Enterprise License Optimization

Application usage has turned strategic. Applications no longer just help the business, they run the business. Yet most companies lack a strategic solution for Enterprise License Optimization—the ongoing process of optimizing the management of software assets throughout the software lifecycle. Spreadsheets are among the most common tools for much of software license management and software license compliance. Few other strategic business assets are as undermanaged or as in need of a strategic solution as enterprise software.

While large companies have achieved benchmark status in negotiating discounts on software purchases, they are unable to ensure software license compliance and optimize software spend. Most organizations don't truly know whether they are in compliance and control or not – the underlying data is suspect at best. And, lacking a strategic solution for Enterprise License Optimization most companies overspend.

Are You Ready For a Software Audit?

According to the King Research 2008 report "Software License Compliance: A Survey of Corporate IT", 73% of IT managers believe they are not prepared for a software audit and Gartner believes that every client can expect at least one software audit during the next 12 months.

Lacking a strategic solution, companies struggle with:

• Capturing accurate application usage data for key vendors such as SAP and selecting the most appropriate User license types
• Optimizing software spend due to an incomplete picture of what is being used compared to what is owned
• Exposure to over/under spending on software due to the complex license models and purchase agreements created by vendors
• Reconciling contracts and license entitlements with software installations
• Managing licenses in an on-going, consistent and effective way across vendors
• Software audits and unbudgeted true-up expenses due to non-compliance

Traditionally, companies have relied on IT asset and configuration management solutions such as IBM Tivoli, Microsoft SCCM, HP Asset Manager, BMC Remedy or CA IT Asset Manager to deploy and inventory software assets. But today the business imperative is transforming from counting what you have to controlling, using and optimizing the software licenses you have while ensuring that you only buy what you need.

Next Generation Software Asset Management

Enterprise License Optimization solutions such as Flexera Software's FlexNet Manager Suite for Enterprises represent the next generation software asset management solution required to meet today's business challenges. Whether extending the value of your existing configuration management solution or other tools, such solutions reconcile the software license entitlements you have purchased with actual application installation and usage data. The result is unprecedented control of your software estate, providing the strategic solution needed to drive upwards of 5-30% savings in annual software spend.

Companies deploying an Enterprise License Optimization solution are able to realize benefits in license optimization, operational efficiencies and vendor management, including the ability to:

• Minimize license consumption and reduce ongoing software spend on licenses and maintenance
• Reduce the time and effort wasted manually managing licenses and demonstrating compliance for software audits
• More accurately plan and budget for future needs
• Minimize the risk and cost of license non-compliance
• Minimize the downtime and delays due to license denials when using a concurrent license model
• Gain continuous control of the software license estate with repeatable, automated best practices

Enterprise License Optimization Maturity Model

Only Flexera Software provides a license optimization solution and professional services that take you from the starting line at Level 1 in the Maturity Model, to the highest level of asset management maturity—Level 4, where you can achieve the highest return on investment (ROI).

Flexera Software has established itself as a global leader in Enterprise License Optimization solutions that are a component of a strategic solution for Application Usage Management. Enterprises and government institutions utilizing these solutions gain continuous software compliance, maximized usage and optimized value from their software estate. These capabilities are delivered as a comprehensive suite of enterprise software license management and software compliance solutions. Learn more about our FlexNet Manager Suite for Enterprises or learn more about specific products below.