The customer improved return on investment for its managed services
Governance board implemented to oversee SAM across the business
Plans were put in place to close gaps in data accuracy and completeness
Introduction
One of the UK’s leading financial services companies sought a comprehensive Software Asset Management (SAM) maturity assessment. The primary objective was to benchmark their existing software license management function against industry standards and to receive actionable recommendations for service improvements. This initiative aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their software licensing operations. The organisation ultimately aimed to receive recommendations about realistic improvements that could be made.
Their Challenges
The company faced significant hurdles in achieving clear visibility and effective management of its software estate. These challenges stemmed from several key areas:
- Fragmented Service Provision: The company was utilising two distinct managed services for software licensing and asset management. One service, provided by an IT services provider, within which SAM was a secondary function for the portion of the company’s IT estate that it was managing. The other, from a dedicated SAM services provider, focused on licenses for which the company held direct responsibility. This dual-provider model led to inconsistencies and a lack of reliable oversight.
- Data and Tooling Deficiencies: A critical issue was the absence of reliable data regarding their software assets, compounded by poor configuration of existing SAM tools. This combination severely limited their ability to gain accurate insights into their software landscape.
- Resource and Governance Gaps: The software license management team was under-resourced, consisting of a single individual. While senior stakeholder approval existed for the appointment of a more senior team lead, there was limited governance surrounding the suppliers and their license management and reporting practices.
bedigital’s Solution
We implemented a multi-faceted strategy to support the client:
- Stakeholder Engagement and Documentation review
- Data analysis
- Strategic Recommendations
- Implementation Support
How bedigital Delivered
Each stage followed a structured process:
- Stakeholder Engagement and Documentation Review: We conducted extensive interviews with key stakeholders across various business units. Concurrently, we meticulously reviewed all current strategy, policy, and process documentation. This included requesting detailed process documentation from both incumbent service providers to gain a comprehensive understanding of how their services integrated into the client’s overall software license management framework.
- Data Analysis: A critical component of our assessment involved a detailed review of all available SAM data. This analysis focused on evaluating the accuracy, completeness, and validity of the data to build a reliable picture of the client’s software estate.
- Strategic Recommendations: Based on our findings, bedigital developed a comprehensive set of nearly 30 recommendations. These recommendations were designed to significantly improve the practice of software license management across several key areas, including governance, data management, lifecycle integration, and functional integration. A pivotal recommendation was the establishment of a dedicated SAM Governance Board to provide strategic oversight for SAM within the business.
- Implementation Support: bedigital played an instrumental role in the establishment and operationalization of the SAM Governance Board. Our involvement ensured that the board was effectively set up and began functioning, thereby significantly enhancing the client’s oversight capabilities in software asset management.
Conclusion
Through bedigital’s expert assessment and strategic guidance, the financial services company gained invaluable insights into its SAM maturity. The implementation of the recommended improvements, particularly the establishment of a robust SAM Governance Board, positioned the client for more effective and compliant software license management, leading to improved visibility and control over their software assets.
