Business Continuity Services (BCS) Ltd has been actively delivering their Software Asset Management (SAM) solutions and services since 1994 into what has become an increasingly demanding market. This is perhaps understandable when you consider that the authors allegedly need to bolster software sales by looking to existing users for additional compliance focused revenues. Consequentially, having a workable SAM solution in order to achieve an accepted compliance position is no longer something to be desired, it is an absolute necessity. In order to maintain the ongoing healthy operation of a business, it is critical that organisations understand their compliance position, especially as software licence costs are often responsible for the greater part of the IT budget. With complex author reconciliation processes and costly punishment for error, it is now more important than ever for an organisation to be able to quantify and prove its licence compliance position.  

Since its inception, BCS has successfully partnered with many dedicated SAM specialists, often supporting partners in their implementation of Software Organiser, a practical SAM management product for which BCS have exclusive global distribution rights. However, as SAM solutions became cluttered with other expensive proprietary SAM “tools”, BCS has recognised the need to define simplistic plug in services to deliver results without the enforced complexity and staff dedication that these product driven options seem to require.   The BCS delivered Software Asset Management as a Service, or “SAMaaS” for short, offers its clients the ability to confidently establish, and subsequently manage their software licence compliance position via a unique private cloud-like solution.  Simply described, this is a fixed cost, rolling compliance reporting solution that delivers detailed knowledge of all the software applications installed on a client’s estate.

The “SAMaaS” option is a service which has proven to be attractive to many potential partners looking to enhance their client focused commitments. One such Partner is Highlander Computing Solutions, a respected IT business solutions company with a strong reputation for providing the highest standards in support, project delivery and commercial guidance for its growing client base. Highlander is focused on developing mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations and businesses across the whole of the UK, successfully delivering a comprehensive portfolio of I.T products and services by providing its customers with easy access to a single source of the right advice, expertise and technology. With this in mind, Highlander is an ideal delivery partner for the BCS “SAMaaS” option.

For its part, Highlander is pleased to be able to add the BCS delivered “SAMaaS” capabilities to its already impressive portfolio and there is definite belief in the synergies between the two businesses.   Steve Brown, Managing Director of Highlander explains: “Both Highlander and BCS both take a consultative approach in delivering a broad range of options built around service excellence and in-depth understanding. Both companies aim to provide every customer with resources and services that are precisely calibrated to their individual needs and circumstances. The teams here at Highlander are really enjoying working with BCS, especially as they appear to have similar ideals with a no-nonsense approach to the delivery of excellence in their chosen area”.

BCS has carefully selected Highlander as one of its first “best in class” partnersand is committed to ensuring that both businesses have the same ambitions for the SAMaaS solution. According to Andy Fisher, Sales Director at BCS, “Highlander is one of the first of a limited group of BCS selected partners who will be able to expand their service capabilities by co-delivering our unique “SAMaaS” compliance option and thus lock out the quick win suppliers not focused on service.”

For some of the reasons mentioned earlier, SAM and the processes around its implementation are definitely areas that are receiving inordinate amounts of interest from the software authors and their enabled software licensing suppliers.  The problem in that is perhaps down to the fact that in many cases, the subsequent implementation of a SAM process is only a means to an end, the proliferation of yet more software licenses.  BCS and Highlander both believe that the users who commit to the “SAMaaS” option will achieve more than just another purchase requirement.  In short, they will achieve business knowledge at pre-agreed manageable costs thus proving their ability to show absolute awareness and control of their organisations software licencing compliance position.

Considering the IT commitments that organisations operating within Banking and Finance sector have to make it is no surprise that both Highlander and BCS have experienced success working in this environment.  As a service lead company, Highlander look to guide their client rather than just take orders, a capability that BCS can also be said to demonstrate.  All too often, IT rich companies in this sector are seen as a prime targets for increasing software licensing sales, either by direct involvement or via vendor influenced SAM options.

BCS is a trusted global provider of Software Asset Management (SAM) solutions and services with over 17 years’ of relevant experience.  BCS also operate as the Exclusive Global Distributor for Software Organiser, a market leading software licence management tool that provides everything a customer needs to effectively control costly software assets. BCS solutions have helped customers save millions of pounds in unnecessary software licence fees and hardware maintenance costs.

Highlander Computing Solutions began life in the early nineties; starting out as a computer retailer, after rapidly gaining a reputation for its excellent customer service skills and technical expertise; the company began supplying and supporting I.T & Telecoms systems and infrastructures. Highlander have developed core business products and services making it a premier supplier of computer and telecoms technology to organisations and businesses across the whole of the UK.

Highlander believes in understanding the individual needs of its customers, and prides itself in maintaining the highest levels of technical, customer service and sales available.