Johannesburg, 20 Aug 2014
Comparex South Africa, a leading software and services provider is taking steps to improve its software asset management strategy (SAM) as part of its enhanced client service offering.
Annette M"uller, General Manager at Comparex South Africa says: "Often many businesses never receive a complete step by step process when it comes to SAM. Companies often bring in service providers that accurately inventory their software environment but fall short of considering what type of software will best perform as a holistic service to that business in the long run. It is important to understand that functionality and value for money are two principles that can't really be separated especially in South Africa's rich SME market."
Comparex has chosen to implement a SAM strategy that focuses on product, price point and performance. Along with these principles the company also plans to walk their clients through a phased SAM approach that actually completes their clients' software licence life cycle from purchase, renewal and beyond. M"uller says: "As different businesses have different needs, Comparex believes in taking a tailor-made approach to our client's environment because not all organisations are cut from the same cloth so a 'broad-brush' solution never incorporates a complete and phased approach."
Broken down Comparex's method is a fairly simple three stage tactic in keeping with ISO/IEC 19770, an international standard. The first phase is an audit of the client's software inventory. Data is critical because nothing can be achieved without an accurate account of a client's software environment. M"uller believes in taking this a step further and often considers why these particular software suites implemented? What was the thinking at the time and how was this influenced by the market the client was operating in? By understanding a client's business objectives, you can better understand the motives behind their environment.
Once an accurate software audit has been completed, the client's business performance needs and objectives have to be carefully understood before a seamless implementation can be rolled. SAM needs to be a working solution for our clients- not an added complication in their environment. This is why careful thought has to be taken when considering the capital and operation costs. SMEs, for example, might not have the same roll-out issues as national and international clients but they do have tighter budget restraints.
The final phase is determining policies, procedures and processes. Often when it comes to the software's life cycle, suppliers do not strategise further than the first year or only get involved with the client's business again when the renewal period is up. The best licensing partners are able to advise clients well into the future on how an established framework can actually become and asset in the true sense of the word and not another software grudge spend.
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