Gartner Magic Quadrant For Software Asset Management Tools
Software Asset Management (SAM) is the process of managing and optimizing an organization's software assets, including licenses, contracts, and usage data. It is a critical process that helps organizations save money, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with software licensing agreements. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for SAM tools to help organizations automate and streamline their SAM processes. In response to this demand, Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, has released their Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Tools.
What is the Gartner Magic Quadrant?
The Gartner Magic Quadrant is a research methodology used by Gartner to analyze technology markets and provide a graphical representation of a market's direction, maturity, and participants. The Magic Quadrant is based on two criteria: the ability to execute and completeness of vision. The ability to execute is a measure of the vendor's ability to deliver its products and services to customers, while completeness of vision is a measure of the vendor's ability to anticipate and respond to market trends and customer needs.
What are Software Asset Management Tools?
Software Asset Management Tools are software applications designed to help organizations manage their software assets. These tools typically include features such as license management, compliance reporting, usage tracking, and cost analysis. SAM tools can help organizations save money by identifying and eliminating unused software licenses, reducing the risk of non-compliance with licensing agreements, and optimizing software usage.
What are the benefits of using SAM Tools?
There are several benefits of using SAM tools, including:
- Cost savings: SAM tools can help organizations identify and eliminate unused software licenses, resulting in significant cost savings.
- Risk reduction: SAM tools can help organizations ensure compliance with software licensing agreements and reduce the risk of non-compliance penalties.
- Improved productivity: SAM tools can help organizations optimize their software usage, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency.
- Streamlined processes: SAM tools can help organizations automate and streamline their SAM processes, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Who are the leaders in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Tools?
The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Tools evaluates vendors based on their ability to execute and completeness of vision. The leaders in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Tools are:
- Flexera
- Aspera
- Snow Software
- ServiceNow
- IBM
What are the key features to look for in SAM Tools?
When evaluating SAM tools, there are several key features to look for:
- License management: The ability to track and manage software licenses, including license entitlements, usage, and compliance.
- Compliance reporting: The ability to generate reports that show an organization's compliance with software licensing agreements.
- Usage tracking: The ability to track software usage and identify opportunities to optimize usage and reduce costs.
- Cost analysis: The ability to analyze software costs and identify opportunities to reduce costs and optimize spending.
- Integration with other IT systems: The ability to integrate SAM tools with other IT systems, such as IT asset management, procurement, and software deployment tools.
Conclusion
Software Asset Management (SAM) is a critical process for organizations looking to save money, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with software licensing agreements. SAM tools can help organizations automate and streamline their SAM processes, resulting in significant cost savings, improved productivity, and reduced risk. The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Tools provides a valuable resource for organizations looking to evaluate SAM tools and identify the leaders in the market.