The job description of a software asset manager – for experienced professionals and those who want to become one
In an increasingly digitalized world, where software is not just a tool but a strategic success factor, the job description of a software asset manager is becoming increasingly important. But what exactly does a software asset manager do – and how do you become one? This article is aimed at both industry newcomers and experienced professionals who want to reflect on or further develop their role.
What does a software asset manager do?
The software asset manager is responsible for the management, control, and optimization of software licenses within a company. The goal is to ensure compliance, reduce costs, and minimize risks. In doing so, the software asset manager operates at the interface between IT, purchasing, legal, and management.
Typical tasks include:
- Management of license agreements and software inventory
- Analysis of usage data to optimize existing licenses
- Advising on software procurement, contract negotiations, and IT projects
- Preparing evaluations of inventories, costs, and risks
- Compliance monitoring and management of software audits
- Maintenance and optimization of the SAM tool
- Process integration of SAM
What skills does a software asset manager need?
A good software asset manager must have both comprehensive technical knowledge and the right soft skills:
Required technical knowledge (including
- Knowledge of contract and license models
- Experience with SAM tools
- Understanding of IT processes
- Technical understanding of IT and cloud services and architectures
- Understanding of business management contexts
Required soft skills (among others):
- Analytical thinking
- Strong communication skills
- Negotiation skills
- Assertiveness
- Ability to communicate complex issues in an understandable way
How do you get started and what career paths are available?
There are many different ways to get started in SAM. There is no traditional training path, which is why the proportion of career changers is particularly high in this field.
Career changers often come from:
- IT administration
- Purchasing
- IT service and provider management
- Project management or with a legal background
- Other fields
Knowledge is built up through:
As in other professional fields, different career paths are possible:
- Technical career: often with a specialization in manufacturers, tools, or processes, or operational and strategic SAM
- Management career: Taking on personnel responsibility, e.g., as a team leader or in conjunction with expanded responsibilities (e.g., for IT contract/vendor management or IT compliance)
What does SAM look like in consulting?
In consulting, the topics are very similar, but the tasks are less repetitive because the work is project-based.
Consulting work is characterized by:
- High variety due to project-based work
- Rapid gain of experience
- Diverse industries and different company specifics
- Individualized solutions (no off-the-shelf concepts)
The following requirements, among others, are placed on consulting:
- Flexibility
- Adaptability to ever-changing customer situations
- Customer focus
- Curiosity and interest
- Resilience and stress resistance
Career paths in consulting:
- Specialist career: as an expert in your field
- Management career: taking on project management, sales, and business development
Of course, there are also downsides to consulting, which should not be ignored here. For example, the workload can be higher during project peaks. It can also happen that you develop concepts that may not be implemented or that you are no longer involved in implementing, so that you lack direct feedback on the success of the concept.
Looking to the future
The job profile of a software asset manager is largely shaped by technological progress, external conditions, and the actions of software and cloud providers.
The following factors have a particular influence:
- Increasing cloudification and the associated switch to subscription and usage-based billing models
- Potential offered by artificial intelligence and the automation of routine tasks in SAM
- Integration with other disciplines (ITAM, FinOps, cybersecurity, ESG reporting, and IT governance) to increase efficiency
- Regulatory requirements with an impact on service and delivery relationships
This makes the field of activity of the software asset manager even more comprehensive, cross-functional, and strategic, and unlikely to become boring in the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
The software asset manager has long been more than just a license administrator. They are consultants, analysts, and mediators—and play an essential role in the digital transformation of companies. For newcomers, the job offers exciting development opportunities, while for experienced professionals, it offers the chance to position themselves as strategic consultants.
If you are looking for an exciting start or the next step in your career, then take a look at our career opportunities. Maybe we will be able to welcome you to our team soon.
Author: Felix Baran (This article was written with the help of an AI-based assistant.)