Darn those big-box stores and warehouse clubs. As one shopper laments on social media, “Just bought 50 boxes of animal crackers and a kayak. I hate you Costco.”

On the flip side, Kelsey Kloss, writing for Reader’s Digest, says there are six things to “absolutely always buy” at a big-box store:

  • Prescription drugs 
  • Cereal 
  • Pet supplies 
  • Liquor 
  • Men’s dress shirts 
  • Charcoal

Interestingly, software licenses didn’t make the list, yet most organizations still tend to buy them “in bulk” for fear of audits. If you’re guilty of such behavior, you’re not alone—not by a long shot. According to the ITAM Review, 76.4 percent of organizations admit to over-licensing due to audit concerns.

SAM Should Be About Saving Money

Software audits are increasingly more common. Software vendors are looking to cash-in on your ineffective license-tracking methods because the outcome of failing a software license audit can be costly. Software not purchased, maintained, or licensed correctly places organizations at risk of non-compliance. The incurred penalties and unexpected true-up costs can drain financial resources.

That’s where Software Asset Management (SAM) tools come in, providing you with intimate knowledge of what software has been purchased—and more importantly, what has been deployed.

New Webinar: “Steps to Cut Your Software Spend by 30 Percent”

Ivanti is here to help you save money. A great way to learn how we do so is by viewing our on-demand webinar hosted by Ivanti’s Jonathan Sims, SAM Consultant, and Todd Labrum, ITAM Product Manager. They’ll discuss, among other things, five smart tips for reducing your software spend:  

Tip #1: Get Visibility

Track spending by vendor, acquire detailed usage data, and calculate your current compliance position without having to use spreadsheets.

Tip #2: Focus on Surplus

Identify what licenses / agreements to keep, don’t purchase any new ones, and resell extras.  

Tip #3: Reduce Unused Software

Introduce a software usage policy, identify unused software and uninstall it, implement software reclamation policies, and implement a software catalog for ease of access.

Tip #4: Prepare for the Next Renewal

Avoid the next tidal wave of over-licensing upfront. Always be prepared by understanding your usage and licensing, employ volume discounts, negotiate for better terms and conditions, and create user profiles (Microsoft 365, for example).

Tip #5: Get Efficient

Software is complex, so use a tool. Also, implement a software portal, create an audit response team, and take advantage of outsourced managed services.

Ivanti License Optimizer: Proven to Be Effective

Making the most of your software assets is challenging, especially when dealing with licensing structures that are constantly changed and updated. Two specific examples of Ivanti solutions that are proven to help in this regard are Ivanti License Optimizer for Clients and Ivanti License Optimizer for Servers.

Ivanti License Optimizer for Clients discovers what software exists in your environment, tracks usage, and identifies areas where your IT assets can work harder for you. You can reclaim unused licenses and reallocate software to maximize the performance and value of your software. You can gather the insight you need to minimize cost, mitigate risk of audits, and support transformation initiatives across all IT environments.

Ivanti License Optimizer for Servers enables you to quickly see through data center complexity to manage your IT investments better, driving cost savings and efficiencies. The solution identifies and manages software assets for on-premises and hybrid cloud virtualization environments, including VMware, Hyper-V, Oracle VM, and IBM Power Virtualization.

Invest some time to view the webinar and to learn more about the Ivanti solutions that can help you help your organization save real money.