SAM, a tool for corporates

Business Software Alliance (BSA) Sri Lanka has encouraged corporates to implement Software Asset Management (SAM) as a tool to streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance reliability, efficiency, accuracy and security of operations.

In order to realise the objective of encouraging the use of SAM, BSA has launched a campaign to create awareness of the benefits, advantages and efficiencies of implementing SAM.

While software inventory and tracking are integral parts of SAM, so are the policies, procedures, technologies, procurement, delivery, deployment, and support of a company's software assets.

Software is in place to power every aspect of business - from communications and accounting to people management - and businesses large and small are finding software an integral part of their resources and an asset which is indispensable in running day to day operations. By implementing SAM, corporates will automatically be in compliance with software licensing which is now a legal requirement in Sri Lanka.

Software licence non-compliance can take place when companies do not manage their software resources, thereby allowing under-licensing - where one copy of software is installed on multiple PCs - or unauthorised installation of illegal software by staff takes place.

This much-overlooked aspect is of key importance to companies. To get the most of software, it has to be managed well, just as any other valuable company asset. Poor software management can easily mask software piracy, an illegal activity that can impose very costly consequences to the business and criminal liability to senior management.

SAM is also about saving time and money as well as increasing employee productivity and efficiency. Since software can represent some 25 per cent of the budget for information technology, cost control is the most significant reward corporates can reap from proper software management.

By standardizing software versions, file-sharing issues are reduced and communication is easier. Users can work together seamlessly, which can lead to increased productivity - and productive workers are happy workers.

"Implementing SAM in your company means creating a system to manage the entire software life cycle, commencing from acquisition through use to retirement. This process is unique to your particular business needs and helps you streamline your technology investment and has a direct impact on your bottom line" said Director/General Manager ZILLIONe Technologies, Kanchana Silva. ZILLIONe Technologies is one of the first certified SAM Consultants in Sri Lanka "An effective SAM strategy will track software assets throughout their life cycle, match them to licenses and, importantly, establish needs for future upgrades and purchases. Compliance is a by-product" he added.