SAM: faster ROI through higher productivity
Especially at companies with more and increasingly diverse endpoints, efficient software asset management (SAM) is essential for managing and optimizing the use and costs of software licenses and IT resources. But the benefits of SAM are more than just financial. What other factors should you consider when assessing the return on investment (ROI) of SAM solutions?
Short & sweet
- Cost savings through license optimization: SAM helps companies avoid unnecessary expenditures on superfluous or unused licenses.
- Improved compliance and risk management: SAM ensures that all software licenses are properly authorized and managed.
- Increased IT productivity: A clear overview of software inventory helps IT admins work more efficiently.
- Improved employee productivity: Users can work more efficiently when they have access to the right tools.
- Strategic decision-making: Through detailed reporting and data-driven analysis, SAM provides valuable insights into software usage and budgeting.
In part 1 of our mini-series on Software Asset Management (SAM), we looked at some of the practical benefits for IT admins. But accurately assessing the ROI of SAM means considering benefits that go beyond IT operations and budgets. They are more than “soft” benefits, rather, they are factors that make concrete, quantifiable contributions to better bottom-line results. So, what should you be looking at to determine ROI?
The ROI of Software Asset Management
SAM is a strategic approach to managing and optimizing software inventory. It covers the procurement, provisioning, use, maintenance and removal of software
applications used within an organization. The primary goal is to increase efficiency, reduce costs and ensure compliance with license agreements.
ROI typically is used as a key performance indicator that measures the financial outcomes of an investment. In the context of SAM, ROI shows how effectively the management
of software assets contributes to value creation. But this calculation is not entirely straightforward. In addition to hard factors, such as the return of unused licenses, it should include
SAM’s broader measurable impacts on efficiency, productivity, risk management and other areas.
Advantages of using software license management
Implementing a robust SAM program can increase ROI in several ways:
1. Cost savings through license optimization
Analysis of requirements: SAM enables companies to determine their actual need for software licenses. At minimum, this reduces unnecessary expenditures.
Reuse of licenses: Unused licenses can be identified and redistributed to avoid over-buying and higher costs.
2. Avoiding the risks of non-compliance
Overview: SAM tools provide overviews that ensure that all software products used are licensed.
Software audits: Responding is simpler and faster because SAM systems provide detailed reports on license usage.
3. Increased IT productivity
Efficient use of resources: With a clear software inventory, the IT department can use resources more efficiently and respond more quickly to requests.
Improved lifecycle management: A comprehensive overview makes it much easier to plan and implement software changes, updates or even complete migrations.
4. Improved employee productivity
Access to required tools: SAM ensures that employees have access to the software they need to do their jobs efficiently.
Training and support: SAM makes it easier to identify and address user needs, and promote effective use of installed software.
5. Strategic decision-making
Data-driven insights: SAM provides valuable data on software usage patterns to inform decisions about future investments.
Planning and budgeting: Precise information about software requirements supports long-term planning and budgeting.
IT asset management software is more than just a technical tool
SAM is a strategic tool for maximizing ROI, optimizing software usage, simplifying compliance, reducing costs, increasing productivity, and improving financial
performance.
This is exactly where the baramundi Management Suite (bMS) comes in. It automatically creates and updates the inventory of all software components including version numbers,
enables application usage tracking and optimized license management, and integrates
multiple capabilities within an intuitive interface for comprehensive, automated endpoint management.
