Many firms are under-utilising their existing software assets, which could be negatively affecting user productivity, diminishing return on investment and undermining the business value of enterprise technology, according to IT consultancy Avanade.

In most of the firm's 400-plus application development projects last year, clients could have solved issues by reviewing their existing licenses and better understanding the functionality of their existing assets, said Avanade.

Firms could therefore be buying licenses they don't need because they don't realise they have enough previously untapped functionality in existing assets, said Avanade's CTO Richard Hall.

"On the other hand some solutions could be rationalised because hardly anyone uses them, but IT is still fighting to keep them alive," he added. "It's a pretty universal problem and dialogue is key."

Avanade recommended employee surveys to highlight any areas where specific tools are being underused and therefore where money could be saved, alongside more training for IT staff highlight the most unused functionality in products.

Application streaming technology could give firms a better view of how assets are used, by whom and when, according to Hall.

"Essentially organisations need to take a more strategic approach to technology purchases," added Mark Nutt, technology director, at IT consultancy, Morse. "By understanding what they already have, and assessing end user requirements from different areas of the business, they can take a more strategic and cost effective approach to technology investments."