Building a business case for Software Asset Management can be surprisingly difficult—even when the value seems obvious. With tight budgets, competing priorities, and varying stakeholder goals, it’s not always easy to get alignment. Before making your pitch, it’s critical to understand what matters most to decision-makers—and how to connect SAM to the outcomes they care about.
Nearly ten years back, Gartner highlighted the critical importance of Software Asset Management (SAM) in their report, “Software Asset Management is Now a C-Level Imperative.” Persuading top executives to prioritize SAM can be tough, particularly with their eyes on short-term returns. Yet, the long-term advantages of SAM, including significant cost reductions, minimized risks, and enhanced operational agility, present a strong case. Adopting SAM goes beyond mere license management; it transforms your IT infrastructure into a more flexible, compliant, and financially efficient system. If your organization hasn’t established a SAM program by now, you’re significantly behind the curve. Download our editable pitch deck below.
Proving ROI is one of the most common challenges in building a business case for Software Asset Management. Unlike a traditional purchase, SAM generates savings through risk reduction, license optimization, and contract improvements—which can be harder to quantify upfront.
But the numbers speak for themselves.
On average, organizations working with LicenseFortress experience:
$1.5M saved for small environments
$3.4M saved for medium environments
$8.1M saved for large environments
$14.7M saved for enterprise environments
That translates to ROI ranging from 6,150% to 14,424%, depending on the scale and complexity of the environment.
By highlighting avoided audit costs, reduced shelfware, and smarter renewal terms, you can build a data-driven SAM business case that resonates with finance, procurement, and executive leadership.
This is one of the biggest hurdles when making the business case for Software Asset Management. SAM often flies under the radar because it isn’t tied to a flashy transformation initiative or immediate crisis. But overlooking SAM can lead to silent, compounding risks—like noncompliance, overspending on support, and paying for licenses you don’t need.
To elevate SAM as a priority, shift the conversation from internal tooling to business impact. Emphasize how SAM:
Controls costs across IT and procurement
Reduces exposure to audits from Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and others
Enables smarter contract renewals and vendor negotiations
Supports digital transformation by aligning license usage with actual needs
The business case becomes far more compelling when you tie SAM to risk reduction, financial accountability, and operational readiness—terms that resonate with executives.
It’s a common assumption that investing in a SAM tool is enough to manage software compliance and control costs. But tools are just one part of the equation. Most require extensive configuration, ongoing maintenance, and skilled interpretation to be effective.
In fact, many of our customers come to us already using a SAM tool—only to discover it’s been misconfigured, reporting inaccurate data, and leaving them exposed to compliance issues they didn’t know existed. Without the right expertise, even the best tools can give a false sense of security.
To truly reduce risk and maximize value, a Software Asset Management strategy must go beyond tooling. It should include:
Expert license analysis to align entitlements with actual usage
Contract interpretation to uncover hidden risks and enforce terms
Optimization recommendations that turn raw data into cost savings
Cross-functional coordination between IT, procurement, and finance
It’s easy to deprioritize Software Asset Management when there’s no audit on the horizon. But that’s exactly what makes now the right time. Waiting until an audit notice arrives puts you in a reactive—and often expensive—position, with limited time to uncover issues, correct them, and negotiate from a place of strength.
By contrast, a proactive SAM strategy allows you to:
Identify and fix compliance issues early
Strengthen your contractual position before vendor scrutiny
Optimize entitlements and reduce waste before renewal negotiations
Many of our customers come to us after receiving an audit letter, but the ones who engage before an audit always save more. That’s because fixing problems under pressure often means costly purchases or settlements. But when you address compliance gaps on your terms, you control the outcome—and the spend.
Building the business case for Software Asset Management isn’t just about avoiding penalties. It’s about creating an infrastructure that prevents them in the first place—while delivering measurable savings and operational control along the way.
In our humble opinion, no. Database administration and software license compliance are two different disciplines. It is possible that people carry both sets of skills, however, if you’re expected to do both roles, you’d better have ample support. Read more about the difference in these two job roles.
It’s a common predicament: your team is lean, and the expertise required to manage complex software licensing is beyond your current capacity. This gap can lead to inefficiencies and compliance risks. Recognizing and articulating this challenge to stakeholders is the first step towards a solution. Our resources provide insights into how organizations can leverage external SAM solutions to bridge this expertise gap, ensuring effective license management without the need to expand your team significantly.
Follow our proven process to win internal support and unlock measurable value:
Assess your current state – Identify gaps, risks, and missed savings.
Quantify the impact – Translate optimization and compliance into real numbers.
Align with your goals – Build a tailored roadmap that fits your organization’s priorities.
Once you schedule a meeting, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a calendar invite. Our team will connect with you within one business day to gather any necessary information to tailor the call to your needs. Feel free to forward the invite to any team members you’d like to include. We look forward to assisting you!
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us at info@licensefortress.com or call us at 424.231.4135.
515 S. Flower Street
18th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
United States
+1 424 231 4135
info@licensefortress.com
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