It’s nearly the end of 2024, and if your year-end software licensing costs or audits left you surprised —or maybe even a bit shaken— the reason could be simple: you’re not metering them.
It’s simple and logical: you must first measure to manage effectively—an idea promoted by efficiency pioneers like Lord Kelvin, W. E. Deming, and Peter Drucker.
Without a clear, continuous view of software license usage, companies risk blind decision-making, resource wastage, productivity bottlenecks, and bloated costs.
But What’s ‘Metering’ in Software License Management?
When you think of a meter, you probably imagine a utility or taxi meter – so how is it relevant to software license management? Think of ‘metering’ as having a ‘smart meter’ for your licenses. It provides a clear, accurate, and continuous view of how each license is used.
Metering goes far beyond basic monitoring or periodic measurement. It’s precise tracking that supports proactive and informed management.
So, Why Meter?
Metering is vital, not optional. It’s the foundation of a sustainable licensing strategy, providing long-term oversight, insight, and foresight in effectively managing software licenses.
Here’s how metering directly benefits your business across key areas:
1. Full Visibility on Software Usage
Imagine having a clear, comprehensive view of who’s using which software, how often, and where resources may be overspent or underutilized. This visibility supports making informed decisions that match multiple team’s needs and priorities.
2. Seamless Operations with Right-Sized Licensing
Right-sizing ensures that each team has the proper licenses in the right hands and at the right time. This minimizes interruptions and delays, allowing everyone to stay focused and productive. The result? Smoother workflows and streamlined operations.
3. Cost Savings through Smart Spending
The most expensive software is the one that sits unused. Accurately metering software usage can avoid unnecessary license costs. This ensures that every software investment contributes directly to productivity and meaningful outcomes for your organization.
4. Confidence in Compliance and Risk Management
No one wants to face unexpected audit fees or compliance issues. Metering provides the detailed tracking needed to ensure your company meets licensing and regulatory standards, reducing compliance risks and offering peace of mind.
5. Flexible Licensing to Support Growth
As your business evolves, so do your software needs. Metering allows you to easily adjust your licenses—scaling up or down as needed—so your resources can grow in step with your organization’s goals.
6. Effortless Software Rollouts
Metering makes it easier to roll out new software by ensuring the right resources are in place for smooth deployment. With clear insights into team needs, you can launch new tools quickly, helping everyone get up to speed without delays.
Then, What Happens Without Metering?
In a key industry event, our CEO, Eistein Fosli, addressed the consequences of unattended software license use—risks that still challenge organizations today. Here’s a refresher:
- Costly Licensing Agreements
Without metering, businesses risk being locked into costly contracts that don’t match actual usage. This leads to overspending on licenses that could be scaled back or optimized, resulting in unnecessary expenses.
- Overpurchased Software
A lack of visibility often leads to buying more licenses than needed, leaving many unused. This drains resources that could be better allocated, as licenses sit idle without adding value.
- Under-Purchased Software
Conversely, organizations may not purchase enough licenses without accurate metering, leading to access issues. When teams lack the necessary tools, productivity suffers, causing delays and frustration.
- Underutilized Software
Unmonitored software usage often means specific tools remain underutilized, resulting in missed opportunities to leverage investments fully. Tracking can help identify and reallocate these resources for better impact.
- Ineffective Software Implementation
Poor license tracking complicates new software rollouts, often delaying or preventing effective deployment. Organizations struggle to implement tools smoothly and maximize their impact without clear usage data.
Open iT: We Go Beyond Software License Management
Just as metering does more than monitoring, Open iT offers more than standard license management. With our comprehensive tool, LicenseAnalyzer™, we help companies optimize their software investments at every level.
- Level 1 – Gain in-depth, enterprise-wide visibility into license usage.
- Level 2 – Identify True Active Usage by distinguishing zero vs. power users.
- Level 3 – Automate license allocation through policy-based License Harvesting.
Through each level, we also provide customizable reporting and expert consultation services to deliver tailored insights. This enables companies to secure better contracts and renewals during vendor negotiations—because optimization looks different for every organization.
It’s Always Better to Meter
As the reasons above prove, metering is essential to effective software license management. Remember, it’s always better to meter. If you’re ready to take the first step in optimizing your software resources, our trusted advisors at Open iT can help you design a metering strategy that aligns with your organization’s unique goals.
Get Started with Metering Before 2024 Ends
Let us help you devise a stable licensing strategy tailored to your unique needs. Schedule a demo today to explore how our metering solutions can support your company’s goals for 2025.
