Core Insights - The article discusses the pricing strategies of Alibaba Cloud agents in the Zhenjiang region, highlighting that prices can be lower than official discounts due to Alibaba Cloud's policy support for compliant agents [1][4][10] - Local traditional enterprises are increasingly opting for agent procurement to save costs, with many recognizing this standardized purchasing model [1][4][10] Pricing Dynamics - Agents can offer significant discounts compared to official prices, with examples showing discounts of 7-8% for various services [7][8] - The article provides specific pricing comparisons, such as: - Cloud Server ECS: Official price 1000 RMB/month, agent price 750-800 RMB/month - Cross-border E-commerce dedicated line acceleration: Official price 1500 RMB/month, agent price 1100-1200 RMB/month - OSS storage: Official price 500 RMB/month, agent price 380-400 RMB/month [7][8] Service Quality Assurance - Concerns about service quality and after-sales support when using agents are addressed, indicating that agents are under Alibaba Cloud's direct control, ensuring service standards are maintained [5][8] - The article emphasizes that many large enterprises now procure cloud services through agents, which is considered a standard practice in the industry [6][8] Misconceptions and Market Trends - A common misconception is that direct purchases from the official channel are more secure, while in reality, compliant agents provide similar after-sales and technical support as direct channels [8][10] - The article cites that approximately 60% of medium-sized enterprises use officially certified agent channels for procurement, indicating that this practice is becoming the industry standard [10] User Experience and Recommendations - The article suggests that users should focus on cost, service, and reliability when choosing cloud service providers, and that using agents can lead to better pricing without sacrificing service quality [9] - It is advised to verify the qualifications of Alibaba Cloud authorized agents to avoid issues with unauthorized or secondary agents [9]