This is the second of two posts related to the challenges SMBs often encounter finding asset management software that matches their functional requirements, resource limitations, and budgets.  You can read the first post in the series here.

In this post I’ll explore five functional areas where SMBs have been underserved both by large, enterprise-oriented suites, as well as by the more basic, lower-cost computer inventory products.

1) License management capabilities

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Small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) don’t have it particularly easy when it comes to implementing IT solutions; they’re cursed by their need for capabilities similar in sophistication to those delivered by larger enterprise-oriented solutions.  However, because of their smaller size, they generally can’t dedicate the same level of resources, whether financial or human, to investing in and managing complex framework products.  The discipline of software asset management (SAM) is no exception to the SMB dilemma. 

In our ten years of focusing on software asset management, we’ve observed that small- and mid-sized companies have been perpetually underserved by the vast majority of SAM products.  The tools market is comprised primarily of:

1) Large enterprise-oriented solutions that are difficult and costly to deploy and manage, and tend to “bolt” SAM features on to a broad suite of functionalities such as help desk, deployment, and/or configuration management.  These products are offered by some of the biggest software titans (Microsoft, BMC, CA, etc.) who endeavor to deliver entire portfolios of IT solutions to their customers.  Because SAM is typically secondary to these companies’ more profitable areas of focus, such solutions frequently lack the domain expertise and dedicated support required for SMB customers to be successful in their SAM initiatives.     

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With the recent release of Express Software Manager v9.5, we developed a pretty slick Flash demonstration to show potential end-users of the product its key features and capabilities related to IT asset management.  The demo is jammed with reports, so it’s a great way to get a quick look under the hood of the product without downloading and installing the full-featured evaluation.

The demo is comprised of six modules, each of which are a couple of minutes in length.  Here’s what you’ll see: (more…)

We recently announced the availability of Express Software Manager Version 9.5, with the introduction of a brand new IT purchasing system.  Now, in addition to tracking the inventory and usage of your IT assets, you can manage all the details related to your hardware and software purchases—and abandon those Excel spreadsheets once and for all!

Please join me for either of the two live product demonstrations held via LiveMeeting on Thursday, July 29 for North America and Wednesday, August 11 for Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

I’ll demonstrate Express Software Manager’s PC inventory and software usage tracking capabilities, along with the new IT purchasing system, which will transform your ability to manage your hardware and software assets, stay compliant with license agreements, identify areas where your organization has purchased too many licenses, and more. 

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We’re pleased to announce that Express Software Manager Version 9.5 is now available for download! Current Express Metrix customers have already received the new release and the feedback so far has been phenomenal! 

The principal feature in Version 9.5 is the introduction of an IT purchasing system that will transform your ability to track and manage all the details related to your hardware and software purchases, maintenance contracts, and leases.  Express Software Manager now features a web-based interface that allows you to enter unlimited purchasing information for hardware and software inventory, allocate purchases to end users and organizational groups, and reconcile purchasing data with inventoried devices and applications.

The new purchasing system is designed to address IT asset management challenges organizations face when trying to map purchasing details to deployed assets and recognize often-concealed financial aspects vital to effectively managing those assets.

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