Software asset management is one of the things you can do to ensure that you are on par with the influx of computers and technology in the corporate world. Few people are familiar with the concept of software management, but it is as important as other aspects of asset management in the organization or company.
Software is an Asset
One of the concepts that must be considered as a fact is that software is an asset. It is an asset in the sense that it can make a lot of favorable returns when you install it. At a fairly minimal cost, you will be able to get back what you invested in a particular software, especially if it is in a business setting. The thing about managing software assets is that you must first inherently believe that it is an asset to the company.
What are the software assets popular today?
Some of the more popular software assets today depend on the nature of your company operations. For example, if you are oriented on spatial data, you will find mapping software to be one of your greatest assets. Licenses for highly upgraded and updated software are quite expensive, so they need to be managed more carefully and in full detail. If you happen to be on a software business, the software inventory might be more than just a means of managing your software assets.
How do you manage your software asset?
Software assets may basically be managed by checking out license receipts and the like all over the company’s operations. This way, duplication of purchases are prevented and you will know which software needs more updating than the others. A good record of the software bought will also ensure that you are able to keep track of your expenses when you are purchasing software. You might also consider getting a software that will actually help you manage not just your software assets but all the other physical assets in your company.
Constantly upgrading your software
Aside from taking inventory, part of software asset management is scheduling your upgrades. You must do it quite regularly so that you can be ensured that you get the best of all your software. Periodically inspect if the upgrades are working properly, and replace them immediately if they malfunction in one way or another. These little things may seem insignificant, but nothing beats the frustration of having wasted time because of menial things such as not having the right software when you need it the most.
Software Asset Management in the Organization
In the organization, a unified software asset management strategy is needed to be able to efficiently function with all the right updates needed by the company. If one component is updated and the others are falling behind, this still doesn’t constitute effective software asset management. If you are really serious about getting it all right, all the other components within the organization must support your endeavors of making software asset management a habit.
Salient issues pertaining to Software asset management
Salient issues pertaining to software asset management involve miscommunication on the part of the software asset manager and the other end users of the software. Duplications due to loopholes in the updates of the software inventory may also cause a dent in the integrity of the software asset management system.
