SoftwareONE: optimizing software portfolio – btboresette

 

How to optimize the software portfolio. Three aspects must not be neglected. By Alessandro Colasanti, head of Division SAM SoftwareONE

IT managers face today a new challenge in the modern data center: the loss of relevance of the hardware for the new IT models. In other words, in a mobile world first, the cloud first, IT managers today is to manage a smaller number of hardware resources and a growing number of software assets.
It certainly is easier to control the resources that you can turn physically. When the assets are located in a virtualized data center or in the cloud you need to plan the appropriate processes in order to effectively control the software development.
Even in the case of BYOD, more and more companies are starting to reap the benefits Data from a workplace and extended the ability to access the corporate network from any location, significantly increasing business agility.
scenario also extremely innovative but dangerous for those who find themselves on the wrong side of the fence. If you are still maintaining an on-premise IT will risk, in fact, easy to be overcome by their competitors when it comes to think in terms of total cost of ownership.
Today more than ever it is necessary to transform their IT in a profitable asset rather than continue to suffer it as a financial burden. In doing this, there are three key skills that must not be neglected and portfolio management software today should necessarily include:

COMPLIANCE: that careful evaluation of the conformity of the software in order to promote proactive measures and mitigate audits vendor

The careful assessment of the state of compliance software allows an organization to design and implement a model of Software Asset Management (SAM) customized to align business requirements, get a schedule in case of audit and start managing software proactively.
It is essential, in this context, be able to increase the ROI of the assets and consolidate underutilized software products overlicensed, streamline the application justifying the use for the end user and identify potential risks of non-compliance, thereby indicating mitigation strategies.

COMMERCE: analysis of the market to provide the right software at the lowest price

By optimizing spending on software licenses streamlining the portfolio providers and increasing transparency can get immediate benefits in demand management software.
Some successful strategies will optimize the software through a strategy of full outsourcing, identify and negotiate the scenario of licensing that best suits your organization, take advantage of the relationships with vendors through dedicated resources and use a tool like the Software Lifecycle Portal SoftwareONE to obtain and efficiently manage your software assets.
Careful assessment of the trade aspects allowing to adopt also an optimal strategy in the long term to achieve maximum ROI from software investments.

TECHNOLOGY: innovate and optimize the software roadmap looking at the future of IT

A project SAM value must allow also optimize its roadmap for the long term. It is necessary in this context to imagine the ideal technical environment, assess the current situation of the organization and align the right solution to specific business goals.
After designing an ideal environment, providing the necessary processes, procedures and tools, must assist in the transition of the IT environment to the technical solution designed and promote continuous improvement by providing the raw data critical to the maintenance of the IT infrastructure.
In summary, the methodology of Software Portfolio Management (SPM) combines the fundamental skills than in compliance, commercial aspects and technology, to ensure that the business needs of an organization are carefully analyzed and evaluated in terms of costs and future evolution of the IT landscape.
SPM is of particular value for organizations that need advice on how to maximize the value of software spending and demand management, support the global compliance to prepare for any audits, manage the software development so forecasting, anticipating future risks and promoting IT investments safe. Through proper methodology is also possible to ensure a transparent end-to-end with respect to the assets occur when software mergers, acquisitions or divestitures.
A service SPM successfully implemented entails transparency and ensures software investments support the development of business needs and offering value, innovation and alignment to the optimization of costs.