In today's tech-driven world, software is the lifeblood of business operations. Software is an asset. A neglected asset is often regularly pushed to the bottom of the list regarding priorities, but it is an asset, nonetheless. Software Asset Management (SAM) is more than just a process; it's a strategic imperative for modern businesses. Mainly as it can produce colossal liability if not properly managed or understood. In essence, the software is that middle-child character in the business family, requiring the right balance of attention, understanding, and guidance to ensure it thrives and doesn't cause unnecessary chaos. Let us be your guidance counsellor for this middle child as we attempt to break down the complexities of this business area and provide some much-needed guidance in this often sales-driven industry.
What is Software Asset Management?
Software Asset Management (SAM) is the art of effectively managing and optimizing an organization's software assets throughout their lifecycle. The primary objectives of SAM are to ensure that an organization's software usage aligns with its business goals, complies with legal and contractual requirements, minimizes software-related risks, and maximizes the value of software investments.
Isn't SAM just License Management?
License management is a vital component of SAM but primarily focuses on the tracking and compliance of software licenses. SAM considers the entire software ecosystem, ensuring it aligns with business policy, is cost-effective, and operates efficiently, thus delivering a more holistic approach to managing software within an organisation.
Where is the best place to start?
The best place to start is to understand what your software asset environment looks like and, from this, what your primary goals are. After this, the next step is to obtain executive buy-in. This is imperative to ensure that your SAM program is not only well-supported, but that the benefits are both clearly defined and understood.
Who are SAM Assured?
SAM Assured is a global team of like-minded professionals committed to simplifying the complexity around software asset management, working with organisations to unlock the full potential of SAM swiftly, yielding faster results, all bolstering confidence. We consider ourselves independent, not influenced by software sales targets or any weighted partnership with a particular tool provider. We are 100% dedicated to providing the best service advice and knowledge transfer that is best for your organisation. With SAM Assured, you will find that we are personalised and agile in a way that larger consortiums cannot be. We also hold high corporate morals and values that aren't seen very often nowadays.
What do we do?
SAM Assured offer a plethora of SAM-related services. Whilst you will find some standard offerings on our website, please remember that we can accommodate outside of these options; even the options can always be customised. You can reach out for something as small as interpreting your license entitlement report from a software manufacturer to something more complex like software audit support. We also offer support around things like policy creation and tool selection, all while providing free resources to help you along the way.
How we are different from the crowd?
Diverse Experience
Our experience isn't limited to any particular area within SAM. It spans multiple software manufacturers and holds insights into many industry parts. We have consulted independently, as well as on behalf of software manufacturers. However, we also have in-house experience within large organisations. We have delivered accredited training and have collaborated with some of the best minds in the industry.
Agenda Free
There is a certain peace of mind that comes with consulting with the person who isn't going to sell you your licenses at the end of the day. Let's face it: the only way to guarantee you are getting uncensored advice is through an impartial third party. The only targets SAM Assured are working towards are those around that Return on Investment your business case promised!
Tool Agnostic
As independent consultants, we do not support any specific tool provider. This is because there is never a one-size-fits-all regarding the toolsets you need to fulfil SAM requirements. Each terrain, priorities, and deadlines look ever so slightly different from the next. However, we have great relationships with the top SAM software providers and will happily support your PoC (Proof of Concept).
ROI Centric
All the sound advice is only worth a little if you can't look back and revel in your accomplishments. SAM Assured is very focused on the end goal for each customer and is eager to help you harvest that low-hanging fruit. And we mean help, not show. It is one thing pointing out the location and quite another revealing where the clippers are.