Q&A with Maureen Polte of Flexera Software

VSM: What are software tags?

MP: ISO 19770-2-compliant software tags, established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), enable the authoritative identification of applications on a device through the inclusion of a tag file with the application. The tag file contains accurate descriptive information on the application (publisher, name, version, etc.).

Think of software tags as something similar to the Universal Product Code (UPC) (bar codes) you see in supermarkets and retail stores on items you purchase. The tag is simply a coded standard containing relevant information on the software product that has been licensed and deployed.

VSM: What role does software tagging play in software asset management and license optimization?

MP: Software tags aid the software asset management task by enabling the collection and analysis of application data to provide an accurate software inventory. Without tags, inventorying applications running in an enterprise can be a difficult task – given that the identifying information about the application is not always easy to locate and interpret. Software tags following the ISO 19770-2 standard greatly simplify the process of locating and using that identifying data to determine exactly what is installed on each system, which is the first step in the software asset management and optimization process.

VSM: How do enterprises benefit by using software tags?

MP: Ultimately enterprises want to be in a state of “license optimization” regarding their software estates – meaning they want to buy what they need, and use what they have. If they buy too much, that means they’re overspending on “shelfware” – and therefore wasting resources. If they buy too little – they could be in an out-of-compliance situation and find themselves having to pay a software vendor a “true-up” penalty. True-ups can be costly and are usually un-predicted and unbudgeted. This is why enterprises are increasingly adopting software asset management and license optimization strategies – including the use of automated solutions, such as Flexera Software’s FlexNet Manager Suite for Enterprises. These solutions can provide anywhere from 10-30% savings in software spend through optimization. Software tags facilitate the software asset management process by making it much easier for enterprises to identify the software they have deployed.

VSM: Why should software vendors care about including tags with their products?

MP: Simply put, by including software tags within their products, software vendors create a much more positive customer experience. When customers  buy more software than they need – it creates a negative impression. When customers don’t buy enough and have to pay costly five-, six- and even seven-figure true-ups, it creates an even more contentious and negative experience. Software vendors who make it easier for their customers to locate and identify their software products, therefore are making a statement that they are doing their part in helping customers better manage their software estates.