{"id":492,"date":"2026-01-30T19:12:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T19:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/?p=492"},"modified":"2026-01-30T20:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T20:30:33","slug":"vendor-lock-in-u-praksi-kako-it-odluke-danas-stvaraju-troskove-sutra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/vendor-lock-in-u-praksi-kako-it-odluke-danas-stvaraju-troskove-sutra\/","title":{"rendered":"Vendor Lock-in in Practice: How Today\u2019s IT Decisions Create Tomorrow\u2019s Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your company certainly doesn\u2019t need another Microsoft Certified Professional who only knows how to click \u201cNext.\u201d\nYou need IT experts who understand your industry, evaluate all available options, and build solutions that will still be an investment\u2014rather than a burden\u2014five years from now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the only thing worse than an expensive vendor is an IT \u201cexpert\u201d who doesn\u2019t know that alternatives exist.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an \u201cExpert\u201d Becomes a Salesperson: The State of IT Consulting in Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember the saying, \u201cWhen all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail\u201d? In today\u2019s IT community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the problem is even more serious: many \u201cexperts\u201d have only one hammer\u2014and don\u2019t even know how to use it. They just know where the \u201cNext\u201d button is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Next\u2013Next\u2013Finish Culture: A Diploma Without Understanding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The decades when an IT expert meant someone who truly understood technology, architecture, and business are long gone. Today, we have a certification boom but a knowledge deficit. Microsoft certification? Just pass five mock tests. AWS? Watch three YouTube tutorials. Linux administrator? \u201cThat\u2019s complicated\u2014better stick with Windows Server.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem isn\u2019t the tools\u2014it\u2019s the people choosing them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your IT \u201cexpert\u201d proposes a solution, ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Has he considered the alternatives?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Has a 3\u20135 year cost comparison been conducted?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Does he really understand your business\u2014or is he merely pushing what he\u2019s familiar with?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Has he considered the \u201cwhat if we want to switch vendors\u201d scenario?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In 90% of cases, the answer is No<\/strong>. Because it\u2019s easier to copy the configuration from the previous project than to actually think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vendor lock-in isn\u2019t an accident\u2014it\u2019s a business model.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s be clear: big IT companies want you<\/strong> to be dependent on them. This isn\u2019t a conspiracy theory\u2014it\u2019s their growth strategy. And local \u201cexperts\u201d play right into their hands, because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. They don\u2019t know anything else<\/strong> \u2014 they\u2019ve only learned one ecosystem and now solve every problem with the same tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. It\u2019s easier for them<\/strong> \u2014 the vendor provides documentation, support, and ready-made \u201cout-of-the-box\u201d solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. They don\u2019t care about your budget<\/strong> \u2014 they charge for implementation, while you pay for licenses for years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. They have no accountability<\/strong> \u2014 when license costs jump 200% in three years, they won\u2019t be around to explain it to you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Real-World Examples: When the \u201cBest Solution\u201d Becomes the Most Expensive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Case 1: Small Company, 15 Employees<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • IT expert recommends: Microsoft 365 E3 licenses for everyone + Azure hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Annual cost: \u20ac6,000\u2013\u20ac8,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Actual needs: email, documents, collaboration<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Alternative: Open-source mail server + Nextcloud + LibreOffice<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Savings: 80% + full control over data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Case 2: Development Firm, 30 Developers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Proposal: GitHub Enterprise + Microsoft DevOps + Azure Pipelines<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Annual cost: \u20ac15,000+<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Alternative: GitLab self-hosted + Jenkins + Nexus<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Savings: 90% + flexibility in scaling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Case 3: Manufacturing Company<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Proposal: \u201cOnly Oracle can handle this\u201d (not true)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Cost: \u20ac50,000+ for licenses + 20% annual support<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Result: Vendor lock-in for 10 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Alternative: PostgreSQL with custom extensions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • It was possible\u2014but the \u201cexpert\u201d didn\u2019t know PostgreSQL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cBut open source has no support!\u201d \u2013 a myth used to sell licenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            This is the favorite mantra of IT vendors. The truth is different:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Red Hat<\/strong>: Commercial support for Linux\u2014you pay only for what you use<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • PostgreSQL<\/strong>: Companies worldwide offer support, with no vendor lock-in<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Nextcloud<\/strong>: Enterprise version with SLA agreements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • GitLab<\/strong>: Professional support teams<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              The difference? With open source, you pay for the service<\/strong>, not the cage<\/strong>. You can switch your support provider without changing the entire system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              IT Experts vs IT Sellers: How to Spot the Difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              IT Seller says:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • \u201cThis is the industry standard\u201d (read: this is what I learned in a course)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • \u201cAll companies use this\u201d (read: I don\u2019t know any alternatives)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • \u201cIt\u2019s complicated\u201d (read: I don\u2019t know how to do it)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • \u201cYou\u2019ll get 24\/7 support\u201d (read: call a support center in India)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                A true IT expert says:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • \u201cLet\u2019s consider a few options and compare them\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • \u201cHere\u2019s a 5-year cost analysis\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • \u201cThese are the risks, these are the benefits\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • \u201cLet\u2019s create a hybrid solution that takes the best of both worlds\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Hybrid Approach: Pragmatism Over Fanaticism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  A quality IT company won\u2019t push either open source or proprietary solutions. Decisions will be based on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Real cost analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  • Licenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Implementation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Training<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Maintenance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Scaling<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Exit strategy (cost of switching to another solution)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    Business needs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    • Do you need specific functionality that exists only with one vendor?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Do you have resources for in-house maintenance?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • How critical is system availability?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Example of a smart approach:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        \n
                      • Email and collaboration: Open source (Nextcloud, Roundcube)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Advanced analytics: Possibly Power BI or Tableau (if alternatives don\u2019t meet requirements)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Hosting: A mix of dedicated servers and cloud depending on workload<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Database: PostgreSQL for most cases, possibly a specific vendor for niche scenarios<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        How to Protect Yourself from Vendor Lock-In<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                        1. Demand an alternatives analysis<\/strong> \u2013 Don\u2019t accept \u201cWe only work with X\u201d as an answer. If the consultant can\u2019t explain why they isn\u2019t<\/strong> choose another option, they haven\u2019t thought it through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        2. Request a TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis<\/strong> \u2013 Look at five years, not just one, with realistically projected growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        3. Insist on standard data formats<\/strong>\u2013 Your data must be portable. If the solution doesn\u2019t support exporting to standard formats, consider it a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        4. Ask for an exit strategy<\/strong>\u2013 \u201cWhat if we want to switch solutions in two years?\u201d If the consultant can\u2019t answer, that\u2019s a bad sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        5. Check references\u2026 for real<\/strong>\u2013 Not the ones in the PowerPoint. Call companies using the proposed solution and ask about hidden costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        The Harsh Reality: IT Culture in BiH Needs Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                        The problem isn\u2019t technical\u2014it\u2019s cultural. We have a community that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        • Glorifies certifications<\/strong> instead of understanding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Values speed<\/strong> over quality<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Sells solutions<\/strong> instead of solving problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Copies from StackOverflow<\/strong> instead of designing architecture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Cares about their CV<\/strong> instead of the client<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          Young IT professionals learn \u201chow to pass an interview\u201d rather than how to build sustainable systems. Senior developers keep the \u201csecret sauce\u201d to themselves instead of educating the team. IT managers choose technology based on what\u2019s \u201cin demand\u201d in the market, not what the problem actually requires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          A Call for Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                          IT consulting isn\u2019t<\/strong> a service for installing vendor software. It is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • Deep understanding of business processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Objective analysis of available solutions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Long-term sustainability strategy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Knowledge transfer to the client<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Caring for the client\u2019s budget as if it were your own<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            If your IT partner can\u2019t explain why they didn\u2019t<\/strong> choose a cheaper alternative, they\u2019re not a partner\u2014they\u2019re a reseller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Conclusion: Invest in knowledge, not laziness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                            The Next\u2013Next\u2013Finish approach is a symptom of a bigger problem: industry laziness. It\u2019s easier to sell Microsoft 365 than to design a custom solution. It\u2019s easier to say \u201conly AWS can do this\u201d than to learn Kubernetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            But you don\u2019t pay IT experts to take the easiest path for themselves\u2014you pay them to choose the best path for you.<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Ask questions. Be skeptical. Demand evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            And remember: Vendor lock-in isn\u2019t a technological inevitability\u2014it\u2019s the result of poor IT decisions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                            Va\u0161a firma vam sigurno ne treba jo\u0161 jedan Microsoft Certified Professional koji zna samo da klik\u0107e „Next“. Trebaju vam IT stru\u010dnjaci koji razumiju va\u0161u industriju, analiziraju sve opcije i grade rje\u0161enja koja \u0107e za 5 godina biti investicija, ne teret. Jer jedina stvar gora od skupog vendora je IT „ekspert“ koji ne zna da postoje…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":494,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=492"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":499,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492\/revisions\/499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krunatech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}