBilling Customer Portals. Empowering them with valuable insights.

CloudNation enables its customers to make informed, data-driven decisions that result in heightened revenue and enhanced business outcomes.

Implementation

The implementation of CloudBilling and the Azure and AWS connectors automates CloudNations billing process allows them to deliver key insights to their customers through the CloudBilling customer portals. As a result, CloudNation stays scalable and flexible while keeping focus on their core business. CloudBilling ensures that no revenue is missed, and that everything is accounted for. 

Results

Flexibility in Cost Allocation

CloudBilling's flexible cost allocation enables efficient billing and invoicing for CloudNation. This same flexibility allows CloudNation to maximise the credits, refunds and rebates of AWS.

Improved Month-End Closing

CloudBilling provides the confidence that after the months closing their invoices are accurate and complete. This ensures accurate invoicing, prevents revenue leakage, and enhances financial reporting.

Proactive Billing Optimization

CloudBilling's billing data enables CloudNation to proactively identify optimization opportunities, resulting in significant cost savings and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Enhanced Reporting and Insights

CloudBilling's customized reports and customer portals provide transparent insights, supporting effective communication, clear cost visibility, and informed decision-making for CloudNation's customers.

About CloudBilling

Cloudbilling is a fast-growing Dutch tech company that helps companies with complex billing and business intelligence issues. Back in 2009, CloudBilling pioneered by supporting the first SaaS companies in implementing innovative billing solutions. Since then, CloudBilling's services have expanded to other industries such as Managed Service Providers and Enterprises.

CloudBilling provides solutions for complex, high volume billing and in-depth data analysis based on billing data to identify commercial opportunities such as upsell opportunities, revenue growth and churn reduction.