How do you educate your customers and partners about the value and risks of software piracy?

Value of piracy? Are you being serious? "One way to educate your customers and partners about the value of software piracy is to explain the benefits of licensing." I’m shocked nobody collaborating to this article reacted… Don’t just play with the game, please. When an article is badly written or without value, say so!

Providing statistical data, such as: some organizations can actually achieve up to 30% in cost savings, just by implementing proper software asset management is a great benefit.

First, make sure your customers and partners understand the benefits of using licensed software. Tell them that licensed software is more reliable and comes with full support and updates. Emphasize that using licensed software ensures they have access to the latest features and security patches. This makes their work more efficient and protects their data from cyber threats.

Next, be clear about the risks associated with using pirated software. Explain that pirated software can lead to serious security issues, including viruses and malware. Let them know that using pirated software is illegal and can result in heavy fines and legal trouble. Point out that businesses using pirated software risk damaging their reputation and losing customer trust.

Unlicensed software greatly increases the risk of malware and costs the company much more in the long term. Most company policies also have in their handbooks that having unlicensed software or introducing malware due to negligence is a dismissible offense.

It's important to provide anti-piracy messaging your customers management team. Many times, software piracy is propagated from the top and then gains acceptance as an ok activity by others. Ensuring that the customers management team is on board is a key to a successful partnership.

Lastly, make all this information easily accessible and visible. Create clear and concise materials, like brochures, videos, and infographics, explaining the value of licensing and the risks of piracy. Share these materials through multiple channels, such as your website, social media, and email newsletters. Make sure your customer support team is well-informed and can answer any questions about software licensing and piracy.

One thing I have found helpful when working with customers is to ask them if they have calculated the ROI associated with the software for their deployment. If they have not, offering to assist them with makes the individual look knowledgeable but puts both them and the software in a positive light. Which can also lead to greater adoption/expansion or even benefit the technology owner at the customer or expand revenue for that account.

A better approach may be to re-negotiate their contract, if appropriate. This is a much softer way to work with companies that have decided to take the licensing into their own hands. Many times there is a reason that the company chose this path has and it might have to do with a need. Once that need is identified, both companies can work together to a mutually beneficial resolution. Of course if an accord cannot be reached, the more strict methods will need to be applied.