Software Asset Management (SAM) Helps Reduce Software Waste

What is Software Asset Management (SAM)?

Software Asset Management (SAM) is the process of tracking and managing software licenses to ensure compliance, optimize costs and monitor usage within an organization. It involves maintaining an accurate inventory of installed software, analyzing usage data, and aligning actual consumption with entitlements to maximize efficiency.

The Main Market Problem

According to Gartner, organizations waste 30% of their software spend annually. That’s millions of dollars lost to unused software licenses, unnecessary renewals, and inefficient purchasing. 

So, what if you could reclaim that money and put it to better use?

HCL BigFix has a strong track record of helping companies claw money back through license management https://www.hcl-software.com/resources/stories?searchTerm=BigFix. Now, we’re taking this further by introducing a financial layer into our reporting.

Our goal? To empower Software Asset Management (SAM) teams with deeper insights and strategic control. Let’s take a look at what that means from the user perspective.

Other Tools vs HCL BigFix

Many SAM tools focus solely on identifying issues—such as inactive software, unused licenses or non-compliant versions. While detection is an important first step, it’s only part of the Software Optimization ROI equation. To truly maximize the value organizations need tools that go beyond just reporting and take actionable steps —whether that means uninstalling inactive titles, automatically deploying shelfware or patching compliance issues. A complete solution doesn’t just highlight problems – it actively helps fix them.

Unlike traditional tools that stop at problem identification, our tool goes the extra mile by offering built-in solutions, helping teams act immediately rather than just compiling reports.

Use Case Examples

To show you how this works in the real world, here are a few examples of how teams are using HCL BigFix to turn insights into action. From cutting software costs to improving compliance and efficiency, these stories highlight the practical ways HCL BigFix helps organizations take control of their software portfolio.

1. Prioritize Vendor Spend and Renewals

Sarah, an SAM manager at a mid-sized financial firm, is overwhelmed by managing countless software assets and vendors. With HCL BigFix’s financial reports, she discovers that three software vendors account for 65% of the budget. She uses this insight to strategically plan her SAM priorities and find unused software which has the most financial impact. Working with IT Operations, she leverages HCL BigFix to remove unused applications, ensuring only essential software remains before renewal discussions.

2. Track Progress on Cost Reduction

James, an IT director at a large retail company, aims to reduce software costs by 15% over the next year. With HCL BigFix, he tracks monthly and year-over-year (YoY) progress, ensuring his team stays on target. After achieving 5% of cost savings in six months, he has the proof and execution to drive further optimization.

3. Benchmark Prices for Smarter Decisions

Emma, a SAM specialist, discovers that one department is overpaying for a project management tool. By benchmarking prices, she advocates for a lower-cost alternative with the same features, saving the company $500,000 annually. Once approved, IT Operations uses HCL BigFix to deploy the new tool and remove the old one.

4. Prevent Unjustified Software Use

Mark is a compliance officer in a government agency. Thanks to the software category information in HCL BigFix, he quickly discovers that the HR department uses an expensive graphic design software. He then cooperates with IT Operations, who use HCL BigFix to remove the software from unauthorized devices and redeploy it to the right teams.

5. Improve Organizational Efficiency

David, a procurement leader at a tech firm, wants to maximize the value of his company’s software investments. With HCL BigFix, he compares software costs to actual adoption and discovers that an expensive analytics tool has performed poorly in one region. To address this, he collaborates with department heads to drive adoption.

Become the Governor of Your Software Portfolio

Traditional SAM and software inventory tools can track licensing agreements, monitor software usage, and find inefficiencies—but that’s where they stop.

HCL BigFix goes a step further. By combining SAM with Endpoint Management, you can now deploy software products, remove unused apps and enforce license compliance, all in real time.

With HCL BigFix SAM tool, you’re not just tracking software. You’re optimizing your IT, cutting waste, and maximizing your ROI. Contact us to take control of your software portfolio today.