How to detect unused software licenses and lower SaaS costs

InvGate Asset Management lets you detect, reclaim, reassign, and uninstall unused software across your organization. This not only helps reduce costs, but also keeps your IT environment organized, efficient, and compliant with internal and external regulations.

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This is how to detect unused software licenses.

Method 1: Detect the unused software with our Software Compliance module

The fastest way of overseeing unused software across your organization is through our Software Compliance module. Follow these steps to do it:

  1. Go to Contracts.
  2. Click on the Software Compliance tab.
  3. Filter and group your results by Software name.

    4. Tip: the Software Compliance tab is packed with information about your organization’s software usage. Use the filters to find the information you are looking for.

  4. Choose a software with Low usage and click on the number to explore the unused installations. These are the targets for license reharvesting.
  5. Add the list to your current Software Asset Management strategy.

Method 2: Detect unused software with filters or AI Smart Search

Another excellent way to detect unused software is by doing a quick search. In this case you can re-assign licenses. You can use InvGate’s AI Smart Search feature to make it even easier.

  1. Go to Software.
  2. Type in the Search bar what you are looking for. For example: “Unused paid software.” If you don’t want to use AI Smart Search, you can always apply filters. We recommend the following:
    • Software Installations > Software name > is > Slack (you can type any software).
    • Software Installations > Average usage in the last 60 days > is less than > 60 minutes.
  3. Click Update.

    4. Note: You can include as many software titles as needed. We highly recommend creating a smart tag to identify assets where the software hasn’t been used within the selected timeframe. Then, export the list and incorporate it into your Software Asset Management strategy.

  4. Go to Filters updated.
  5. Click Quick Smart Tag and fill in following information:
    • Tag name - for example, “Assets with low usage software”.
    • Description (optional).
    • Tag color.
  6. Click Create.
  7. Click the Smart tag button in the top-right corner to access the tagged devices.
  8. Select “Assets with low usage software”.
  9. Add the list to your current Software Asset Management strategy.

Note: Before proceeding with the uninstallation, it’s recommended to confirm with users how they use the software and whether they truly don’t need it to perform their tasks effectively. Once you check everything’s okay, you can create a deployment plan to uninstall all licenses in bulk and remotely.