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Reimagining CPQ: Speed, Control, and No-Code with Vendori’s Ethan Garonzik

Quoting should accelerate revenue—not delay it. But for most SaaS teams, it's still a frustrating, error-prone mess.

On a recent episode of the Novus CPQ Podcast, Vendori co-founder and CEO Ethan Garonzik sat down with CPQ expert Frank Sohn to discuss why most CPQ tools are failing the very teams they were meant to support—and how Vendori is flipping the script with a no-code, velocity-first approach.

If you’re in Sales, Operations, or Finance and you’ve struggled with long CPQ rollouts, costly implementations, or version control nightmares, this episode—and this recap—is for you.

From Wall Street to Vendori

Ethan shares his unconventional journey from M&A at Merrill Lynch to senior roles at SAP and Citrix. Along the way, he saw a pattern: the more complex the sales motion, the harder it was to maintain speed and accuracy with traditional CPQ tools.

That realization led to Vendori—a modern CPQ platform designed for mid-market SaaS and hardware companies. Built for scale but simple enough to launch in days, Vendori puts control back in the hands of GTM teams.

Who Should Listen to This Podcast

• Operations leaders who are tired of relying on dev teams or consultants for basic changes

• Sales leaders seeking to reduce quote errors and accelerate deal cycles

• Finance teams looking for tighter governance and cleaner data on pricing and discounts

• IT professionals supporting the stack but needing a lower-maintenance CPQ option

Key Insights from the Episode

1. CPQ Implementations Are Broken

Ethan calls out the painful truth: many companies are three years into “18-month rollouts.” The reason? Legacy systems that require consultants for every change.

“We’ve seen teams spend millions only to end up back in spreadsheets. That’s not transformation—that’s technical debt.”

Vendori customers can get fully onboarded in under a week—some in less than a day.

2. No-Code = Real Control

Vendori’s no-code foundation allows Operations, Finance, and Sales leaders to make updates themselves—without needing developers or third-party help.

“No-code means your team can own it. You don’t have to open a ticket every time pricing changes.”

This isn’t about limited configurability. It’s about removing bottlenecks.

3. AI Should Assist, Not Autopilot

While many vendors hype AI for price optimization, Ethan focuses on its real value: speed, suggestions, and visibility.

“AI should surface insights—not make decisions for you. Price optimization isn’t the holy grail; usability is.”

Vendori uses AI to recommend discount thresholds, flag risky deals, and streamline approval flows—all while keeping the human in the loop.

4. Speed Doesn’t Have to Mean Sacrifice

Vendori supports growing teams with robust features: guided selling, subscription management, custom invoice schedules, and integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Teams, Oracle, and SAP.

“You shouldn’t have to choose between control and velocity. Vendori gives you both.”

The result? Faster quoting, fewer mistakes, and shorter sales cycles—without giving up governance.

5. Built on Values

Ethan closes the episode with a rare but refreshing take on leadership—explaining how family, faith, and community shape Vendori’s mission and team culture.

“We’re building something enduring—something we’d be proud to have our families and communities use.”

Traditional CPQ vs. No-Code CPQ: A Quick Comparison

What Sets Vendori Apart in the CPQ Landscape

Vendori isn’t just another CPQ tool—it’s a modern platform built for companies that value speed, control, and simplicity. Here’s how it stands out:

• Multi-tenant architecture for faster implementation and scaling

• Workflows for approvals, pricing logic, and quote consistency

• Dynamic quote templates and customizable invoice schedules

• Flexible integrations with the rest of your tech stack

• Zero dependency on professional services for changes

Choosing the Best CPQ for SaaS Teams

If you're comparing CPQ software in 2025, you're likely asking questions like:

• Do we really need Salesforce CPQ or can we go no-code?

• Is there a faster way to implement CPQ that still integrates with our stack?

• Which CPQ supports SaaS pricing models like usage-based billing, subscriptions, or multi-year quotes?

Vendori is purpose-built for fast-growing SaaS and AI companies that need quoting agility—without technical baggage. With a flexible architecture, native integrations, and no reliance on consultants, Vendori offers a new path forward.

Related Resources to Explore

• CPQ Vendor Comparison Toolkit (Coming Soon)

• What Is No-Code CPQ?

Bottom Line

If your CPQ tool is slowing you down—or hasn’t launched after months of work—you’re not alone. The CPQ space is overdue for reinvention.

Vendori was built for SaaS and AI companies who can’t afford to wait months for quoting agility. Whether you’re replacing spreadsheets or retiring an inflexible legacy system, this episode makes one thing clear: it’s time to rethink CPQ.

See how Vendori works.
Book a personalized demo to experience fast, flexible CPQ without the tradeoffs.