How CMOs Negotiate Vendor Lock-In Costs

The CMO Podcast with Fexingo: Marketing Leadership, Budgets, and Executive Strategy · Sep 28, 2026 · 10m · transcript

Marketing leaders are facing a quiet crisis: vendor lock-in. When software stacks become too intertwined, switching costs explode, and budget flexibility vanishes. We look at how one major consumer brand discovered their data platform was costing them more than just license fees, including hidden integration labor and stalled innovation. This episode breaks down the three stages of contractual captivity, from onboarding to exit, and offers a framework for auditing your current tech stack before it becomes an anchor. Learn how to identify early warning signs of dependency and structure…