Tag: software license management

Stay on Top of All Your Subscription Payments with a Software License Manager

Michelle

A software license manager helps you manage your subscription payments and stay on top of all your licenses. Learn more about this tool and its benefits.

As businesses and individuals increasingly rely on software for their daily operations, managing software licenses and subscription payments can become a tedious and time-consuming task. Failure to manage licenses properly can result in overspending, compliance issues, and even legal action. That’s where a software license manager comes in. In this article, we will discuss what a software license manager is, how it works, and its benefits.

What is a Software License Manager?

A software license manager is a tool that helps individuals and organizations manage software licenses and subscriptions. It enables users to monitor, track, and control the licenses and subscriptions they have acquired. With a software license manager, users can determine the number of licenses they own, how they are being used, and when they are due for renewal.

How Does a Software License Manager Work?

A software license manager works by centralizing the management of software licenses and subscriptions. It collects license information from various sources, such as purchase orders, invoices, and contracts, and stores it in a centralized database. Users can access this information through a user interface that provides them with a clear overview of their licenses, including license expiration dates, usage, and renewal costs.

Stay on top of All Your Subscription Payments

A software license manager helps users stay on top of their subscription payments by providing a clear overview of all their licenses and when they are due for renewal. Users can set up notifications and alerts for upcoming renewals, ensuring that they do not miss any payments. By automating the license renewal process, a software license manager removes the need for manual tracking, reducing the risk of missed payments and potential license expiration. This enables users to manage their subscription payments more efficiently, freeing up time for other important tasks. With a software license manager, users can rest assured that they are always up to date with their subscription payments, minimizing the risk of non-compliance and legal issues.

Benefits of Using a Software License Manager

  1. Cost Savings: A software license manager can help users save money by preventing overspending on software licenses and subscriptions. By tracking license usage, users can identify licenses that are not being used and revoke them, eliminating unnecessary costs.
  2. Compliance: Compliance with software licensing agreements is crucial, as non-compliance can lead to legal action and hefty fines. A software license manager ensures that users are aware of their licensing agreements and are using software within the agreed terms.
  3. Better Resource Management: By providing users with an overview of their licenses, a software license manager enables them to allocate resources more effectively. Users can determine which licenses are being used most frequently and allocate resources accordingly.
  4. Improved Efficiency: Manually tracking licenses and subscriptions can be a time-consuming task. A software license manager automates this process, freeing up time for more important tasks.

Choosing the Right Software License Manager

When choosing a software license manager, users should consider the following factors:

  • Compatibility: The software license manager should be compatible with the software and applications being used.
  • Scalability: The software license manager should be scalable to accommodate future growth.
  • User Interface: The user interface should be user-friendly and easy to navigate.
  • Support: The software license manager should have reliable customer support to address any issues that may arise.

Conclusion

Managing software licenses and subscriptions is an essential task for businesses and individuals. A software license manager can help streamline this process, providing users with an overview of their licenses and enabling them to manage them effectively. By preventing overspending, ensuring compliance, and improving resource management and efficiency, a software license manager is an invaluable tool for any organization or individual that relies on software. When choosing a software license manager, users should consider compatibility, scalability, user interface, and support to ensure they select the right tool for their needs.

Cut Business Expenses with a Software License Manager

Michelle

Discover how a software license manager can help your business save money and optimize your software usage. Learn more about its benefits here.

What is a Software License Manager?

A software license manager is a tool that helps businesses track and manage their software licenses. It provides an efficient way of managing licenses and helps businesses stay compliant with licensing regulations.

How Does a Software License Manager Help Cut Business Expenses?

By using a software license manager, businesses can cut their expenses in various ways. Here are some of the benefits of using a software license manager:

Avoid Overbuying Licenses: One of the most significant benefits of using a software license manager is that it helps businesses avoid overbuying licenses. It provides real-time information on license usage, allowing businesses to see which licenses are being used and which ones are not. This information helps businesses make informed decisions about purchasing new licenses, reducing unnecessary expenses.

Eliminate Manual Tracking: Manual tracking of software licenses is time-consuming and error-prone. A software license manager eliminates the need for manual tracking, reducing the risk of errors and saving time. This helps businesses avoid costly penalties for non-compliance with licensing regulations.

Reduce Audit Costs: A software license manager provides businesses with accurate information on software usage, making it easier to prepare for software license audits. This reduces the risk of non-compliance and lowers the costs associated with audits.

Optimize Software Usage: By providing real-time information on software usage, a software license manager helps businesses optimize their software usage. It helps businesses identify which licenses are underutilized, allowing them to reassign licenses to where they are needed. This helps businesses avoid unnecessary expenses while ensuring that they have the right licenses for their needs.

What Features Should You Look for in a Software License Manager?

When choosing a software license manager, there are several features that businesses should look for:

Automated Tracking: The software license manager should provide automated tracking of software licenses, eliminating the need for manual tracking.

Real-Time Reporting: The software license manager should provide real-time reporting on license usage, making it easy to identify underutilized licenses.

License Optimization: The software license manager should provide license optimization features, allowing businesses to reassign licenses to where they are needed.

License Compliance: The software license manager should help businesses stay compliant with licensing regulations, reducing the risk of costly penalties.

A software license manager is an essential tool for businesses that want to cut their expenses and optimize their software usage. By providing real-time information on license usage, eliminating manual tracking, and helping businesses stay compliant with licensing regulations, a software license manager can help businesses save money and improve their operations. When choosing a software license manager, businesses should look for features such as automated tracking, real-time reporting, license optimization, and license compliance.

Request a free demo: https://softwarelicensemanagement.tangent.com/solutions/workplace-solutions/cubes

software license manager

How Big Companies Manage All Their Software Licenses

Michelle

Have you ever stopped to think about the sheer number of software licenses a large company might have to manage? With hundreds, if not thousands of employees, each with their own devices, programs and applications, the task of keeping track of software licenses is a complex one. 

According to a recent survey, the average cost of a software license for a large company is around $100 per license. This might not sound like a lot, but with the sheer number of licenses a company might have, this cost quickly adds up. In addition to the cost of acquiring the license, there are also ongoing costs associated with maintaining the license, such as upgrades, support and renewal fees. These costs can run into the millions of dollars each year.

But why is it so important for businesses to keep track of their software licenses? 

There are a few key reasons:

Compliance: In order to comply with licensing agreements, a company needs to know exactly how many licenses they have, and for which programs. This information helps to ensure that the company is using software in the way that is permitted by the licensing agreement.

Legal implications: Not keeping track of software licenses can result in legal implications for a company. For example, if a company is found to be using software that they do not have the correct licenses for, they can be sued for copyright infringement.

Audits: Software vendors can conduct audits at any time to check that their software is being used in accordance with the licensing agreement. If a company is found to be using software without the correct licenses, they can be fined, or even have their license revoked.

So, How Do Big Companies Manage All Their Software Licenses? 

One solution is to use a software license manager.

A software license manager is a tool that helps companies to keep track of their software licenses. It can help to keep track of the number of licenses a company has, the programs they are licensed for, and when they need to be renewed. It can also help to manage the cost of licenses, by keeping track of how much each license costs, and when it needs to be renewed.

A software license manager can also help to ensure compliance by checking that the company is using software in the way that is permitted by the licensing agreement. It can also help to prevent legal implications by ensuring that the company is using software in accordance with the licensing agreement.

One of the biggest advantages of using a software license manager is that it can help to automate many of the manual tasks associated with managing software licenses. For example, it can help to keep track of when licenses need to be renewed, and send reminders to the relevant departments. This can help to avoid the cost and disruption associated with license renewals.

Closing words

In conclusion, managing software licenses is a complex and time-consuming task, but it is a crucial aspect of running a successful business. By using a software license manager, companies can reduce the cost of managing licenses, ensure compliance with licensing agreements, and avoid the legal implications of not having the correct licenses.

So, the question remains: is your company making the most of software license management tools to stay on top of software licenses?

Man using MacBook laptop with CUBES login page on the screen

4 Benefits from CUBES License Manager

Nina

Do you have a good handle on your software license budget? Are you wasting the money that goes towards that budget on unused licenses?

Many organizations have (or should have) a Software Asset Management (SAM) program in place as part of their overall business strategy. The goal of this is to help reduce costs, limit risks, and increase transparency around software license purchases and usage. That’s where software license optimization comes in.

How our License Manager CUBES Fits into Your SAM Program

If your organization is stitching together spreadsheets of outdated software license records or relying on each department to keep track of its licenses, it may be time for an upgrade. Using a comprehensive license management tool like CUBES License Manager allows you to quickly access information on all licenses within your organization – from the number of licenses purchased to expiration dates, and contract details to renewal alerts.

With a license manager, you can streamline your procurement process and minimize the efforts involved from other departments to report on license spending. Specifically, here are 4 invaluable benefits from a license manager that will save you money and time:

1. Cost Savings

CUBES helps organizations consolidate their software environment, giving IT managers more control over software spend across different departments. Knowing the exact type and number of software licenses purchases can lead to better financial planning.

2. Avoid Fines and Penalties

Automatic renewal alerts will notify designated members of expiring software licenses. This feature can be help organizations save a lot of money by avoiding expiration penalties or fees.

3. Improved Planning

CUBES is a centralized software license management platform, allowing IT managers the ability to keep accurate records of contract terms, renewals, and purchases.

4. Business Alignment

With a transparent view into existing IT investments, organizations can align those with their business objectives. Additionally, predictive and trend analysis allows management to forecast future IT spend and needs.

Ready to Cash in on the Benefits of Software License Management ?

Download our guide to help you with the decision-making process for CUBES. Or, sign up for a free trial and get started immediately.

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Why License Management Tools Are Essential

Nina

Having a fully effective Software Asset Management (SAM) program is essential for all organizations, whether big or small. However, one of the biggest challenges is making SAM a priority, placing license management at the bottom of an organization’s “to-do” list.

To help you better understand why your organization needs a license management tool, we’ve outlined the reasons why having one is essential.

Centralized License Management

The foundation of a good SAM program is keeping your software license information up-to-date. Doing so in a comprehensive license management platform allows you to manage, keep track of, and report on your licenses easily and efficiently.

Without a comprehensive license management tool, managing licenses can easily become a tedious, manual process that’s prone to error. Most organizations use a number of spreadsheets across different departments to manage or track their licenses. These can often be lead to inaccuracies and make it difficult to summarize into a report.

With Tangent’s License Manager, CUBES, gone are the days of stitching together multiple spreadsheets across different departments. You can upload all of your spreadsheets into CUBES in less than a minute and be on your way to start organizing, managing, and reporting on all licenses.

Budget-Friendly

An important aspect of every organization is managing its budget. Surprisingly, many do not keep track of software license spend. It can be easy to purchase too many licenses and ending up with some that are unused, and expiration penalties can add up and be costly.

License management tools can help eliminate overspend, purchasing the wrong licenses, or not purchasing enough. Knowing the exact cost and amount of licenses purchased can help organizations adhere to software budgets.

With CUBES, organizations can effectively and automatically manage their software licenses and subscriptions from purchase to renewal and beyond. Its easy-to-use interface enables users to easily manage license records on a frequent basis. CUBES is an essential tool for organizations looking to hone their license management process.

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Benefits of Software License Management Across Different Departments

Nina

With so many new technologies emerging on an almost daily basis, it’s important for organizations large and small, to understand exactly what software is being used. Managing software licenses has always been a challenge, and in today’s technologically advanced world, it has become increasingly difficult. However, saving money by avoiding duplicate software licenses, over-licensing, and over- or under-spending should be at the top of every organization’s list.

For those in information technology (IT), the necessity of a software asset management (SAM) program is obvious, but for other departments, it might not be as clear as to how they benefit from license management. Understanding what is and isn’t being used across all departments helps an organization make informed decisions, especially when it comes to rolling out new technologies to drive the business and increase productivity.

IT Department: Smoother Software Deployments

When we think of software installations and deployments, we automatically think of IT. However, not all IT teams actually manage the organization’s licenses. Keeping track of license count, expiration and renewal dates, license spend, etc. usually falls on the lap of a License Manager or SAM team. When working together, IT can better understand exactly what software is being used, allowing them to plan and execute software rollouts or uninstall unused software – thereby optimizing software license budgets.

Many license management tools, like Tangent’s CUBES License Manager, also have reporting capabilities that give deeper insight into an organization’s licenses, such as:

  • Number of licenses that are coming due or expired
  • Amount broken down by company, product, department, and type of license
  • Length of license or subscription agreement
Cubes License Record View

Furthermore, CUBES has a document repository that allows users to upload documents related to each license record, so important files such as quotes, contracts, and license details can all be digitized and easily accessibly within the record.

Finance Department: Better Opportunity to Manage Departmental Budgets

When it’s not clear where or on what money is being spent, overseeing and managing an organization’s budgets can become overwhelming, especially if that leads to over-spending. Understanding what software is being used gives the finance team the opportunity to cut necessary costs on unused or duplicate software.

Additionally, having the visibility that comes with a license manager prepares the finance department for renewals, so they’ll know exactly when to expect large payments. Ultimately, this instills confidence into the team when going into budget discussions with the administration team.

Administration Department: Greater Visibility into Software License Budgets

Engaging and persuading administration departments to invest in any software product has always been a difficult task across multiple industries. Once on board, though, stakeholders will find that the benefits of a license manager greatly outweigh the cost.

Having a license manager will show directors, administrators, managers, etc. exactly how much is being spent on software and help them identify areas for cost savings. The goal is to generate savings for the entire organization year over year.

Additionally, a license manager allows the admin team to see all of the organization’s software at a glance, which can be helpful in identifying outdated technologies. Ensuring that employees have the latest software enables them to be more productive, work efficiently, and communicate and collaborate effectively across the entire organization.

Whether your organization is large or small, a license manager brings peace of mind. Being able to gain full visibility of software deployments, licenses, and cost is essential in managing budgets while enabling your organization with the latest technologies. CUBES can take you there. Sign up for a free trial to just how easy it is to start managing your licenses.

Introducing CUBES: A New Standard in Software Asset Management

Nina

Many organizations don’t know where to even begin when it comes to managing their software licenses. Some utilize spreadsheets, others stitch together notes from different platforms. This often leads to outdated, messy, and unreportable data across users and departments.

An effective, proactive Software Asset Management (SAM) program is proven to help organizations reign in all of their license and subscription data, while saving them time and money. That’s why we developed CUBES, a powerful, yet easy-to-use, license manager.

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In just a few minutes, users can set up CUBES and start managing their licenses with features such as:

  • Renewal and expiration alerts
  • Reporting dashboards
  • Tiered account security


Managing software licenses no longer needs to be an arduous task. With CUBES, organizations of all sizes can save by money by avoiding duplicate software deployments, over-licensing, and expired invoices. This allows organizations to make informed decisions when rolling out new technologies.Sign up for a free trial of CUBES to see just how easy it can be to manage all of your licenses and subscriptions in a central platform.

Hard release- V 3.0

Admin

CUBES license manager has been fully redesigned and upgraded. All customers have had their data moved to the new server located at cubes.tangent.com

Migration to a more secure server was executed in October and the older tangent.com/cubes URL will soon redirect to the new server at cubes.tangent.com. The old server will be depreciated, and all data will be deleted. Customers still using the cubes.tangent.com URL to access the application are asked to contact solutions@tangent.com for immediate migration to the new server. 

Features of the new user interface include:

  • New “Dashboard” page, getting all your data front and center. 
  • Persistent Navigation bar for easier site access.
  • Retooled License page with easy-to-understand icons and color coding.
  • Intuitive icons for daily activities.
  • Fully refactored database improves speed and responsiveness.
  • Improved logic for renewing licenses prior to their end date. 
  • New Logo design and branding.

User experience upgrades include:

  • Adding new users.
  • Segregating user accounts.
  • Adding and managing licenses.
software license management

License Management Software: Is CUBES The Right Fit for Your Business?

Admin

Between the plethora of options among subscriptions, SaaS, short-term software, and other licensing, businesses of all shapes and sizes have experienced an exponential change in how software is licensed. While perhaps a decade ago yearly service fees were the norm, managing licenses has become incredibly complex. With these complexities, issues such as unwanted renewal fees, late fees, and license management delegation have arisen, forcing businesses to reevaluate and adapt. 

When prompted with these issues, the natural step businesses take is to search for license management software. What they find is an array of options just as complex as the issues they are trying to solve. The world of Software Asset Management (SAM), Enterprise Asset Management, and IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) provides megalithic tools, packed with features to address every use-case imaginable. However, not all businesses need such an option and can’t afford to tie up an IT department for weeks during implementation. Quite simply, many businesses just need an easy way to manage their licenses. Enter the “Goldilocks” solution: CUBES License Management Software from Tangent. 

To decide whether CUBES is the right fit for your business, it is important to look at these three categories of software license management:

1. In-house:

In-house software license management offers rudimentary control through tools such as Excel or Google Sheets. If historical costs or efficiency tradeoffs aren’t a priority and there are only 4-12 items to track, this is a perfectly functional solution. However, as businesses grow, a system that might have taken minutes to keep track of 10 licenses can become inconvenient at 20. Reminders can slip through the cracks. In general, the business outgrows this solution. Conveniently, CUBES makes our Excel template freely available as a starting point for keeping track of software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, and warranties. 

2. Professional:

Professional management comes into play when businesses want more. To track more, see more, and clean up the mess caused by different departments doing their own data entry. At this point, businesses need to consider what they can afford, as well as what level of complexity they are ready for. For organizations needing feature-rich options, but that do not have the IT manpower to dedicate to onboarding and maintaining enterprise software, CUBES is the right fit. 

3. Enterprise:

For businesses needing ITIL processes in place, software utilization information, compliance tracking and procurement management, that also have robust IT departments in place, enterprise management is where they should be looking. See our decision checklist below and white paper to help understand where your business falls and if CUBES is the right fit for your license management software needs.

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For more information, visit https://www.tangent.com/solutions/cubes/