Reimagine ITAM

Technology is now an integral part of all businesses. To maximize its benefits, having a solid IT asset management (ITAM) strategy is essential. This involves identifying and managing all hardware and software assets to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve security.

Additionally, effective contract negotiation is also crucial to ensure businesses get the best value from vendors – especially with complex software licensing and maintenance agreements.

We explore these topics in this week's edition of The SoftwareOne Scoop. We also share announcements, trends, and ways to help organizations optimize their technology investments and negotiate contracts that suit their needs.

Oracle and IBM Licensing Revisions and the Impact

Software vendors are motivated by their own strategy, pricing, discounts, bundles, and sales drivers. Knowing how to prepare for contract negotiations and build a negotiation strategy around this can feel daunting.

Step 1: Understand recent licensing, pricing, and compliance changes.

Oracle recently announced a significant change to its subscription model and global price list that will have a substantial financial impact on almost any end-user organization, with a potential 30-fold increase in the current pricing model. Oracle stated it would no longer sell the Oracle Java SE subscriptions on a Named User Plus license model (for clients or laptops/desktops) or Processor license model (for licensable deployments on servers including virtual, physical, and cloud instances) metrics. Instead, Oracle will continue to sell its Oracle Java SE subscriptions on an Employee for Java SE Universal Subscription metric. Learn more here.

IBM also created waves with their newly released version (11) of the Passport Advantage Agreement (IPAA): “Client will, for all Programs at all Sites and for all environments, create, retain, and each year provide to IBM upon request with 30 days' advance notice: i) a report of deployed Programs, in a format requested by IBM, using records, system tools output, and other system information; and ii) supporting documentation (collectively, Deployment Data).” Read more here.

How to Negotiate a Successful Software License Agreement

Software vendors will come to the negotiating table well-prepared – so preparation on your end is critical. By starting too late in the process, you will run the risk of reacting and responding without the required insight. In reality, ill-prepared organizations have a limited understanding of their software use and what they’re entitled to under their existing contracts. This can easily lead to overspending or under-provisioning.

You must take charge and run negotiations at your pace, with all the data and intelligence you need at your fingertips. In our latest whitepaper, you will find the most common challenges companies face when it comes to software agreement negotiations, how to overcome them, and what best practice looks like.

Check out the image above for a sneak peek of Phase 1 of our best practices.

ITAM 2023: It’s Time to Reimagine ITAM

Negotiating a software contract takes strategic thinking and knowledge of your IT estate and company goals.

Discover the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in IT asset management comprised of IT professionals, software asset managers, and industry leaders from organizations worldwide – join SoftwareOne for ITAM Summit 2023.

With a lineup of engaging keynotes, industry experts, and informative panel discussions – including (insert all partners) – ITAM Summit 2023 is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and help reimagine your organization’s ITAM. Register today to save your spot.

And that’s the scoop! We’d love to hear from you. What did you like? What do you want to see more of? Leave us a comment below????so we can make sure we’re serving up the best content for you. And don't forget to subscribe????so you don’t miss our next edition!