Licence Dashboard SAM Portal is the first comprehensive end-to-end solution for managing software assets. Powered by the world-leading software licence management system, Licence Dashboard™, this easy-to-use interface enables any organisation to take control of the full ISO/IEC 19770-1 Software Asset Management (SAM) lifecycle.

With software taking up an ever-increasing share of an organisation's IT budget, it is becoming even more important to manage, control and protect your software assets. Having greater control of the software lifecycle process and understanding your licence position can definitely help your organisation avoid unnecessary expenditure.

THE SOFTWARE LIFECYCLE

Uniquely, SAM Portal touches every key stakeholder within the software lifecycle from End Users to Line Managers, System Administrators, Licence Managers, Procurement officers and Senior Management. This process-driven interface enables End Users to access software in a controlled manner, while ensuring that all requests are correctly approved and suitably licensed.

With its built-in workflow and easy-to-use Web-enabled interface, organisations can quickly implement an effective Software Asset Management programme without having to re-engineer existing systems or business processes.

From request to installation, specification to receipt of licence, measurement to optimisation, SAM Portal guides you seamlessly through the process of managing the complete software lifecycle:

Request Software

Using SAM Portal, End Users simply search and select a software title from a pre-approved Software Catalogue. The Software Catalogue is controlled and maintained within the portal and ensures that only software that has been pre-authorised can be requested, thereby ensuring complete control of versions and reducing rogue applications from being deployed.

On identifying the required software, the End User must then associate the software to a device, thus ensuring that, on receipt of notification, the Service Administrator deploys the application to the correct device.

Approve

Once submitted, the relevant Manager receives email notification of the software request. They simply click on the link provided to review the request and decide on the relevant action - approve, decline or re-assign to a different Manager thus ensuring that the business need is satisfied while making sure all installs are fully approved.

Approved managed software requests are then reviewed in Compliance Verification to assess and decide upon the best action to fulfil the licence requirement.

Verify

The Licence Manager can instantly see licence availability for the requested products within the Compliance Verification. Here, they can make informed decisions on allocating existing licences, requesting licence transfers from other business units or deciding that a Purchase Order needs to be raised.

The Licence Manager has peace of mind that the decision to purchase is only made once all internal resources have been utilised, keeping company spend to a minimum.

Install

On confirmation of how the licence requirement is fulfilled, an installation notification is emailed to the Service Administrator.

Each End User is reassured that their approved software request automatically triggers installation as their request is updated to display this information.

The Licence Manager is reassured that only authorised installations will take place and the organisation can be confident they are compliant at all times.

Specify

All details required to make the purchase are available to the Procurement Team. Using the searches you can specify the licence SKU, manufacturer's agreement and relevant supplier. Your Procurement Team has the facility to request supplier quotations for your specified products. Any cost changes can be easily updated against your approved software catalogue.

Order

The Licence Manager initiates the order fulfilment process by adding requests to the Items to Order list. The Procurement Team actions these requests, knowing they have been authorised for purchasing. The estimated cost has been approved by the relevant manager and this provides guidance to the Purchaser when placing purchase orders with Suppliers. Estimated costs can be updated easily by the Procurement Team to ensure accurate costs are used.

A full history is available for all confirmed purchases.

Measure

Organisations can measure where allocations have been made, thus saving money and preserving department budgets. You can be confident that purchase orders are only raised when completely necessary.

Standardising builds becomes easier to manage as you can see which products are more popular and decide upon what should be included on a standard build.

Optimise

Excessive spending is be reduced by utilising licences already available to your organisation. Purchases will only be made when completely necessary.

SAM Portal gives you peace of mind that you are reducing business risk by introducing a SAM programme which controls your software from end user requirements to licence acquisition.

Order Tracking

Oversee each request and know exactly where it is throughout the approval and fulfilment process.

Your End Users can check the status of their request at any time and be reassured that installation will follow, once the fulfilment process has been completed.

Managers can review approved requests to check their status and installation request details.

find out more

For further information, please visit the Licence Dashboard Web site