SAM


Asset Management Software /
Digital Asset Management Software




Definition:

The management of physical assets (their selection, maintenance, inspection and renewal), which plays a key role in determining the operational performance and profitability of industries that operate assets as part of their core business. Asset Management is the art and science of making the right decisions and optimising these processes.

What does asset management software do?


 Any business involved in manufacturing, distribution, physical sales or even office or call centre work will have physical and non-physical assets. The process of selecting the right equipment for a particular job, keeping it in working order for as long as possible and replacing it in a well-organised way, producing as little disruption as possible, is a key task for management.
Asset management software helps with this task by maintaining a record of all the assets you want to monitor. It can hold details of their service schedules, maintenance records, depreciated value and schedule for replacement. The software can be set to trigger warnings for any of these events, so you maintain regular cycles of repair and renewal.
Any business assistance software is only as good as the information within it, of course, and it's essential to keep details of all assets up to date, by physical inspection and good communication between departments. If someone in accounts throws out a broken chair and doesn't inform the asset management team, the computer records will be inaccurate and no replacement chair will be ordered.

A good asset management program can be of invaluable assistance during emergencies and crises. It could list, for example, the furniture, computing and other resources available at different locations and allow for re-routing those resources during business emergencies.
Intangible assets
Intangible assets are those non-physical, identifiable, longer lived, non-monetary assets which have been created through time and/or effort. They include patents, accounts receivable, copyrights and goodwill. As per para A14(e)(2) of Statement 141 of the FASB, computer software is an intangible asset.
A sub-division of asset management is software asset management and this is tied in with the control of the software used on computers in your company and compliance with licensing terms. Knowing what software’s installed on the PCs in your business could save you a lot of money if you receive a visit from FAST (the Federation Against Software Theft). It also helps control the introduction of unwanted software by your employees, which may harbour viruses or other malware. Strangely, managing intangible assets like software is actually more difficult than managing and tracking physical assets. Business policies, licence terms and renewals etc., complicate the job.

Types of Asset Management Software


-Inquisitive: Software that queries IT systems and identifies hardware configurations/peripherals/operating system a nd other software.
- Repository: The collected data is organised and stored to allow easy access     for reporting and analysis.
- Automated data collection: Tracks, records accurate data in realtime.

SAM, an acronym that will have everyone talking

Leave your company, your business, unknown hands, without credentials. Surely not. Oddly enough, are many, many, companies that do not know what applications are using or where they come from, if you are up to date, ifcommonly used and, more importantly, what to bring to the business and what they could contribute.
 

To solve the problem many companies have begun to implement programs Asset Management Software, that answer three basic questions:

 

Knowing what you have

Buy only what you need

Efficiently use assets at any stage of their life cycle
 

Once implemented, the program allows:
 Saving money

Winning peace

Keeping data safe

Improving business performance

Optimize the internal distribution

Reduce support costs

Increase workgroup productivity

Improve employee satisfaction

How is a SAM?

The process of conducting a SAM or Software Asset Management is based on four steps. First, it makes a software inventory, then, is related to licenses acquired, after having done this, we review the policies and procedures, and finally, develop a plan SAM.

1. Perform an initial inventory of software:
 . Find out exactly what software is installed using a software inventory tool.

· In Red - Tools for Software Inventory
 

 · Inventory manual-remote PCs

 
2. Relate the software installed with licenses purchased  

Once the inventory is completed, you will need to link with the software licenses purchased.

· OEM Software (pre installed)
 

· Software FPP (Full Packaged Product - Retailers)
 

. Programs Volume Licensing


 

3. Review policies and procedures
 
· Centralizes your purchasing process
 

· Publish the software usage policies

. Establish processes for software purchase record
 

. Write a plan for disaster recovery

 

4. Develop a SAM plan
 
· Analyze your software needs
 

· Provide training on software
 

. Reduce support costs
 

· Keep your software safe
 

. Create a software map

. Schedule regular inventories

More reasons to implement a SAM


Besides saving money, gain peace of mind, keep data safe, improve business performance optimizing the internal distribution, reduce support costs or increase productivity of the group of work, SAM has more to offer. Here are some additional benefits of implementing a program SAM.


Operations easier


His organization works best with Software Asset Management or SAM. SAM lets you focus on manage your business and forget about things like unsupported programs, or virus and security problems arising by the lack of patches or updates.



Best Prices

SAM improves relationships with software resellers and gives an advantage in future negotiations. Having a better understanding of your software needs can buy in volume and the benefits of price associated with bulk purchases.



Best position in the market


The discharge current to the date and comprehensive media library can result in complete and mergers and acquisitions faster and easier. SAM also allows you to shorten time to market with its streamlined software functionality and a thorough knowledge of your existing database.



Financial Security


A good SAM program gives you financial security against unexpected licensing costs, plus tax benefits associated with software depreciation.


Elimination of waste and redundancy

Reconciling software, an important step in any appropriate SAM plan will show the software that was not used but still stands. Thus, such software can be removed and used elsewhere with his associated license.

Some license agreements may limit the transfer of software. Check your contracts before transfer the software.



Volume Discounts


SAM gives you a better understanding of how many and what type of license required. Should I buy based in each person or PC, or seek the acquisition of a volume license? Your SAM plan will show you exactly what you need and can save money by buying their licenses.



Benefits for each employee


The software is working properly and it causes no problems in a better overall attitude of the employees.

A centralized SAM program also reduces individual training for managers and lowers costs associated with it.



Responsibility


A proper SAM program limits its liability due to poor licensing practices and helps to avoid potential damage to its reputation resulting from a lawsuit.



Future benefits


SAM gives you better insight into your future software needs. Instead of buying all the options software and the latest updates available, you can decide exactly what software is needed and when required. With SAM you can plan now for future software needs. This also helps to decide if you need some new hardware.