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Flexera Software Announces Newly Re-architected Software License Optimization Solution, FlexNet Manager for SAP(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 26 September 2012 Release date- 25092012 - Schaumburg, IL - Flexera Software, the leading provider of Application Usage Management solutions for application producers and enterprises, announced today a significant upgrade to its FlexNet Manager for SAP solution. The new release has been re-architected to provide unparalleled performance, agentless (no transports) usage collection, and user-defined optimization rules. This permits SAP license managers to take command and make informed decisions based on real usage data. FlexNet Manager for SAP is part of FlexNet Manager Suite for Enterprises and built upon the FlexNet Manager Platform, which delivers hardware and software asset management for enterprises across 11,000 publishers and 325,000 application SKUs. The Suite also includes Software License Optimization solutions for Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Symantec, and 20,000 engineering applications - automating entitlement-based license management to reduce software license, maintenance and audit costs, while maintaining license compliance. Enhanced Decision Support and Control for SAP License Managers SAP licensing is based on user roles, such as professional, limited professional, developer, and employee self-service. Typically, these licenses are manually assigned by an SAP administrator without the benefit of an analysis showing actual usage data. Making a non-optimal license assignment - such as assigning to a user a professional license when, in fact, she needs a lesser license - can cost thousands of dollars more than necessary. Optimizing an SAP license estate requires accurate insight into how each employee uses the system to ensure that the least expense license type is assigned to each user. Frequently the result of optimization is the discovery that an organization is 'over-licensed,' providing an opportunity for a reduction in future purchases (cost avoidance). FlexNet Manger for SAP is the only solution capable of combining multiple license optimization strategies to provide recommendations to SAP administrators, enabling them to achieve an optimized license position. These strategies include recommendations for the optimal license classification for each user, identification and removal of duplicate users, and identification of users that should be retired due to non-use. FlexNet Manager for SAP captures usage data from SAP systems and conducts automated, rule-based simulations that analyze employees' actual usage to determine the lowest cost SAP license type for each user. This latest release provides additional refinements to SAP license optimization, such as the ability to create and simulate user defined rules through an intuitive rules editor. When administrators are satisfied with the optimized license position, they can then update the SAP system state, which will be reflected in the next SAP License Administration Workbench (LAW) report. These refinements also allow organizations to predict the cost impact of contemplated changes to the SAP license estate by performing simulations for 'what-if,' best case, and worst case licensing scenarios. 'The sophisticated analysis and reports provided by FlexNet Manager for SAP are unparalleled, empowering administrators to understand at a granular level how employees are using the system, along with key recommendations that, if implemented, can significantly reduce license spend,' said Alan Swahn, Vice President of Product Management at Flexera Software. 'By instituting those recommendations SAP administrators will eliminate excessive costs due to miss-categorized users and unused licenses.' Increased Demand for SAP Software License Optimization Today's announcement comes at a time of considerable growth for SAP, and a time of opportunity for enterprises to save on SAP license spend. According to IDC, in 2011 SAP was the 4th largest packaged software company with software revenues exceeding $15 billion and the fastest growing of the big five vendors, with a 16.5% growth rate in 2011 over 2010 1. 'It's incredibly complicated to optimize software spend in order to ensure you only buy what you need, and use what you have,' said Amy Konary, Research Vice President - Software Licensing and Provisioning at IDC. 'SAP's licensing models are complex and not well understood by many enterprises. Without a system in place to track and analyze usage, it's nearly impossible to align your needs with optimal SAP license classifications and quantities. And without these insights, it's very difficult to negotiate a new purchase with SAP or respond to a software license audit.' 'Without the analysis and insights provided by FlexNet Manager for SAP, it is very difficult for organizations to purchase licenses and negotiate with SAP based on their real requirements,' said Swahn. 'Our customers regularly reduce their SAP license spend anywhere from 5-35% once they are armed with this knowledge.' Unified Software License Optimization for the Entire Software Estate FlexNet Manager for SAP's new architecture also leverages the capabilities of FlexNet Manager Platform to deliver a next generation SAP Software License Optimization solution. The Platform enables CIO's, CFO's and IT Asset Management leaders to centrally manage and optimize software spend across the entire software estate. The new release enables SAP shops to utilize FlexNet Manager Platform capabilities, including the license management dashboard, contract management module, and Cognos-based business intelligence, trend analysis, and reporting. Business users can access SAP license management reports through a web browser. 'The architectural changes to FlexNet Manager for SAP empower executives, finance and IT business managers to gain valuable insight and control over SAP software, optimize license spend based on actual usage, and access an executive dashboard that provides key usage and compliance reports,' said Swahn. 'No other solution delivers this level of information, transparency and control to business stakeholders.' 1 Worldwide Software 2012-2016 Forecast Summary, Patrick Melgarejo, June 2012 About Flexera Software Flexera Software is the leading provider of strategic solutions for Application Usage Management; solutions delivering continuous compliance, optimized usage and maximized value to application producers and their customers. Flexera Software is trusted by more than 80,000 customers that depend on our comprehensive solutions- from installation and licensing, entitlement and compliance management to application readiness and software license optimization - to strategically manage application usage and achieve breakthrough results realized only through the systems-level approach we provide. For more information, please go to: www.flexerasoftware.com. For more information, contact: John Lipsey (224) 465-9139 [email protected] *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. [Editorial queries for this story should be sent to [email protected]] ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2012 Electronic News Publishing - |