Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Managed Services
Gartner defines software asset management (SAM) managed services as services expert providers deliver to manage the software, SaaS and cloud assets of end-user organizations. They include skills, processes, technologies and governance to transform and run the SAM discipline on behalf of the client. SAM managed services employ the providers' proprietary skills and methodologies to transform and run the SAM discipline on behalf of the client, augmenting the client's resources. Delivered by skilled resources and leveraging the provider's expertise, intellectual property (IP), rigor and best practices, SAM managed services address the gap in available SAM skills, enable scalability and enhance SAM maturity. At the same time, they deliver day-to-day SAM activities and oversee the full SAM life cycle. SAM managed services are delivered directly to end-user customers, on either a continuous or a scheduled basis, employing required discipline to meet software and cloud cost optimization and governance objectives.
Vendors must, among other requirements:
A: This research evaluates 12 SAM managed service providers based on their Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. It covers providers that deliver continuous SAM managed services including process transformation, trustworthy data management, entitlements management, FinOps and cloud license management, governance and optimization, life cycle management, continuous delivery platforms, value realization, and environmental sustainability services. The research analyzes providers serving global enterprises across multiple regions (NA, EMEA, APAC, LATAM) and managing 20+ software publishers including mandatory coverage of Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Oracle and Workday.
A: Sourcing, procurement and vendor management (SPVM) leaders grappling with growing software/cloud consumption and complexity should use this research to identify providers that can fill skills gaps and deliver comprehensive SAM managed services. Organizations should use the Magic Quadrant to inform their shortlist and evaluation of providers, considering enterprise-specific factors such as provider scale, geographic coverage, cultural fit, and specific service strengths. The companion Critical Capabilities research allows users to tailor evaluation weights based on aspects most important to their organization. This research is particularly valuable for organizations that lack internal SAM expertise, need to scale their SAM operations, or want to achieve higher SAM maturity levels.
A: Vendors must deliver at least 8 of the 9 essential SAM managed services core components including: (1) Process and transformation - assessment, design, management, and continuous improvement of SAM/FinOps processes; (2) Trustworthy data - continuous maintenance of complete IT environment views including assets, software, SaaS, cloud, consumption and usage data; (3) Entitlements and use rights - continuous management of procurement, contractual and use rights documentation; (4) FinOps and cloud license management - cloud financial management for CIPS consumption including cost allocation, performance tracking, and optimization; (5) Governance and optimization - continuous evaluation of usage, license positions, and governance reporting with actionable recommendations; (6) Life cycle management - ownership and operation of day-to-day SAM/FinOps lifecycle requirements; (7) Continuous delivery platform - single consolidated interface providing visibility of actions, projects and deliverables; (8) Value realization - monthly validation and reconciliation of delivered value; and (9) Environmental sustainability - services to measure, manage and optimize environmental impact of software and cloud consumption.
A:
A: Ability to Execute evaluates a provider's current performance - their quality and efficacy of processes, systems, methods and procedures that enable competitive, efficient and effective performance. It judges providers on their ability to capitalize on their vision through actual delivery, sales, operations, and customer experience. Completeness of Vision evaluates a provider's future positioning - their ability to articulate logical statements about market direction, innovation, client needs and competitive forces. It assesses understanding of how market forces can be exploited to create opportunities, focusing on strategy, market understanding, and innovation rather than current execution capabilities.