Demystifying IT Asset Management Tools: What They Are and Why Your Organization Needs One
Over the last seven years, there has been a noticeable growth in the adoption of IT Asset Management (ITAM) tools in Latin America, a trend driven by the increasing demand for optimization of IT assets despite limited annual budgets. This growth is expected to continue as companies strive to better manage their IT assets. In the region, businesses are often compelled to implement a Software Asset Management (SAM) methodology due to the complexities of software audits and the associated expenses. Some companies are even proactively managing their spending to avoid these issues.
In this post, I want to explore the question: What is an asset management tool, and what is it used for? Having spent the last 15 years testing many of the most popular and top-rated tools in the market, I’ve gained significant insights that I’d like to share.
Today, many ITAM tools claim to offer intelligence so advanced that minimal manual operation is needed to track consumption versus acquisitions. However, a common sales tactic is to claim, “The tool does it all.” If you encounter someone selling a tool with the promise that it will handle everything effortlessly, be cautious; this is often just a sales pitch that doesn’t reflect reality.
Before implementing a SAM strategy, it’s essential to assess your organization’s maturity level in this methodology. Not every company needs a top-tier tool, which might later become an unnecessary expense and lead to a negative experience. To determine what type of tool your organization needs, consider these questions:
- Do I have trained personnel to manage a SAM tool?
- Who will be the people interacting with it?
- Who will be the decision-makers?
- What is the objective of this implementation?
- What type of ROI do I need, tangible or intangible?
Answering these questions will guide you in selecting the right tools for your organization.
Let’s discuss some popular tools, focusing on ease of use, graphical interface, and key functionalities:
- SNOW: “Easy to use and powerful.” SNOW is a user-friendly tool that provides relevant reports with just a few clicks, helping you analyze data and make informed decisions, from risk avoidance to cost management. It’s intuitive, allowing users to design custom dashboards, though some preloaded ones are available. The contract management feature is particularly useful, offering a clear overview of software contract costs and the option to centralize digital repositories if needed. A standout feature is its “On Window” measurement, which tracks software usability—critical for decision-making in companies. Although SNOW was recently acquired by Flexera, it remains easy to use and supports multiple languages, including Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
- Flexera One: “The pioneer.” One of the earliest tools in the market, Flexera One emphasizes control and has become more user-friendly over the years. However, implementing it requires a higher level of expertise, and some reports may require SQL knowledge. Despite this, the interface is smooth, and navigation is intuitive. Flexera One excels in integrations, fully supporting major software vendors like Oracle, SAP, IBM, and Microsoft. Its software measurement capabilities meet key requirements, although occasional updates may be needed for specific software. The tool’s compliance displays are intuitive, and it allows for fully customizable dashboards. It also includes robust contract management features, and its recent focus on FinOps has improved SaaS consumption measurement.
- ServiceNow: “The new competitor in the market.” Over the past two years, ServiceNow has gained significant attention. It’s primarily a CMDB-based tool that meets market standards in both ITAM and ITOM (IT Operation Management), though its core is ITSM (IT Service Management). ServiceNow offers a modular approach, requiring organizations to purchase only the modules they need, making it highly customizable. However, it’s also one of the most challenging tools to implement, designed for specialized use. While its interface is fluid and it offers over a thousand reports to support decision-making, the multitude of configurations can be overwhelming for end-users. The tool connects to “Content Look Up,” one of the largest platforms for software products and licensing information. Despite its completeness, it’s essential to remember that SAM tools are meant to generate actionable information, and a more affordable tool might suffice for your needs.
Final Thoughts:
The primary purpose of a SAM tool is to create information for analysis and informed decision-making. It’s important to recognize that no tool will do everything for you—specialized personnel are always needed to carry out compliance and optimization analyses. Without this expertise, even the best tools can become just data generators, leading to a diminished value and potentially a poor experience.
Lastly, I want to highlight a newer player in the market: Licenseware. This Business Intelligence tool, created four years ago, has impressed even the most seasoned licensing experts. It’s an application-based platform that excels in compliance analysis for some of the most complex software on the market, including Oracle, Microsoft, Adobe, and IBM. Recognized with awards from ITAM Review, Licenseware is a testament to innovation and expertise in the field.
