{"id":12071,"date":"2026-09-29T11:19:49","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T09:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/?p=12071"},"modified":"2026-10-07T16:15:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:15:29","slug":"benchmark-clauses-in-ito-agreements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/benchmark-clauses-in-ito-agreements\/","title":{"rendered":"Benchmark Clauses In ITO Agreements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-744a2f7b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-bottom:5vh\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size has-text-align-center\">Benchmark Clauses In ITO Agreements<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-align-center\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Benchmarking is one of the most effective and accurate tools for ensuring that prices in an IT operations agreement remain in line with the market throughout the contract term. In this article, we review the key elements of a benchmark clause and the choices that should be considered when drafting it. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2c81bec4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-grey-50-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"#adgang\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-392\" style=\"width: 18px;\" src=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/eye.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>  Get access<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c4af4acc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:5vw;padding-bottom:10vh;padding-left:5vw\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide article-preview is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);flex-basis:174px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1252px\">\n<article class=\"wp-block-group has-fifth-element-background large-graphic has-cyber-spring-light-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9cb2c61b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7e970ad8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-carousel alignwide stk-block-carousel stk--is-slide stk--arrows-outside stk--arrows-justify-space-between stk--arrows-align-center stk-block stk-d96ce71\" data-slides-to-show=\"\" data-block-id=\"d96ce71\"><style>.stk-d96ce71 {--gap:30px !important;box-shadow:none !important;}.stk-d96ce71 .stk-block-carousel__button{background:#d4fae700 !important;fill:#58DFEB !important;}.stk-d96ce71 .stk-block-carousel__button svg.ugb-custom-icon :is(g, path, rect, polygon, ellipse){fill:#58DFEB !important;}.stk-d96ce71 .stk-block-carousel__dot{--dot-color:#B5B9B9 !important;}.stk-d96ce71 .stk-block-carousel__dot.stk-block-carousel__dot--active:before{background-color:#58DFEB !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-block-carousel__slider-wrapper stk-content-align stk-d96ce71-column alignwide\"><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__slider\" role=\"list\" data-autoplay=\"4000\" data-label-slide-of=\"Slide %%d of %%d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-82bc5b2\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"82bc5b2\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-82bc5b2-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-82bc5b2-inner-blocks\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1417\" height=\"921\" src=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1.png 1417w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1-600x390.png 600w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1-768x499.png 768w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1-712x463.png 712w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses1-488x317.png 488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1417px) 100vw, 1417px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-e92b8aa\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"e92b8aa\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-e92b8aa-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-e92b8aa-inner-blocks\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1417\" height=\"921\" src=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2.png 1417w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2-600x390.png 600w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2-768x499.png 768w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2-712x463.png 712w, https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benchmarkclauses2-488x317.png 488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1417px) 100vw, 1417px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__buttons\"><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__prev\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-left\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-left\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M34.52 239.03L228.87 44.69c9.37-9.37 24.57-9.37 33.94 0l22.67 22.67c9.36 9.36 9.37 24.52.04 33.9L131.49 256l154.02 154.75c9.34 9.38 9.32 24.54-.04 33.9l-22.67 22.67c-9.37 9.37-24.57 9.37-33.94 0L34.52 272.97c-9.37-9.37-9.37-24.57 0-33.94z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__next\" aria-label=\"Next slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-right\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-right\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M285.476 272.971L91.132 467.314c-9.373 9.373-24.569 9.373-33.941 0l-22.667-22.667c-9.357-9.357-9.375-24.522-.04-33.901L188.505 256 34.484 101.255c-9.335-9.379-9.317-24.544.04-33.901l22.667-22.667c9.373-9.373 24.569-9.373 33.941 0L285.475 239.03c9.373 9.372 9.373 24.568.001 33.941z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__dots\" role=\"list\" data-label=\"Slide %%d\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull fifth-element is-style-outlined has-code-teal-accent-color has-code-teal-dark-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-3 is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-066d3ec4 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ec6f27bb wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-outermost-icon-block\"><div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"width:100%;transform:rotate(180deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(-1)\"><svg version=\"1.1\" id=\"Layer_1\" xmlns-xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 202 202\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 202 202\" space=\"preserve\"><path vector-effect=\"non-scaling-stroke\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentcolor\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M1,201V1 c110.5,0,200,89.5,200,200H1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-outermost-icon-block\"><div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"width:100%;transform:rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(-1)\"><svg version=\"1.1\" id=\"Layer_1\" xmlns-xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 202 202\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 202 202\" space=\"preserve\"><path vector-effect=\"non-scaling-stroke\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentcolor\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M1,201V1 c110.5,0,200,89.5,200,200H1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ec6f27bb wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-outermost-icon-block\"><div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"width:100%;transform:rotate(0deg) scaleX(-1) scaleY(1)\"><svg version=\"1.1\" id=\"Layer_1\" xmlns-xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 202 202\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 202 202\" space=\"preserve\"><path vector-effect=\"non-scaling-stroke\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentcolor\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M1,201V1 c110.5,0,200,89.5,200,200H1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-outermost-icon-block\"><div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"width:100%;transform:rotate(270deg) scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1)\"><svg version=\"1.1\" id=\"Layer_1\" xmlns-xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 202 202\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 202 202\" space=\"preserve\"><path vector-effect=\"non-scaling-stroke\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentcolor\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M1,201V1 c110.5,0,200,89.5,200,200H1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:174px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide locked is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-d16b72dd wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:5vh\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);flex-basis:174px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1252px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In long-term IT operations agreements, it is essential from a financial perspective to ensure that the prices paid for services remain in line with market prices throughout the contract term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The market price of IT operations services can change significantly over the term of an agreement. Technological advances and ongoing efficiency improvements can, over time, reduce the cost of delivering the same level of capacity. Conversely, factors such as rising hardware and software costs can periodically increase the cost of service delivery for vendors.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Benchmarking is a mechanism that can be used to adjust prices to reflect the prevailing market level. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In essence, a benchmark compares the prices in an agreement with market prices for comparable services. The purpose is to determine whether the prices in the agreement remain in line with the prevailing market level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we review the key elements of a benchmark clause and the choices that should be considered when drafting it. These include the choice of benchmarking method, who may initiate a benchmark, which parameters should be normalized to ensure a fair basis for comparison, and how the benchmark results should translate into price adjustments. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column meta-data is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a1f7935c wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--grey-100);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:105px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-tiny-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0.5rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;text-transform:uppercase\">Topics<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div class=\"taxonomy-category buttons wp-block-post-terms\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/all-topics\/benchmarking\/\" rel=\"tag\">Benchmarking<\/a>\n\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/all-topics\/it-economy\/\" rel=\"tag\">IT economy<\/a>\n\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/all-topics\/pricing-models-and-mechanisms\/\" rel=\"tag\">Pricing mechanisms and models<\/a>\n\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:174px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2c81bec4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-grey-50-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"#adgang\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-392\" style=\"width: 18px;\" src=\"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/eye.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>  Get access<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Benchmarking is one of the most effective and accurate tools for ensuring that prices in an IT operations agreement remain in line with the market throughout the contract term. In this article, we review the key elements of a benchmark clause and the choices that should be considered when drafting it.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"10538,12013,11987,10023,9634,4668","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[348,356,396,460,397,401],"research-type":[400],"research-role":[],"research-infotech":[],"class_list":["post-12071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-benchmarking-en","category-benchmarking","category-it-economy","category-pricing-mechanisms-and-models-3","category-pricing-mechanisms-and-models","category-pricing-mechanisms-and-models-2","research-type-article"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12071"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12095,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12071\/revisions\/12095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12071"},{"taxonomy":"research-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-type?post=12071"},{"taxonomy":"research-role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-role?post=12071"},{"taxonomy":"research-infotech","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quarterlyanalytics.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-infotech?post=12071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}