SoftWatch’s Analytics Service Targets Software Licensing Costs
SoftWatch, a company that earlier this year introduced an analytics application that tracks usage of Microsoft Office across the enterprise, has rolled out another software-as-a-service (SaaS) application that helps managers drill down into software usage patterns.
According to Israel-based SoftWatch, the new software, part of its OptimizeIT suite, helps enterprises make better informed decisions regarding cloud-based applications, communications and infrastructure services and desktop virtualization. The idea is to highlight opportunities for managers to save money by moving to lower-cost software and/or hardware, when appropriate, based on usage patterns.
So, for example, while power users may continue to use advanced applications and traditional workstations, other users might migrate to relatively low-cost tablets and cloud-based applications.
Noting that Microsoft's announcement that it is discontinuing Windows XP will lead some companies using XP as their standard operating system to undertake a costly migration to a new OS, Uri Arad, co-CEO of SoftWatch, said, “We strongly believe that the default decision to migrate to the next Microsoft OS and the ‘one size fits all' approach are no longer serving the interests of enterprises. The availability of application usage information allows enterprises to obtain a thorough analysis of their readiness to embrace cloud based services, manage the transition and enjoy tremendous economic and technological benefits.”
According to the company's website: “OptimizeIT transforms every desktop, laptop or server — real or virtual — into a self-monitoring platform to deliver an aggregate view of software license usage. [It] maps licensed software, monitors actual usage and analyzes end-user interactivity.” Further, “Based on usage data, OptimizeIT generates the information needed to choose the right licensing models, such as named, concurrent or floating, as well as the right type of licenses, such as Editor vs. Viewer.”
Co-CEO Moshe Kozlovski said that several SoftWatch customers are already using the new service and that one customer had decided to deploy new services including Google Apps, Chromebooks and virtual desktops to some of its 3,000 employees. “This is in line with our vision of usage analytics tools playing a major role in making strategic decisions regarding IT transformation initiatives,” he said in a statement.
Sean Michael is a writer who focuses on innovation and how science and technology intersect with industry, technology Wordpress, VMware Salesforce, And Application tech. TechCrunch Europas shortlisted her for the best tech journalist award. She enjoys finding stories that open people's eyes. She graduated from the University of California.
