Micorosoft has today unveiled its customer driven ‘self-start’ software asset management (SAM) programme, which it claims will help firms get a firmer grip on their licensing situation.

Available to end-users with more than 250 PCs, SAM, which is supported by the software giant’s channel partners, identifies and tracks what software a company is using and ensures they only have licenses for the software they are using.

Ram Dhailwal, Microsoft UK Licensing Programme Manager said “SAM is not just a quick fix if an issue is discovered; it’s about managing assets from day one and is an ongoing process. From our customers’ experiences, we know SAM can deliver cost savings of up to 30 per cent, not only in direct expenditure on software, but also in related process and infrastructure costs.

“The SAM ‘self-start’ programme allows partners and customers to work through each of the SAM phases together, with partners providing the necessary support to customers so that they can make the most of the programme and gain control of their software assets in an achievable, practical and simplified manner,” he added.

Richard Best, SAM services business manager for infrastructure optimisation company Teksys said: “We work with many customers on SAM and realised that a clear, pragmatic method to help customers manage their IT assets effectively needed to be put in place. This ‘self- start’ programme has improved the SAM implementation process by reducing complexity and providing the partner community with the tools they need to reach out to customers to help them address the SAM process. As such, this is helping us to engage better with customers and, in turn, run our business more effectively.”