Information pertinent to software licenses in most organizations is siloed. Purchasing, contracts/legal, and operational IT typically do not have the software asset management technology or processes in place to share critical information about software purchases, entitlements and installations.
The purchasing department is responsible for purchasing the business applications the company needs to achieve maximum productivity. The IT department is responsible for efficiently packaging, delivering and supporting business applications for end users. The legal department or contract management is responsible for protecting the company’s best interests when negotiating contracts with application vendors. The internal audit department or corporate governance committee is responsible for ensuring the company is fiscally responsible and safe from litigation and fines from software vendors.
These groups all play key roles in managing software applications throughout their lifecycle. Each department is accountable for maintaining software license compliance, but have no method to collaborate!
The right Software License Optimization solution automates and helps organizations manage a mature software asset management program and provides the foundation for these groups to share critical information. Getting to the point where you can optimize software spend and ensure continuous license compliance starts with your ability to be in control of your entire software estate. It also requires having the right information available throughout the entire software lifecycle. A successful software asset management program enables Contracts, Purchasing, and IT to control software throughout its lifecycle – from initial request to eventual retirement.
A successful software asset management and license optimization program requires:
- Technology – A solution that aids collaboration via a central IT asset management repository, and provides a “single pane of glass” for contract, entitlement and software license compliance information
- Processes – best practice processes and policies for effective license management throughout the application lifecycle
- People – collaboration across departments that helps ensure license compliance and control costs for software licenses and maintenance
The right Software License Optimization solution can help you get to the highest level of software asset management maturity by breaking down the silos and ensuring that the right information is available to all stakeholders throughout the entire software lifecycle.
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For more information on starting or improving your software asset management (SAM) program, please view our webinar series: