The ITAM Review

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ITAM Tools Day; Why is it needed?

ITAM_TOOLSDAY_NY_MAYWe’re back!

Due to the unfortunate timing of ‘Storm Juno’ that struck on our last visit to New York, we are returning on May 12th to host our FREE to attend ITAM Tools Day Event. This is a unique opportunity for professionals to get together and see the leading ITAM tool vendors present their solutions all under one roof.

ITAM Tools

There are a number of ITAM tools now available on the market. The evolution of ITAM tools over the past 10 years has been dramatic, and they continue to become more sophisticated and dynamic. Eight of the leading ITAM tool vendors will be at our event and six of them will be showcasing their solutions and offering advice about managing software assets. The vendors attending are:

Tools are an integral part of any SAM program. Realistically, a SAM program will not be successful without a sophisticated SAM tool in place to assist with processes, licensing and management of software assets. It is no longer realistic to manage software licenses, warranty information and software assets via spread sheets, so a SAM tool is a vital investment for any organisation. If you are still using spread sheets to manage your software licenses, then this event is an absolute must for you and your organisation.

Finding the right solution

With so many offerings available, how do you know which solution is the best option for your organisation? It may be the case that you already have a solution in place, but you are not happy with the tool or the vendor. The ITAM Tools Day event is the ideal opportunity for you to look at the best ITAM solutions currently on the market, and compare them all there and then on the day.

We have come up with 6 critical aspects that in our opinion, are essential points for consideration when selecting your tool: Visibility, Identification, Risk, Efficiency, Agility and Continual Service Improvement. We have asked the tool vendors presenting to address how their tool covers off each point and delegates will have the opportunity to rate them against this criteria.

It is worth noting that there is no such thing as a ‘silver bullet’ tool. No solution can do everything you need without the right people and processes in place. Whilst a tool is vitally important, so are the people who use the tool, as well as the processes put in place for managing your software assets and licenses. When you come to this event, and you talk to the vendors attending, it is important to ask yourself if the solution would fit into your environment? Do you have the personnel in place to manage the SAM tool? Do you have the processes in place to fully utilise your investment in a SAM tool? And most importantly of all, do you have the backing of senior managers?

Networking and Support 

The ITAM Tools Day is also a great opportunity for you to speak to your existing vendor face to face. You will have the chance to speak to them about any issues you’re currently having, or to ask them about certain features or future releases of their product. The event will provide a more personal experience to picking a SAM tool, rather than sales orientated approach.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak to a wider support network in the form of their peers. They will be able to speak to other people with the same ITAM tool to compare notes, get tips on how they perform certain actions or how they have used the tool to help with certain situations. This support is invaluable to ITAM professionals as it provides a passing on of knowledge and experience that you can’t get from books or online.

Regardless of whether or not you have a SAM tool currently implemented, attending this event will provide you with a unique insight to the different solutions on offer, without having to arrange sales phone calls, meetings and demos. You will be able to see all of the solutions and make quick, informative decisions about the solution and whether or not it meets their organisations requirements.

Conclusion

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Empire State Building, New York

So why don’t you join us for our first US ITAM Tools Day event? It’s completely free to attend and promises to be a very informative and interesting day for ITAM and SAM professionals. You can find out more about the event and a list of vendors attending here.

To book your place go to; marketplace.itassetmanagement.net/events/now. Places are booking up fast, so make sure you secure your place today!

 

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About David Foxen

David Foxen is a Software Asset Management expert and enthusiast. He had a vast experience of successfully implementing SAM, SAM tools and also made huge cost savings. A member of the ISO Standards WG21, David is a massive ITAM geek, so uses any opportunity to talk about the subject to who-ever will listen. He believes that the industry needs to share its knowledge and success stories to help the SAM industry mature and become more effective. Always willing to help, his primary goal is to make a difference to organisations and the SAM industry so everyone will know how epic SAM is!

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