In the past, obtaining engineering software applications meant a purchase of a perpetual license, with annual maintenance, which is typically 20% of purchase cost per year. This is still the most popular approach. Subscription Licenses However, Vendors are pushing more time-based licenses, called Subscriptions. Some even provide the ability to “remix” license counts quarterly, orContinue reading “Subscription Licenses – What Are They & Their Challenges?”
Category Archives: License Management
Current Challenges: Expense of Engineering Software
There must be a better way to keep track of expensive electronic or mechanical engineering software licenses and associated resources. Engineering software is very expensive and is essential for development and on-time project completion. So why is there so little management attention, or control systems in place for these assets? Today’s manufacturing firm can spendContinue reading “Current Challenges: Expense of Engineering Software”
Planning an EDA, CAD, FEA, PLM or ALM upgrade? How well do you know your users?
Looking back a few years, I remember the urgent conversations during a scaled-up User-Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase; “Why are Robert and his team using the advanced features on the model viewer? I am not sure we have enough licenses now with the change in functionality at this new software version. Why didn’t we pick up onContinue reading “Planning an EDA, CAD, FEA, PLM or ALM upgrade? How well do you know your users?”
Borrowing FlexNet & FlexLM Licenses for Homeworking
Homeworking has been in the news recently, with many employers making plans for engineers to work flexibly from any location. Using the Flexnet BORROW function allows ‘floating’ server licenses to be ‘node-locked’ to a computer/laptop on a temporary basis and therefore used away from the corporate network. The FlexNet license software provides the ability to BORROW licenses,Continue reading “Borrowing FlexNet & FlexLM Licenses for Homeworking”
Knowing What You Own
Do you have a license Asset Management system? A good License Asset management system begins by having an accurate idea of: Once you know these, it becomes easier to make decisions in the future – for example, if you need more or less, or a different kind of License. What are the engineering business objectives?Continue reading “Knowing What You Own”
Make Your License Renewal Negotiations Easier
Are negotiations stressful? Do you have a limited budget and are trying to meet everyone’s software needs? If the estimate is overestimated, the company has paid too much up front, but if the consumption is underestimated, the company could face unexpected costs in the future. Negotiating with Vendors is an important aspect of managing expensiveContinue reading “Make Your License Renewal Negotiations Easier”
Why Accuracy is Crucial for License Compliance & Cost Reduction
Whoever said, “Throw caution to the wind, we will get through it OK” obviously hasn’t met the compliance and audit teams from the biggest global software vendors. It is fair to say that software licensing is a bit of a science in itself or as many senior management teams would say, “… a bit ofContinue reading “Why Accuracy is Crucial for License Compliance & Cost Reduction”
Do You Know What Licenses You Have?
A crucial part of successful budgeting and cost reduction for engineering licensed assets is knowing what licenses your organization has. Would you be able to easily know and report on the type and number of licenses you have? Is your spreadsheet with that information growing too large and you are looking for an easier solution?Continue reading “Do You Know What Licenses You Have?”
What Are License Denials?
Understanding license denials is a critical part of License Asset Management. How do license denials work? Imagine going to a bookstore and borrowing 10 books. But you get a different job, family situations come up or anything else, and you become so busy that you don’t have time to read all 10. Should you haveContinue reading “What Are License Denials?”
How do Engineering Managers Save Money on their 2nd Highest Overhead?
For many companies, March 31st marks the end of the quarter. This may be time to make decisions about engineering budgets. How are engineering licenses impacting your business? The second highest department costs are likely to be the cost of Engineering Software Applications. As renewals are coming up, make sure you are well prepared. WouldContinue reading “How do Engineering Managers Save Money on their 2nd Highest Overhead?”