Hey everyone! I'm curious about how companies monitor the actual usage of their licensed software. Are there any straightforward tools you use to identify programs that are installed but seldom or never opened? It feels like we might be paying for some licenses unnecessarily. Or do most of you handle this manually during audits or when it's time to renew contracts? I'd love to hear about your experiences and methods for managing this! Thanks in advance for sharing your insights!
4 Answers
We use a tool called Sassafras Software Allsight (formerly known as KeyServer). It really helps us see actual usage and makes our decisions easier when it’s time to renew or buy more licenses.
Honestly, if you aren't paying for licenses, license management isn't a big deal. But for companies that do pay, it's not usually a priority to track if software is used or not. If someone requests Adobe Acrobat and the boss approves it, I just install it without worrying whether they ever use it or not.
Haha, true that! As long as the software’s installed, right?
What you might be looking for is Software Asset Management (SAM) tools. They can handle vendor info, contracts, installations, and usage, all tied back to user info. I work for InvGate and our "Asset Management" solution does exactly that! It even shows where you might be overspending due to unused licenses or underused software. Plus, we have a 30-day trial if you're interested in trying it out! Many of our customers end up saving more than they pay for the service, which is a bonus!
I rely on SCCM for tracking software usage. With it, I’m not too focused on detailed metrics since our team is relatively small—only about 600 employees. I typically check usage mainly during contract renewals and true-ups.
Sounds practical! Do you get usage stats for each license with SCCM?
Nice! Sounds helpful for tracking.