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It is as much about helping customers make
the right purchasing decisions as it is about
helping them manage their choices well.
Old school
The SAM approach usually entailed
running a vendor tool, going through a
data validation process, and then cleaning
software up where necessary. However, as
more companies adopt internal tools, a shift
is taking place in the market.
The evolution of SAM is seeing the
introduction of paid-for solutions and
other inventory optimisation tools to make
software easier to manage. Automation also
makes this considerably quicker to do than
previously. Other tools can look at certain
areas of the organisational environment
depending on the needs of the customer.
But to do a full SAM approach, companies
need a holistic tool that tracks all aspects
of the IT journey. SAM must therefore be
considered a business enabler especially
as organisations are looking to digitally
transform themselves.
But before they can embrace digitalisation
fully, they must first understand what they
have currently installed. SAM must therefore
be integrated into existing processes.
This requires a conscious decision of the
organisation to enforce the policy and
procedures required to make SAM work.
More focus
SAM cannot be done as an afterthought.
It is an ongoing exercise that requires a
dedicated team to manage it and not just
IT personnel. These SAM-specific teams
can also account for aspects of
procurement as they extend their reach
throughout the organisation.
Just imagine the number of user requests to
manage when it comes to new software or
even renewing existing licenses. It therefore
makes sense to have dedicated resources to
manage the process.
The arrival of multinational data centres
has resulted in an increasing focus around
cloud solutions. This means SAM revolves
around as much as understanding resource
utilisation and associated cost-savings as
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it does around whether the company is
gaining the maximum benefit from its Office
365 licences by way of example.
SAM in this cloud environment must
encompass cost optimisation as it entails an
intricate understanding of what resources
are used where. The huge growth in cloud-
based applications will see the local SAM
market changing to be more reflective of the
connected environment.
In turn, this will see the introduction of SAM-
as-a-service. If a company does not have the
“
SAM IS A
SIGNIFICANT
EXERCISE TO
UNDERTAKE
ESPECIALLY
IF THE
ORGANISATION
HAS NEVER
HAD ANY REAL
CONTROL OF
WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN ITS
IT ENVIRONMENT.
right tools in place to manage its solutions,
it becomes impossible to keep pace with
evolving technology changes. This is where
automated solutions become critical to
optimisation so businesses can get on with
the day-to-day running of the organisation.
Moving from the shadows
One of the biggest obstacles to overcome
with SAM is the emergence of shadow
IT in organisations. This sees employees
downloading and installing software (mostly
consumer-centric) when corporate solutions
are not in place. Again, the importance of
policies and procedures to manage this
becomes essential.
This is where the organisation works with
its employees to ensure they go to the
SAM team and determine if there are no
existing solutions available to address their
specific requirements. If there are not, then
enterprise-grade solutions can be reviewed
and acquired accordingly.
Going through this process helps ensure the
solutions are more effectively maintained,
especially when it comes time for renewal or
other aspects around licensing.
Given the shift towards the cloud, local
companies need to rely on partners that
understand this more dynamic environment
beyond what is available on-premise. Often,
the partners that are borne in the cloud will
be better able to assist companies in the
digital future. And this is where the likes
of being licensed solutions partners and
licensed cloud partners become critical to
the success of SAM at a business, irrespective
of its size or industry sector. n
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