Belgian Firms Pay Dearly for Lack of Visibility on Software Usage
Brussels, Belgium, 17 July 2024 - Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ: NSIT), a global Solutions Integrator driving client success through digital transformation, has found that Belgian companies are paying heavily for their lack of insight into their software applications.
New research from Insight indicates only about a quarter of companies have a handle on their total licensing costs. Most of the rest have knowledge only at department or team level, with 6 percent of businesses having no knowledge at all.
And that lack of insight is costing them money: more than half of those companies think they could save at least 10 percent of software licensing costs with better visibility of what they’re spending it on.
The research found that a reluctance to invest in software tools to monitor usage of their software applications was at the heart of companies’ problems. Despite the availability of software asset management (SAM) tools, 84 percent of companies say they have no or partial visibility and control of their software applications. Breaking this down: only about 16 percent of Belgian companies have total visibility of all their software applications, with more than a quarter having no visibility at all.
The issue has been exacerbated by the growing number of software applications being deployed within organisations. The Insight survey discovered that two-thirds of companies are using more than they did three years ago.
It’s this increasing complexity that is hitting companies in the bottom line, as software licence costs continue to rise.
David Steppe, country lead for Insight Belgium, said, "The figures are striking. Despite the availability of tools for managing software applications, there is often a lack of time and knowledge for proper implementation.”
He added that companies that deployed a SAM tool would find themselves in a better position to reduce costs. “We estimate that over 30 percent of spending on desktop software and SaaS software is underutilised or wasted. With a software asset management tool, you can quickly identify duplicate expenses, unused licences and overlapping software. It's a no-brainer."
Currently, 90 percent of businesses are not using a SAM tool at all. By looking to this as an option, companies will be able to handle the mounting costs of software licences far more easily. But it’s not just the struggle to control costs, poor control over software licences can also limit a company's flexibility in adapting to new technologies, as well as making it more difficult to conform to compliance requirements.
Organisations that are reluctant to use SAM tools, owing to the difficulty in applying and managing them, have another option. By choosing a managed SAM service, businesses will be able to have visibility of their software applications, better control of licence costs and easier compliance, without the additional headaches of implementing and managing the software.
“It’s apparent that many businesses are overspending on software licensing, despite the widespread availability of tools. Companies that see implementing or managing SAM tools as a headache can look to have a managed service to help control costs” said Howard Daws, Strategy and Solutions Lead for Technology Lifecycle Services, Insight. “Implementing the right tool, paired with effective data management and SAM expertise, provides visibility and insights to IT and finance groups. The outcome is efficiency, which frees up funding for ongoing innovation in IT”
About Insight
Insight Enterprises, Inc. is a global Fortune 500 Solutions Integrator helping accelerate transformation by unlocking the power of people and technology. We architect, build and manage solutions for complex IT environments. Our digital transformation services include deep expertise in cloud, data, AI, cybersecurity and intelligent edge, augmented by longstanding relationships with 8,000+ technology partners. By quickly and effectively delivering best-fit solutions, we help our clients simplify modern business processes to improve customer and work experiences, business intelligence, efficiency and growth. We’re rated as a Great Place to Work, a Forbes World’s Best Employer and a Fortune World’s Best Workplace. Discover more at insight.com. NSIT-M
About the survey: conducted in April 2024, the online survey targeted 250 IT managers and CIOs in Belgium, focusing on companies with at least 200 employees. For more information, please visit: Software Asset Management Services | SAM Services | Insight BE